Description

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Mardi Gras Indians explores how sacred and secular expressions of Carnival throughout the African diaspora came together in a gumbo-sized melting pot to birth one of the most unique traditions celebrating African culture, Indigenous peoples, and Black Americans. Williams ties together the fragments of the ancient traditions with the expressed experiences of the contemporary. From the sangamentos of the Kongolese and the calumets of the various tribes of the lower Mississippi River valley to one-on-one interviews with today's Black masking tribe members, this book highlights the spirit of resistance and rebellion upon which this culture was built.

About the Author

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Nikesha Elise Williams is an award-winning author and the producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. She has received two Suncoast Regional Emmy awards for her work as a news producer. Williams is currently a freelance writer for the Washington Post, Essence, and Vox, among other publications. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her famil