Press Releases 2008
Mardi Gras Indians to Perform in Guatemala
Guatemala, June 26 2008A group of six of New Orleans own Mardi Gras Indians will be heading south to Guatemala July 7-13 to offer concerts and share their art and history in intercultural workshops with local audiences in the primarily indigenous towns of Sololá and Quetzaltenango. They will culminate their Guatemalan tour with two programs in Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala.
During their stay, the Mardi Gras Indians will introduce the rich traditions of the Mardi Gras Indian Social Clubs and Performing Groups to the people of Guatemala. To encourage a true cultural exchange, they will also visit Guatemalan religious and cultural sites and experience displays of local music and dance performances. The group will also share the experiences and impact of Hurricane Katrina on the people of New Orleans and particularly, on its rich artistic community. This discussion is expected to resonate strongly with the people of Guatemala, who in recent years suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Stan.
The six members of the group, who were drawn from a variety of Mardi Gras Indian tribes, are: Royce Osborn, Jamal Casby, William Sabourin O'Reilly, Ivory "Wildman" Holmes, Luther Gray, and Kentrell Watson. In addition to sharing their special blend of songs, traditions, and a taste of Mardi Gras with the people of Guatemala, they will share the process of making the exquisite suits they have each labored extensively to create by hand. The elements of song, dance, and costume all pay homage to the cultural heritage of African-Americans, Native Americans, and Haiti.
The visit is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs in Washington DC. The Guatemala program has been organized by the Embassy’s Public Affairs Outreach Section as a means of facilitating cultural exchange while promoting the traditions and artistic values of both countries through the sharing of cultural and historic experiences
Performances and workshops have been made possible through collaboration with the Instituto Guatemalteco Americano (IGA) in Guatemala City, the Universidad del Valle – Altiplano in Solola, and the Colegio Miguel Ángel Asturias in Quetzaltenango.
Following the Mardi Gras Indians' visit to Guatemala, the group will travel to Honduras where they will participate in a similar series of performances and workshops July 13-20.
For further information:
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/mardigrasindians.html
Photo Gallery:
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/photopost//showphoto.php/photo/109