AtD and the Wild West

[David Morris]

Many MG Indian tribes still exist and are sources of great art (their
costumes) and music (drums and chants).   The Wild magnolias with Big
Cheif Bo Dollis are the very best and have numerous recordings, often
joining up with the best modern jazz musicians in New Orleans.  Here
is an intro write-up for their performance at Kennedy Center in 2001
(click on the video clip at the bottom):

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=WILDMAGNOS

The violent aspect of confrontations between the competing tribes as
they march free-form through the poorer neighborhoods has, thankfully,
mostly gone away - largely because of the leadership of Big Chief
Tootie Montana (deceased last year) of the Yellow Pocahontas tribe
(the MOST beautifully costumed tribe).  He advocated competing for the
most beautiful costumes instead, and his advice has been followed

http://www.whatchusay.com/archives/2005/07/chiefs_greatest.html

>
> Thanks for that, David. A nicely subversive image. I've found the following account:
>
> "By the early decades of the twentieth century, a number of black 'Indian' tribes, associated with specific neighborhoods in the African American sections of the city, had been formed, and on Mardi Gras these tribes, bearing names such as the Yellow Poker Hunters, the Wild Squatoulas, and the Black Mohawks, paraded through black neighborhoods, following no fixed route and stopping from time to time at local saloons. When tribes encountered one another, challenges were issued and, not infrequently, violence ensued."
>
> From: Graham White & Shane White (1998) Stylin': African American Expressive
> Culture from Its Beginnings to the Zoot Suit, Cornell University Press, 146.
>
> Sounds like business as usual on pynchon-l.
>
>
>
>