This year marks the 50th anniversary of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, a vibrant celebration of Louisiana’s unique Francophone culture. In a special ceremony during the festival’s opening night concert on October 11, 2024 at 5:00 pm, French Consul General in New Orleans, Rodolphe Sambou, along with Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet and UL President Joseph Savoie will honor Festivals Acadiens et Créoles Director and co-founder, Barry Jean Ancelet with a promotion to the rank of Officier in France’s Ordre des Arts et Lettres. This prestigious recognition acknowledges Ancelet’s significant contributions to Louisiana’s Francophone culture, music, and literature.
The Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, held annually in Lafayette’s Girard Park, showcases the rich heritage of Louisiana’s French-speaking communities through music, art, food, and storytelling. This milestone anniversary will feature an array of performances, cultural activities, and exhibits that highlight the region’s deep-rooted traditions and artistic expressions.
Barry Jean Ancelet, a Professor Emeritus of Francophone Studies and Research Fellow at the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, has been a pivotal figure in promoting and preserving Louisiana’s linguistic and cultural heritage. His extensive contributions include numerous publications, concerts, festivals, records, museum exhibitions, documentary films, and radio programs that explore various aspects of Louisiana French language, culture, literature, and music.
He is a Chevalier in France’s Palmes Académiques and in France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a member of Quebec’s Ordre des Francophones d’Amérique, and a Fellow of the American Folklore Society. In 2009 he was named Humanist of the Year by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
Under his pseudonym, Jean Arceneaux, Ancelet has created a wealth of Louisiana French poetry, plays, short fiction, children’s stories, and song lyrics. His latest work, “Suite des sens” (2023), is an illustrated poetic novella that continues his tradition of celebrating the beauty of the French language and its cultural significance.
Ancelet’s musical collaborations, particularly with renowned artist Sam Broussard, have produced acclaimed albums, including “Broken Promised Land,” which received a Grammy nomination in 2016, and their most recent work, “Le Grand Silence.” His artistry and dedication to Louisiana’s Francophone community have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the region.
The 50th anniversary of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles promises to be a memorable event, bringing together artists, families, and community members to honor the legacy of Louisiana’s Francophone culture. The presentation of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres distinction to Barry Jean Ancelet during this celebration further highlights the importance of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana.
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles takes place every year in Lafayette, LA, at the heart of French-speaking Louisiana, also known as Acadiana, where the rich cultures of Cajun and Creole continue to flourish. The festival has hosted performances by musical icons and Grammy honorees such as Clifton Chenier, Chubby Carrier, Sonny Landreth, Cedric Watson, and Pine Leaf Boys.
Since its inaugural event in 1974, the three-day festival has become the original and world’s largest Cajun and Zydeco festival, attracting visitors from across the globe. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles features performances by local musicians, cultural workshops, and local cuisine, providing an immersive and authentic experience of the region’s rich Cajun and Creole heritage.
2024 will mark Festivals Acadiens et Créoles’ 50th anniversary and is presented by LUS Fiber. For more information, visit FestivalsAcadiens.com.
Barry Jean Ancelet
