As Per Tradition

Louisiana Folklife Month celebrates the artists and elders sustaining our cultural legacy

by

People & Places

October is Louisiana Folklife Month, an opportunity to celebrate the many traditions that make our state a vessel for memory, joy, and wisdom—spanning cultures and identities from Native American and African American, to Cajun and Creole, and beyond. As part of this commemoration, the Louisiana Folklife Program annually recognizes five culture bearers who are carrying these traditions forward. These Folklife ambassadors will be honored throughout October at events and venues across the state. 

“Without the contributions of tradition bearers, our culture would lose its rich vitality,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, Director of the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University. “Louisiana’s Folklife Month shines a spotlight on artists and cultural authorities who keep the fire of tradition burning bright.” 

At 2 pm on October 5 at LSU Rural Life Museum’s Harvest Day, the Folklife Program will honor Monique Metrailer—a master and teacher of multiple traditional skills, including quiltmaking, candlemaking, basketweaving, and restoring China dolls. For more than thirty years, she has been an educator on the lives and legacies of rural women living in the 1800s in this area. 

From New Orleans, cultural ambassador Dianne Honoré will be recognized at 2 pm on October 8 at Dillard University’s PSB Atrium. Honoré is a seventh generation New Orleanian and has spent her life joining art, food, and music as mechanisms to educate on the region’s complicated and rich history—creating a descendant-curated tour of River Road plantation country, hosting crafting workshops, and educating on Louisiana foodways to the city’s visitors. She also takes part in the New Orleans tradition of Black Masking with the Yellow Pocahontas Hunters; and is the founder of the Black Storyville Baby Dolls, the Amazons Benevolent Society—which advocates against environmental racism and healthcare disparities—and Unheard Voices of Louisiana, a project that tells stories of Louisiana’s marginalized voices.  

In a special presentation at this year’s Festivals Acadiens et Créoles’s Scene Ma Louisiane at 3:30 pm on October 12, CJ Chenier will receive his ambassadorship. The zydeco legend continues to carry forth the remarkable legacy of his father Clifton Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band—who originally brought zydeco music to the mainstream.

“Without the contributions of tradition bearers, our culture would lose its rich vitality. Louisiana’s Folklife Month shines a spotlight on artists and cultural authorities who keep the fire of tradition burning bright.”  —Dr. Shane Rasmussen, Director of the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University

The roots music group Smithfield Fair will receive their honor at downtown Alexandria’s ARTSWALK on October 17. Made up of brothers Dudley-Brian, Bob, and Joel Smith, with Jan Dedon Smith, the acoustic roots band has been writing music and performing since 1973. Drawing together influences from Louisiana’s folk, swing, pop, blues, gospel, jazz, and Cajun scenes, the group has just released their 36th album. 

[Read about the 2023 Tradition Bearers, here.]

 And finally, Geraldine Robertson will receive her flowers at this year’s Rougarou Fest on October 19 at 2 pm on the Woodside Energy Music Stage. Robertson is a master artisan in the craft of split oak basket weaving, a skill that was passed down through her family for generations. 

Learn more about this year’s honorees at louisianafolklife.org.