The Retirement of Big Chief Victor Harris. Photo by Ashley Lorraine.

From September through December of 2024, NOMA worked alongside the Congo Square Preservation Society to bring the second installment of the Elders Sacred Talk Series to our visitors. As an extension of NOMA’s Art Thrives, an initiative for visitors ages 55 and up, the Elders Sacred Talk Series is designed with the intention to pay homage and amplify the voices of the elders in our community. With a roster of some of the city’s most prolific elders to NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts, the series is an opportunity to bridge generational gaps and enjoy the magic of learning through oral histories. 

Every month, guests were welcomed with the drumming of New Orleans’ bamboula rhythms as they waited to hear from some of the city’s long time culture bearers speak on their lived experiences, philosophies, and hopes for the city of New Orleans. Upon making their way to the stage, the elders and moderators worked together to talk about the past, present, and future of New Orleans and their specific areas of contribution. 

To kick off this year’s series of the Elder’s Sacred Talk, NOMA welcomed Luther Gray and Jamilah Peters-Muhammad. Peters-Muhammad and Gray showed that their commitment and passion for Congo Square and the city of New Orleans can come in many forms, whether it was through community wellness or maintaining the Bamboula rhythm of Congo Square. Next, the presence of visual artist, Willie Birch, and the oldest living Black Masking Big Chief, Joseph Pierre “Monk” Boudreaux, illustrated the profound impact of New Orleans’ Black culture both nationally and internationally. Through the spirit of their storytelling and patched recollections, it became abundantly clear how Big Chief Monk became the inspiration behind the HBO series Tremé and Birch’s work received the attention of the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum.

Luther Gray (left) and Jamilah Yejide Peters-Muhammad (right), co-founders of the Congo Square Preservation Society

The latter half of our guests included Tribal Queen Bee, the oldest living Black Masking Queen, and Carol Bebelle, long-time New Orleans visual artist and activist. Their stories as women leaders in the community who, for decades, have sought to uphold tradition, both inside and outside of institutions. Similarly, Community Book Center’s griot, Jennifer Turner, and the multifaceted actor, playwright, poet, producer/director and educator, Chakula Cha Jua, showed the importance of keeping Black stories alive through theatre and literature. Their memories, some clear as day and others, at times, foggy, were articulated with projected photos and archives that had gone unseen for decades.

With both new and familiar faces, young and old, the Lapis Center was filled with reverence and admiration for all of the dedication and love the elders have given to the city of New Orleans. For those who missed the event, stop by to see Mama Jennifer at the Community Book Center, read the poetry of Mama Carol Bebelle, and take the time to get to know the elders in your neighborhood. Their stories of the recent past are part of the future of this one-of-a-kind city.

—Bebel DeMoura Nilo, Tulane University