Here are three songs that fuse our Blackness with Mardi Gras in ways that make us shake it for our hoods like it’s all good.
Big Chief
Ironically this song wasn’t even written for Mardi Gras. It was an homage to the solidarity between enslaved Africans and Indigenous tribal communities.
Iko Iko
First recorded in 1953, the song was supposed to be called Chock-O-Mo, patois for “carnival.” However, producers misheard the name. When the album was released it was called Jock-O-Mo, which is patois for “jester.” In 1963, girl group Dixie Cups shut down all confusion when they sang it, calling it Iko Iko, a call from Black Indians as they play-acted confrontations in the streets.
Mardi Gras Mambo
Mardi Gras Mambo isn’t actually a mambo at all. Real ones know it’s a rumba, The band thought “mambo” sounded better in the lyrics. During a time when Black bands were being messed over by greedy producers, the Hawketts had control over their sound and production.
To hear more Black Mardi Gras songs, join our playlist on Spotify, and let us know what songs you would add to our collection. Happy Mardi Gras, Fam ✨