X-Funk: New Orleans Funk & Uncanny X-Men #109-112

Dressed in an amalgamation of African and Native American garbs, the 9th Ward Hunters bang on percussion of various forms in what is a celebration of ancestry and seasonal transformation as well as an alpha male battle of peacock proportions. Everyone in the tribe has worked on their respective costumes for the last year. Some of their costumes weigh in at 100 pounds, but the way everyone is dancing and drumming, they wear it like a windbreaker. This “Super Sunday” celebration is result of a two-century long alliance between Native Americans and Africans.

Back around 1700 when the French controlled New Orleans, they warred with the local Choctaw, Chickasaw and Blackfoot tribes that originally occupied the now French-controlled areas. This led to the only safe zones for the Native Americans being the swamp areas where the French had no idea how to survive in. Enter 1719 when the first ships of Africans intended to be used as slaves arrived in the port of New Orleans. Africans and Native Americans began to understand each others’ language and align themselves. The Native Americans were instrumental in assisting in the escape of many Africans to freedom. They ended up living in Maroon camps just outside of the city, away from the influence of the French. Native Americans welcomed the Africans and allowed them into their society, as many would take positions within the tribe and even get booed up with some of that good-ass squaw coochie.

1746 was the first reported occurrence of Africans dressing up as Native Americans during Mardi Gras. It was a West African tradition to honor one’s host by wearing their clothing during celebrations. The celebrations continued under French and then Spanish rule until the good old Louisiana Purchase, when the fucking Americans brought in more extreme regimentation to all African-Americans, free or not. After what is considered to be the greatest slave revolt in American history in 1811, laws were passed that made congregations of slaves illegal; sort of like us walking in groups of four or more in the mall back when we were teenagers. What this did was to push the Mardi Gras Indians into hiding.

In 1835, the Mardi Gras Indians returned on the scene. However, the cultural differences that were so apparent under French, Spanish and American rule had created rivalries between the denizens of these particular areas. These rivalries were adopted by the African-American community and the results were often carried out during Mardi Gras celebrations in the form of black-on-black-but-dressed-as-indians violence. Because the police were busy monitoring the crowds on Bourbon Street and St. Charles Avenue, there was both not enough manpower and not enough concern to police the black neighborhoods. The rival tribes would fight relentlessly. Shootings, stabbings and hatchet attacks were extremely predominant during this time. To top it off, murder could be done with anonymity due to the elaborate masks and costumes.

In the late 1940s the tribes decided to stop killing one another and created the showdown on the Bayou of St. John. The tribes now take it to the stage and leave the decision of who is the victor to the spectators. There are over 30 tribes in New Orleans. Each tribe is lead by a “Big Chief” who is usually a well-known name in the New Orleans music scene. Past Big Chiefs have included Donald Harrison, Sr., Jack Dupree and the uncle of the Meters (aka the Neville Brothers), George Landry aka Big Chief Jolly. Where as they do parade on Mardi Gras day as well, the largest showing of Mardi Gras Indians will always be on “Super Sunday”, which is the Sunday nearest to St. Joseph’s Day, March 19th. The parade begins usually around noonish at Bayou St. John and Orleans Avenue, but it is important to note that there is no exact route. Y’all know how we do.

New Orleans generates over a billion dollars every year during Carnival, yet their African-American communities remain the poorest in our nation. The cost of creating and maintaining the costumes is very expensive, and many tribes are in danger of not being able to continue their tradition. This situation has only become worse since Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath. If you wanna check it out, do so soon. It’s about to be like Black Harlem… a relic of the past…

Since we all over New Orleans' collective nuts for this post, how about some New Orleans Funk? Again, brought to you by the good people at Soul Jazz. Sorry for the dilatory nature of this week’s X-Funk, but this was too good of a topic to pass up, and I had to get my research down pact. Seen? I also got those X-Men 4-ya! Issues #109-112 for y’all’s reading pleasure. Check the synopsis here…

Here's some Mardi Gras Indians at the Algiers Riverfest...


And... peep some more Mardi Gras Indian action during St. Joseph's Night 2006...


Finally... Cyril Neville talking about Big Chief Jolly...