The vibes at Maison Creole de Freetown are divinely ancestral, connecting Louisiana Creoles to their culture. Time slows down and Creoles from various walks of life commune, exchange ideas, and learn their heritage languages. In 2022, founder, curator, and tour guide, Erica Melancon-Fox opened the museum in the heart of Lafayette’s historical Freetown community. Maison Freetown is also a member of the Association of African American Museums.
Growing up, Fox remembers her grandmother peculiarly intertwining Louisiana French into her upbringing. Fox felt the ancestral urge to implement Kouri-Vini and Louisiana French into the museum. Along with Fox and staff, community members support vital activations and cultural initiatives making Maison Freetown a sacred space for the Creole Diaspora and African American culture.
Organizing Creole Table Talks and La La Jam Sessions at Maison Freetown
Fox is a strong believer in alignment and following what feels right. Monsieur Paul Cluse, president and founding member of C.R.E.O.L.E., Inc., began hosting daytime Creole Tables, which led to patrons requesting evening events at the museum.
Around the same time Monsieur Herbert Wiltz was looking to host evening tables, so he asked if we’d be interested in adding another. Of course, I said yes, because it would give those able to attend at night a chance to learn or converse with another language veteran such as Monsieur Wiltz. It was kinda a no-brainer.
Fox and Louisiana native Colby Angelle teamed up to organize the evening events. With creolepathy flowing throughout the community, they brainstormed ideas to bring the Creole “La La” jams to life. Colby said it was funny because she also was trying to launch one and had been in talks with Monsieur Wiltz. “We had a ‘say no more’ moment and a partnership between all three was instantly formed. I love when things come together and we immediately started moving amongst our individual networks to create something really special,” she explained.
Remembering and acknowledging historical-cultural aspects is important to Fox. Surrounding this notion, she named the jam sessions, “La La” to honor Creole authenticity.
Visitors are surrounded by powerful art, culture bearers, and artists highlighting and uplifting Louisiana’s Creole heritage. Music performers have included Cedric Bijou, Rusty Metoyer, Jordan Thibodeaux, Kendall Fuselier, the Ledet family, and many others. In addition to learning the language and music, attendees receive a free hot and delicious meal catered by a local business.
Fox also knew it was necessary to bring the events together under one roof.
When you think about it, a great deal of La La music was in French, especially from the earlier music giants. As a kid I was reciting lyrics like ‘si c’est bon pour le regard, c’est bon pour l’oie’ from Rockin’ Sidney (If it’s good for the gander, it’s good for the goose). My grandmother would ask me to put those records on for her and what I didn’t realize is I was getting a lesson in French Music 101… The language was being passed down to me organically and I loved hearing the stories about ‘Joe Pete a deux femmes’ and so many others.
The monthly gathering is open to the Creole Diaspora, Louisianians, and others interested in the culture.
Cultural spaces thrive with community involvement
The resurgence of Kouri-Vini and Louisiana French is heartwarming to see. For decades, Louisiana Creoles expressed their disappointment about the intentional erasure of their languages. In return, it is important for community members, especially those who identify as Creole and/or Cajun to actively engage and support cultural initiatives.
Vice President of C.R.E.O.L.E., Inc., Taalib Auguste, and Kouri-Vini instructor and Vice President of Chinbo, Inc., Clif St. Laurent, advocate and encourage young Creoles and Cajuns to learn their heritage language.
During the gatherings, Maison Freetown offers mini lessons with interactive worksheets and literature talks in Kouri-Vini. Auguste recently had a literature talk with Monsieur Wiltz about his debut book, “Koushma: Kondamé-la.”
When asked about the resurgence of heritage languages, Fox said, “I’m really glad that it is [happening]. I’m so excited that people are starting to talk to their loved ones about heritage, genealogy, and language. It’s a vital part of who we are in Louisiana. It’s our identity, our ancestral connections, and the essence of what makes people of this area so interesting… It’s truly beautiful that people are connecting with it.”
Creoles connecting across generations
As she reminisced on her childhood, Fox understood that cross-generation communication is essential for Creoles. “French was everywhere. My grandmother would tell us stories in French (knowing full well we couldn’t understand) because even if it was not our first language, like hers, she wanted us to experience it, hear it, and appreciate it,” she said. “That’s what our French tables at Maison are like today. Even if you aren’t fluent or maybe a beginner, you can still come to experience it. See it in practice by others. It’s still valuable just to come and listen.”
Maison Freetown’s key mission is to provide space for dialogue about culture and to learn from one another.
Our mission is to bring people into a space where cultural heritage collides. We are a repository for cultural education, and it can take many forms- through music, art, language, crafts, stories, or something as simple as sharing a conversation over a cup of coffee. We make room for people to gather, learn, and be inspired by our diverse connections.
She hopes to see more music recorded in Kouri-Vini and Louisiana French while keeping the old French and Zydeco tunes alive. Fox also feels sitting at the table over a meal and speaking in one’s heritage language heals and fulfills.
She expressed, “I hope kids will keep asking questions of their grandparents; I hope parents keep dancing in their living rooms with their children; I hope spaces like Maison Freetown inspire others to start documenting their own family histories; I hope stories continue to be passed down and the languages of Louisiana live on hundreds of generations to come!”
The monthly gatherings are donation-based and strongly encouraged to sustain programming. Come out to support and witness Maison Freetown’s Creole Table and LaLa Jam Sessions this month and beyond.
