World Rhythms Festival celebrates African influence in New Orleans
Mardi Gras Indians take the stage Saturday, March 30 at the Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival. The festival, sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, was a celebration of African American heritage and the community’s influence on New Orleans music. Photo credit: India Yarborough
April 4, 2019
Music, food and a nod to history – that was the theme of this weekend’s Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival.
“This festival is a celebration of the African diaspora and its connection to New Orleans,” said Kia Robinson, marketing and communications coordinator for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. “Right here in Congo Square, which is pretty much historic, sacred ground where slaves gathered. We come here to commemorate those times and remember our ancestors that were here before us.”
That commemoration took place March 30 and 31 at Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park. Jazz and funk music and the smells of traditional New Orleans cuisine filled the air as Mardi Gras Indian tribes “battled” in a show of cultural unity and local craft vendors displayed their labors of love. And festival attendees came from as far away as Canada to catch a piece of the action.
Festival goers enjoy performances Saturday, March 30 at the Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival. The festival, sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, was a celebration of African American heritage and the community’s influence on New Orleans music.
Canadian Pierre Hamilton visited New Orleans with friends for the weekend. Hamilton said they stopped by the festival to get a taste of the New Orleans you won’t find on Bourbon Street.
“We wanted to make sure we came and had a real part of New Orleans,” Hamilton said. “I was like ‘I wanna find if there’s a (Mardi Gras) Indian battle or second line – how do we do that?’ And it just so happened that when we were looking it up, there was a festival at Congo Square, which is a place I wanted to come.”
Mobile, Alabama native Sara Wesson happened to be in town visiting friends Saturday. She and her dog Benny stopped by the festival not knowing exactly what to expect.
“I kind of just showed up,” Wesson said. “It’s been really cool so far. There are a lot of really good booths, a lot of really good food, a lot of really good music.”
Robinson said the “intimate” festival – attracting between 5,000 and 7,000 people each year – is sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. Proceeds from the foundation’s other major events, namely the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, make free events like the New World Rhythms Festival possible.
“I think it’s important that we continue doing these free festivals for the community,” Robinson added. “A lot of people aren’t able to visit Jazz Fest, for either financial reasons or geographical reasons, and this particular festival is just a bit of a taste of Jazz Fest.”
