Advocate Baton Rouge, La. Sep 5, 1999

Zydeco to take its place in nation's history books

by Stacey Plaisanc

PLAISANCE - Clanking spoons, tapping pots, scraping washboards and accordions - the music style unique to southwestern Louisiana that's known around the world as zydeco has earned a one-way ticket to the nation's capital. The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival wraps up today in Plaisance, a small community near Opelousas, but it will soon be preserved for generations to come at the U.S. Library of Congress. The festival, founded in 1982 by St. Landry Parish residents concerned about the decline of zydeco, was one of only a few chosen to represent Louisiana culture and heritage at the nation's capital as a Local Legacy for the library's bicentennial celebration next year. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said Local Legacies projects will provide a "snapshot of America" at the turn of the century with photographs, sound and video recordings, and written records documenting historic and cultural events and traditions. "The project celebrates, and shares with the nation, the grass- roots creativity of every part of America," he said. Mardi Gras festivals and Huey and Earl Long memorabilia will also be included. Nominated by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, the zydeco festival will take its place in the nation's history books with the more than 500 other Local Legacies selected by congressional offices around the country. "We have a lot of festivals in Louisiana, and have been called the land of festivals, but I nominated the Zydeco Fest because people know our state by its music," Landrieu, D-La., said. "Zydeco has gotten so popular, and a lot of people recognize Louisiana by its zydeco music. "Landrieu said the project has given states the opportunity to highlight unique aspects of their cultures that may not be well known by the general public. "There are other places in Louisiana than New Orleans with something to offer, especially in the Acadiana region, and we should do anything we can to recognize these things so they can be highlighted and treasured," she said. Mona Kennerson, director of the Southern Development Foundation that sponsors the festival, said it represents "the true gumbo that the state of Louisiana is. "We don't represent the entire Creole culture," she said. "We represent a small part of a large, varied culture. "The different music, languages, traditions and cuisine are all aspects of rural Creole and African-American culture, " Kennerson said. Zydeco music and Creole culture can vary from region to region, and "rural" Creole culture is unique to this region of Louisiana, she said. Kennerson , who has worked with the festival for the past five years, said it's not only the music that sets the festival apart from the rest. "Fiddle-making - how to carve a fiddle from wood - you won't get that from any class or anywhere else, but that's an important part of our culture here," she said. "So is open-hearth cooking and just listening to stories about our culture and customs. "Through stories, residents share alternative healing remedies for ailments, such as using spider webs to patch wounds and stop bleeding, or drinking a special tea blend to treat the flu, Kennerson said. But the music is the festival's heart and soul, she said. "The music is so important because of the culture behind it," she said. "Back when farmers would do their field work and finish early enough, they would go and help the neighbors with their fields. It was a community effort. And after all the work was done, they would all celebrate. "They would grab anything around - a washboard, spoons, anything that would make noise, and they would make music," she said.