Caribbean Spirit Returns to Congo Square: Bayou Bacchanal 2025 Marks 23 Years of Carnival In New Orleans

/0 Comments/in /by

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Oct. 23, 2025: The rhythm of the Caribbean will once again pulse through the streets of New Orleans this November as Friends of Culture presents the 23rd Annual Bayou Bacchanal Caribbean Carnival, a two-day celebration of heritage, music, and unity taking place November 1–2, 2025.

This year’s festivities honor Port of New Orleans Commissioner and former City Councilman James J. Carter, Jr., who will serve as Grand Marshal, recognizing his contributions to civic leadership and cultural diplomacy. Joining him are special guests and cultural ambassadors from across the Caribbean, including Mtima Solwazi, Founder of The Oral Tradition ROOTS Foundation of Trinidad & Tobago, and Daniel Griffith, Steelpan Ambassador with The Musical Instruments of Trinidad & Tobago Company, (MITTCO). Their participation highlights the Caribbean’s enduring global influence through art, rhythm, and storytelling.

23rd Annual Bayou Bacchanal Caribbean Carnival is set for Nov. 1 and 2, 2025.

A Weekend of Music, Mas, and Caribbean Flavor

The celebration kicks off on Saturday, November 1st, with the All-White Feté Kickoff Party at Congratulations Event Hall, 1900 Lafayette Street, Gretna, Louisiana, beginning at 9:00 p.m. The event will feature electrifying performances by The Revolution Band of Atlanta and DJ sets by MC Wassey, DJ Tek, and DJ Fire Flame, setting the stage for a weekend of nonstop soca, dancehall, and steelpan energy.

The main event – the Bayou Bacchanal Parade – begins on Sunday, November 2nd at 11:00 a.m., departing from the Hilton Riverside Hotel driveway on Convention Center Blvd. The parade route travels along Canal Street, Claiborne Avenue, and Orleans Avenue before culminating at the historic Congo Square inside Louis Armstrong Park, the birthplace of New Orleans’ vibrant Afro-Caribbean soundscape.

From noon to 6:30 p.m., the Congo Square Carnival Festival will transform the park into a feast for the senses, complete with live performances from St. Lucian soca star Messiah and Pan Vibrations Steelband. Revelers can also enjoy authentic Caribbean cuisine from local and regional vendors and admire dazzling carnival costumes designed by Rachelle Lawrence of the Krewe of Bulbancha.

Honoring Heritage and Building Bridges

“It’s an honor to bring the ROOTS Foundation and MITTCO to New Orleans,” said Mtima Solwazi. “The connection between Port of Spain and Congo Square reminds us that the music, language, and stories of our ancestors are still alive and uniting us today.”

Marilyn LaForce, President of Friends of Culture, emphasized the festival’s deeper mission: “Bayou Bacchanal is a cultural bridge between the Caribbean and Louisiana. It represents the rhythm of our shared history and the promise of collaboration that keeps our heritage thriving across generations.”

Now celebrating its 23rd year, Bayou Bacchanal holds the distinction of being New Orleans’ original Caribbean Carnival, connecting Caribbean nations and the U.S. Gulf Coast through creative expression, cultural diplomacy, and the spirit of freedom that defines the region’s legacy.

Support and Community Partnerships

This year’s Bayou Bacchanal is made possible through the generous support of sponsors and partners, including Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Office of Sheriff Susan Hutson, Ashé Cultural Arts Center, Ujamaa EDC, and NolaCaribe. The organizers also expressed gratitude for the volunteer service of the LSU Caribbean Students Association, whose participation reflects the next generation’s commitment to preserving and celebrating Caribbean identity.

As New Orleans prepares to once again embrace the energy of Carnival season, Bayou Bacchanal 2025 stands as a living testament to the enduring influence of Caribbean culture — a colorful, musical, and unifying force that continues to shape the heartbeat of the Crescent City.

Jamaican Roots Designer Grace Wales Bonner Makes History As Hermès’ First Black Woman Creative Director

/0 Comments/in /by

BY NAN ET EDITOR

News Americas, LONDON, England, Weds. Oct. 22, 2025: The fashion world is celebrating a historic moment as Jamaican-roots British designer Grace Wales Bonner has been named Creative Director of Hermès Men’s Ready-to-Wear, making her the first Black woman to lead a major luxury fashion house. The announcement cements Wales Bonner’s reputation as one of the most visionary designers of her generation and marks a new chapter for the nearly two-century-old French brand.

Hermès confirmed the appointment in a statement, saying: “Hermès is pleased to announce the appointment of Grace Wales Bonner as Creative Director of Men’s Ready-to-Wear. The Founder and Artistic Director of Wales Bonner has developed a contemporary and innovative approach to menswear over the last 10 years. Passionate about craft and culture, she will present her first collection for Hermès in January 2027.”

Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the General Artistic Director of Hermès, praised the designer’s global vision and depth of creativity. “I am really pleased to welcome Grace to the Hermès Artistic Director family. Her take on contemporary fashion, craft, and culture will contribute to shaping Hermès men’s style, melding the house’s heritage with a confident look on the now. Grace’s appetite and curiosity for artistic practice strongly resonate with Hermès’ creative mindset and approach. We are at the start of an enriching mutual dialogue,” Dumas said.

Jamaican heritage designer Grace Wales Bonner attends the Dover Street Market open house to celebrate Photo London 2025 on May 15, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Wales Bonner, the daughter of a Jamaican immigrant, responded with gratitude and purpose, calling the opportunity “a dream realized.”

“I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the role of Creative Director of Hermès Men’s Ready-to-Wear,” she said. “It is a dream realised to embark on this new chapter, following in a lineage of inspired craftspeople and designers. I wish to express my gratitude to Pierre-Alexis Dumas and Axel Dumas for the opportunity to bring my vision to this magical house.”

From South London to the World Stage

Born in South London in 1990 to a Jamaican father and an English mother, Grace Wales Bonner’s dual heritage has been the cornerstone of her artistic voice. Raised between Dulwich and Stockwell, she learned early on how identity, culture, and creativity could coexist in layered harmony.

After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2014 with her acclaimed collection “Afrique,” she launched her namesake label later that year. Her brand, Wales Bonner, soon became known for blending European tailoring with Afro-Atlantic history, philosophy, and style.

Her collections—often inspired by music, post-colonial theory, and spirituality – earned her the LVMH Young Designer Prize in 2016, the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund in 2019, and the CFDA International Men’s Designer of the Year in 2021. In 2022, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to fashion.

Grace Wales Bonner, Chance The Rapper at the UTA Pre-Met Soiree at Nubeluz held at The Ritz-Carlton on May 04, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Marsha Bernstein/WWD via Getty Images)

Jamaican Roots, Global Resonance

While based in London and Paris, Wales Bonner has never strayed far from her Caribbean roots. Her Jamaican heritage runs through her creative work – from her music-inspired collections to her collaborations with Adidas, where she reimagined the official Jamaican Football Federation kits. Each design blends heritage, rhythm, and pride, transforming national identity into global luxury.

Her work celebrates the Caribbean as a site of innovation, not limitation. “My mission,” she once said, “is to honor the beauty and intellectual history of the African diaspora through a refined and poetic lens.” With Hermès, that mission now steps onto the world’s most elite runway.

A Scholar, Curator, and Cultural Storyteller

Beyond fashion, Wales Bonner’s interdisciplinary approach has influenced museums and galleries worldwide. Her 2019 exhibition “A Time for New Dreams” at London’s Serpentine Gallery and her 2023 MoMA exhibition “Spirit Movers” explored how art, music, and spirituality intersect in the Black experience. Her shows attracted tens of thousands of visitors and positioned her as a bridge between haute couture and cultural scholarship.

A Caribbean Legacy in Paris

As Wales Bonner prepares to debut her first Hermès menswear collection in January 2027, her appointment marks a profound shift in how heritage and identity shape global luxury. She is not just designing clothes; she is redefining what power, creativity, and elegance look like from a diasporic perspective.

For the Caribbean, her ascent is more than symbolic – it’s proof that cultural excellence born from Kingston, London, and beyond continues to influence the world’s most prestigious stages.