Mardi Gras Indians Iko Iko

the story of the mardi gras indians of New Orleans and the song, Iko Iko
http://www.houstonculture.org/laproject/indians.htmlhttp://www.houstonculture.org/laproject/indians.html

A Legacy of Defiance, A Century of Honor: The Mardi Gras Indians (a radio transcript) MYSTERIOUS LANGUAGE OF MARDI GRAS INDIANS Musical Except, "I Know You Mardi Gras" by Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras is difficult for those outside of New Orleans' unique culture to understand. Its traditions come from New Orleans' colonial history and secret societies. Modern events, like the Zulu parade, satirize the city's racist history. Zulu was organized by African-Americans in 1909 to mock the stereotypes Whites held toward Blacks. Still today, members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club masquerade in black-face makeup and throw coconuts from floats on Fat Tuesday. This is just one in a long series of puzzling events a tourist may experience during the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans. One cultural phenomenon that is mysterious even to New Orleans locals, and unknown to most outsiders, is the Mardi Gras Indians. The Black Indians have masqueraded at least as long as the Zulus, but their customs, and even much of their musical dialogue, has remained a mystery. The world outside of the Crescent City first heard the language of the Mardi Gras Indians when a popular vocal trio from New Orleans, The Dixie Cups, concluded a string of hits from their album "Chapel of Love" with "Iko Iko" in the spring of 1965. "Iko Iko" was described as "an old Mardi Gras chant that most New Orleans kids had heard all their lives." Sisters Rosa and Barbara Hawkins, and cousin Joan Marie Johnson, chanted the catchy verses during the recording of "Chapel of Love." The song had actually been a local hit for "Sugar Boy" Crawford during New Orleans' Mardi Gras Carnival in 1954 as "Jock-A-Mo." Crawford commented, "'Jockamo-A-Mo' came from two songs that I used to hear the Mardi Gras Indians sing. When I was growing up I lived near the Battle Field where the Indians paraded on Mardi Gras Day." This version by the Dixie Cups remains a commercial success to this day. It features percussion performed on metal chairs and a Coca-Cola bottle similar to the Indians' style. The complex rhythm has been part of the Mardi Gras Indians' heritage for well over 100 years. Musical Except, "Iko Iko" by The Dixie Cups Musical Except, "Hey Hey" by Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias