Hands rise along Napoleon Avenue as he Krewe of Oshun rolls past Friday evening, the first parade of the Uptown route. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
After an afternoon of concern about a persistent rainfall, the skies cleared just in time Friday night for the Krewe of Oshun to down St. Charles Avenue as the first parade of the season along the Uptown route.
Oshun’s theme this year was “Child’s Play,” with 19 floats based on nursery rhymes. Deborah Singleton Rogers reigned as Queen Oshun XV, and Ronald Joseph Lewis Jr. was King Shango.
“Traditionally symbolized by a peacock or a fan, Oshun was the goddess of fountains, love, wealth and religion for the African people of Brazil, Haiti and Cuba,” according to Arthur Hardy’s 36th Annual Mardi Gras Guide.
The O. Perry Walker band performs at the corner of Napoleon and St. Charles avenues. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Yemoja Emperor float in the Krewe of Oshun parade rolls up Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A rider on the Goddesses of Fountains float in the Krewe of Oshun. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Oshun's King Shango float rolls up Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Sophie B. Wright band marches with the Krewe of Oshun. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Oshun rolls up Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The McDonogh 35 marching band performs on Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Oshun's "Mary Mack, Dressed in Black" float rolls up Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A member of the Warren Easton marching band. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
The Krewe of Oshun's floats were modeled after nursery rhymes. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
It is so cool that we can follow tweets through UM!! Do you have plans for the other parades?
We’re going to do them all, thanks!