City of Opelousas Celebrates It’s Designation as “Zydeco Capital of the World”
Thomas "Big Hat" Fields and His Foot-Stompin' Zydeco Band Performs!
May 25, 2003
by Rod Sias
www.ZydecoOnline.com
Uniting The Zydeco Nation
A small crowd of Zydeco Nation Enthusiast of all ages danced to the Creole sounds of Thomas “Big Hat” Fields and his foot-stompin’ Zydeco Band on the footsteps of the St. Landry Parish Courthouse for the fourth consecutive year as the city of Opelousas, Louisiana formally affirmed it position as “Zydeco Capital of the World.”
The city of Opelousas is considered to the third oldest city in Louisiana. As early as 1690 French traders were in the area to trade with the Opelousas Indians, whose name means "Blackleg" in English. In 1719 the French established the first military presence in the area, when Ensign Nicolas Chauvin de la Frénière and two others were sent to patrol the area.
“This small event has brought together some small and local, but very organized and determined people and organizations around a culture that historically has defied and beaten the odds, we should see some significant progress if we can stay organized and focused.”
Several important Zydeco Musicians were born in the Opelousas area, most notably, the King of Zydeco Music, Mr. Clifton Chenier. The Opelousas based, grassroots organization known as the Treasurers of Opelousas started and developed the world’s first and oldest Zydeco Festival in the world, Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival, located in Plaisance, Louisiana. The city of Opelousas officially recognized the festival around 1995. On May 27, 2000, Louisiana governor, Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr. officially declared the City of Opelousas, Louisiana, “Zydeco Capital of the World, “ “reflecting the city’s significance in the history and continuing evolution of Zydeco Music.”
“This small event has brought together some small and local, but very organized and determined people and organizations around a culture that historically has defied and beaten the odds, we should see some significant progress if we can stay organized and focused.”
(Moriba Karamoko, ZHPS organizer)
Some of the staff from ZydecoOnline and organizers from the newly formed Zydeco Historical & Preservation Society were on hand at the small, but lively, celebration to inform the people about the official launch of the ZydecoOnline website on August 28, 2003. Mona Kennerson, Director of the Southern Development Foundation’s field office in Opelousas and Director of the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival gave an inspiring speech about the importance of keeping Zydeco Music and Creole culture alive, strong, and healthy.
Cynthia Simien , director of the cultural activist group, Music Matters, an organization spearheading the effort to create a Cajun and Zydeco music category at the annual Grammy Awards, was on hand signing up local Zydeco and Cajun Artist for membership in the Grammy organization. “This small event has brought together some small and local, but very organized and determined people and organizations around a culture that historically has defied and beaten the odds,” stated Moriba Karamoko, one of the organizers of the Zydeco Historical & Preservation Society, “we should see some significant progress if we can stay organized and focused.”
The Opelousas Main Street Program and the Opelousas Department of Tourism sponsored the Zydeco Proclamation event.
Rod Sias is one of the founders and organizers for the Zydeco Historical and Preservation Society, Inc. (www.ZHPS.org)
Thomas "Big Hat" Fields and His Foot-Stompin' Zydeco Band Performs!
May 25, 2003
by Rod Sias
www.ZydecoOnline.com
Uniting The Zydeco Nation
A small crowd of Zydeco Nation Enthusiast of all ages danced to the Creole sounds of Thomas “Big Hat” Fields and his foot-stompin’ Zydeco Band on the footsteps of the St. Landry Parish Courthouse for the fourth consecutive year as the city of Opelousas, Louisiana formally affirmed it position as “Zydeco Capital of the World.”
The city of Opelousas is considered to the third oldest city in Louisiana. As early as 1690 French traders were in the area to trade with the Opelousas Indians, whose name means "Blackleg" in English. In 1719 the French established the first military presence in the area, when Ensign Nicolas Chauvin de la Frénière and two others were sent to patrol the area.
“This small event has brought together some small and local, but very organized and determined people and organizations around a culture that historically has defied and beaten the odds, we should see some significant progress if we can stay organized and focused.”
Several important Zydeco Musicians were born in the Opelousas area, most notably, the King of Zydeco Music, Mr. Clifton Chenier. The Opelousas based, grassroots organization known as the Treasurers of Opelousas started and developed the world’s first and oldest Zydeco Festival in the world, Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival, located in Plaisance, Louisiana. The city of Opelousas officially recognized the festival around 1995. On May 27, 2000, Louisiana governor, Murphy James "Mike" Foster, Jr. officially declared the City of Opelousas, Louisiana, “Zydeco Capital of the World, “ “reflecting the city’s significance in the history and continuing evolution of Zydeco Music.”
“This small event has brought together some small and local, but very organized and determined people and organizations around a culture that historically has defied and beaten the odds, we should see some significant progress if we can stay organized and focused.”
(Moriba Karamoko, ZHPS organizer)
Some of the staff from ZydecoOnline and organizers from the newly formed Zydeco Historical & Preservation Society were on hand at the small, but lively, celebration to inform the people about the official launch of the ZydecoOnline website on August 28, 2003. Mona Kennerson, Director of the Southern Development Foundation’s field office in Opelousas and Director of the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival gave an inspiring speech about the importance of keeping Zydeco Music and Creole culture alive, strong, and healthy.
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| Top Left Photo: Corey Young and Henry "Tiger" Thomas of Corey and The Zydeco Teens. Middle Top Photo: Opelousas Banner. Right Top Photo: Thomas "Big Hat" Fields (accordion) Rodney Bernard (rubboard). Bottom Left Photo: Cynthia Simien of Music Matters. Bottom Right Photo: Crowd Zydeco Dancing (photo courtesy of the Zydeco Historical and Preservation Society) |
The Opelousas Main Street Program and the Opelousas Department of Tourism sponsored the Zydeco Proclamation event.
Rod Sias is one of the founders and organizers for the Zydeco Historical and Preservation Society, Inc. (www.ZHPS.org)
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