Smaïl Kanouté’s Performance at Hangar Y Honors the Black Indians of New Orleans
Performance
© Camille Lenain
© Suzanne C. Grim
Hangar Y
9 Avenue de Trivaux
Meudon, France 92190
Sunday, June 15 | 3PM - 6 PM
On June 15, The Hangar Y welcomed choreographer and dancer Smaïl Kanouté and visual artist Léonard Martin, two former Villa Albertine residents, for a captivating performance inspired by the legendary Yellow Pocahontas Hunters tribe of New Orleans.
Overview
3:00 PM – Roundtable and Screening of the Documentary Film Black Indians by Smail Kanouté (Free Admission)
A compelling conversation delved into the rich and complex world of the New Orleans Black Indians, a culture deeply rooted in history, resilience, and artistic expression. This panel featured Renée Gusman, Smaïl Kanouté, and Marwan Pleasant, who examined the origins and evolution of Black Indian traditions, tracing the powerful influences of West African masking and Native American homage.
5:00 – 6:00 PM – Black Indians Performance by Smaïl Kanouté
Following an artistic residency with Villa Albertine in New Orleans, Smaïl Kanouté encountered the Yellow Pocahontas Hunters, one of the city’s most emblematic Black Indian tribes, guardians of a living African-American tradition more than 150 years strong. This transformative experience inspired Black Indians, a bold new performance that bridges cultures, languages, and generations. On stage, Kanouté led a vibrant parade where Native American languages, Creole, and English converged over the pulse of hip-hop, rap, and blues.
Villa Albertine is proud to be a partner of Smail Kanouté and Léonard Martin’s performances at Hangar Y, celebrating the Yellow Pocahontas Hunters tribe of New Orleans.
In partnership with
Centre Pompidou
Since 1977, the Centre Pompidou has presented a rich programme at the crossroads between different art forms and audiences. Its iconic building is home to one of the world’s largest modern and contemporary art collections, in addition to exhibitions, symposiums, festivals, shows, projections, and workshops for young audiences, making it an unparalleled cultural institution, deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Paris and open to the world and to new innovation.
Hangar Y
A unique cultural destination at the intersection of art, science, and nature,Hangar Y is open to all audiences. Since its reopening in mid-March 2023, nearly 250,000 visitors have discovered the 10-hectare park and its dynamic cultural program. Housed in a historic building emblematic of 19th-century industrial architecture, Hangar Y presents a rich annual lineup across disciplines—visual arts, cinema, VR, dance—reimagining the site’s heritage as a space of dreams, exploration, and celestial wonder. Outdoors, visitors are invited to a poetic journey through an art trail surrounding the basin, offering a peaceful escape from the city to explore,wander, and reconnect with nature.
Seasonal events, workshops, and family activities complete the program.