On Wednesday, November 20, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and the Congo Square Preservation Society will host the Elders Sacred Talk Series, a program dedicated to honoring prolific elder New Orleanians. This installment will spotlight two cultural powerhouses: Tribal Queen Bee, the oldest actively Black Masking Queen, and Carol Bebelle, visual artist and activist. The event will take place from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts and is free with museum admission. Museum admission is FREE for locals on Wednesday.
Moderated by Denise Graves, the discussion will explore the extraordinary lives of these two women and their transformative contributions to New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage. The program offers visitors a rare opportunity to hear firsthand from these luminaries about their personal journeys and the legacies they have built.
About the Speakers:
Tribal Queen Bee
Tribal Queen Bee was born Littdell S. Banister on October 5, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Queen Bee is the Tribal Queen of the Creole Wild West tribe and is the oldest actively masking Queen in the Black Masking Indian tradition. Queen Bee is 90 years old and started masking in 1973. After introducing her six year-old son Honey to masking, Queen Bee joined the Creole Wild West tribe where Honey is now Gang Flag of the Tribe. This began her journey as a Black Masking Indian. Queen Bee later ascended to the position of Tribal Queen of the Creole Wild West, which, as she explains, “It’s different from a Big Queen. A Big Queen is the Chief’s Queen and must always be next to the Chief. A Tribal Queen is over the entire tribe.” Together Tribal Queen Bee and her son Gang Flag Honey have been masking for over fifty years.
Carol Bebelle
Carol Bebelle, known affectionately as Mama Carol, is a steady voice for the influence of culture on the quality of our lives. Bebelle is the co-founder of Efforts of Grace and Ashé Cultural Arts Center, where for two decades her ground-breaking leadership promoted the intersection of culture, community, and art. As a proud, lifelong New Orleanian, Bebelle received her primary through graduate education in the city and worked nearly 20 years in the public sector as an administrator and planner of education, social, cultural, and health programs.
Bebelle is also the founder and principal of AKUA Productions NOLA, which specializes in cultural, social, and human development. Her album, The Medicine Bag, features a series of jazz and blues songs dedicated to healing. Bebelle published works include her book of poetry “In a Manner of Speaking” as well as poems in “From a Bend in the River,” a chapter in “Civic Engagement in the Wake of Katrina,” and an essay in “Ashé to Amen.” Bebelle’s numerous local and national awards include the 2023 Champion of Culture Award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and a recognition from the city’s tricentennial celebration as one of 300 people who helped to make New Orleans what it is and is helping to shape its future.
The Elders Sacred Talk Series is part of NOMA’s Art Thrives initiative, which supports creative aging through programs designed for visitors aged 55 and older. In addition to workshops and art-making opportunities, the series provides a stage for elder voices to share their wisdom with audiences of all ages, bridging generational gaps and enriching cultural understanding.
This event is free for Louisiana residents on Wednesdays, thanks to the support of The Helis Foundation. Visitors can check in at the admissions desk upon arrival for directions to the Lapis Center for the Arts.
You can learn more here.
Elders Sacred Talk Series
