BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Geno Delafosse picked up his accordion Thursday afternoon and after sending a few resounding riffs through the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, the beginning of the 42nd consecutive Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival became official..
Backed by Scrub Board Sally scratching percussion on his washboard, the brief Delafosse concert marked the apex of an annual opening festival reception that featured comments from state, parish and local officials.
Festival Director Lena Charles praised the unbroken chain of festivals that were originally held in an open field in the Plaisance area, before relocating to the current site at the Yambilee Building where the 2024 event will be held starting at noon Aug. 31.
Charles said Zydeco music has always served as a means for preserving area Creole culture, a responsibility that Charles said should be cherished.
“We stand on holy ground when we talk about this festival,” Charles added.
Charles briefly recalled the origins of the festival promoted by Father Albert McKnight, who involved many of the congregants at Holy Ghost Catholic Church with organizing and running the festival.
On Thursday Charles said she was reminded of McKnight’s admonition decades ago that the best way of identifying people was through their culture.
Zydeco music, Charles said, provides an affirmation that the roots of Creole culture are still there.
St. Landry Parish Tourism Director Herman Fuselier said Zydeco music should be a treasured aspect of Opelousas, which has been proclaimed as the Zydeco Capital of The World.
“It (Zydeco) started here. Now we have to preserve it. People sometimes think Zydeco is from New Orleans. I want to thank all of you for helping keep the festival alive,” Fuselier said.
Fuselier said he was reminded on Thursday of Terrence Semien, a Mallet native, who performed on stage when the festival was held outside of La. 167.
Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor said that Zydeco and the annual festival are what have helped parish residents remain tied together.
Parish government has provided an indoor venue for the festival, which includes an annual kick off event at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino Aug. 30 followed the next day by a parade and Zydeco breakfast celebration at the Courthouse.
“All of us work hard to make things happen. We spent two million dollars into the Yambilee building area and made it a place that would be used by everybody and not just certain people,” Bellard said.
Christine Martel, represented District 40 State Representative Dustin Miller, who provided a sponsorship for staging this year’s festival
Charles added that the festival traditionally has relied on volunteers, donations and sponsorships in order to pay expenses and compensate the bands that this year include bands backing Chubby Carrier, C.J. Chenier and closing act Chris Ardoin.
