This past Sunday at the Po-Boy Preservation Festival, Oak Street was stuffed big and bursting open like a hot roast beef with gravy, dressed, but down the river the Congo Square Rhythms Festival was also pulsating with the energy of drums and dance on two stages at the Old U.S. Mint. Local artists Higher Heights, Kora Konnection, Bamboula 2000, Seguenon Kone and Bill Summers’ Jazz Salsa all performed, as well as Manno Charlemagne from Haiti, who moved to New Orleans recently, and several African dance troupes. The festival also included a Mardi Gras Indian “battle” featuring members from various Mardi Gras Indian tribes.

Below are photos from the festival, all taken by Kim Welsh.

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