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{{Primary sources|date=May 2020}}
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[[File:DC PierreKwenders0064.jpg|thumb|Pierre Kwenders from DR Congo performed at Scène Lafayette in 2016.]]
The '''Festival International De Louisiane''' is an annual music and arts festival held in [[Lafayette, Louisiana]] celebrating the [[Cajun|French heritage]] of the region and its connection to the Francophone world. The festival was first held in 1987 and has become very popular, attracting musicians, artists, and craftsmen from around the world. The festival is held outdoors in Downtown Lafayette on the last full weekend of April and is free to the public. Estimates for attendance include 400,000 in 2016. The festival was voted the "Best World Music Festival" by [[About.com]] readers in their 2012 and 2013 Readers' Choice Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldmusic.about.com/od/festivals/tp/Must-See-World-Music-At-Festival-International-2012.htm|title=Must-See World Music at Festival International 2012:Don't Miss These Fabulous Bands From Around the World|author=Romer, Megan|publisher=[[about.com]]|access-date=2012-07-24|archive-date=2012-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421195249/http://worldmusic.about.com/od/festivals/tp/Must-See-World-Music-At-Festival-International-2012.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020 saw a virtual event due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

The stated mission of the festival is to:
{{Blockquote|text=Enrich the community with a celebration of its native cultures through performing arts.

Educate the public of the historical achievements and artistic expressions of related global cultures while developing an appreciation for the arts.

Develop culture and tourism, as well as enhance economic development by expanding Louisiana’s reputation as an arts center and a destination for artistic events.<ref>https://www.festivalinternational.org/about-festival</ref>}}

French speakers live in the south central area of Louisiana known as Acadiana, and much of the local traditional music by Cajun and Creole musicians use French lyrics. Bi-lingual radio and television announcers underscore the prevalence of French speakers in older, rural areas among both Cajun and Creole residents. The French Immersion programs in the area promote the language in charter schools while increasing connections to the rest of the French-speaking world. Festival International underscores Acadiana's connection to the Francophone world.

Organizations such as Radio Canada, TV5Monde, Radio France, and Afropop Worldwide have reached out to Festival International officials to cover the event. In addition, the 2016 lineup of Francophone artists has attracted several government officials from the French-speaking world.

==Participating artists==
[[File:DC AlphaBlondy0082.jpg|thumb|Alpha Blondy, from the Ivory Coast, performed in 2016.]]
The festival draws musicians from around the world. Past performers include:
{{div col}}
*[[Alpha Blondy]] — [[Ivory Coast]]
*[[Balkan Beat Box]] — [[Israel]]
*[[BeauSoleil]] — United States
*[[Bomba Estéreo]] — [[Colombia]]
*[[Bonerama]] — [[United States]]
*[[La Bottine Souriante]] — [[Quebec]]
*[[Boukman Eksperyans]] — [[Haiti]]
*[[Buckwheat Zydeco]] — United States
*[[Ceux Qui Marchent Debout]] — [[France]]
*[[Cyro Baptista]] — [[Brazil]]
*[[DakhaBrakha]] — [[Ukraine]]
*[[Dominique Dupuis]] — [[New Brunswick]]
*[[The Duhks]] — [[Canada]]
*[[Francis Cabrel]] — [[France]]
*[[Frisner Augustin]] - [[Haiti]]
*[[Gangsters d'Amour]] - [[Belgium]]
*[[Gangbé Brass Band]] — [[Benin]]
*[[Henry Gray (musician)|Henry Gray and the Cats]] — United States
*[[The Hooten Hallers]] — Missouri, United States
*[[Dr. John]] — United States
*[[Keb' Mo']] — United States
*[[Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble]] — [[Toronto]]
*[[Ladysmith Black Mambazo]] — [[South Africa]]
*Locos Por Juana — United States{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}
*[[Los Lobos]] — California, United States
*[[The Lost Bayou Ramblers]] — United States
*[[MarchFourth Marching Band]] — United States
*[[Maria de Barros]] — [[Cape Verde]]
*{{interlanguage link|Mousta Largo|fr}} — [[Belgium]]
*[[Pierre Kwenders]] — [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
*[[Robert Randolph and the Family Band]] — United States
*[[Sergent Garcia]] — [[France]]
*[[Seun Kuti]] — [[Nigeria]]
*[[Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings]] — United States
*[[Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys]] — United States
*[[Skatalites]] — [[Jamaica]]
*[[Steel Pulse]] — [[England]]
*[[Suroît (band)|Suroît]] — [[Magdalen Islands]], [[Quebec]]
*[[Tinariwen]] — [[Mali]]
*[[Toubab Krewe]] — United States
*[[Le Trou Normand]] — [[France]]
*[[Väsen]] — [[Sweden]]
*[[The Wailers Band]] — [[Jamaica]]
*[[Yerba Buena (band)|Yerba Buena]] — [[Cuba]]
*[[Les Yeux Noirs]] — [[France]]
{{div col end}}

==Details of the event==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2011}}
Festival International de Louisiane has a variety of music, performers and vendors from all over the world. It is free to attend the Festival, which is supported by donors, volunteers and by the attendees when they purchase a pin. There are over four stages and a children's area to celebrate International culture. Festival International de Louisiane happens the last weekend on April with opening ceremonies on Wednesday evening. The Festival closes out Sunday evening with an all artist music jam. The Festival is maintained 90% by volunteers!

==See also==
'''Cultures'''
*[[Acadian]]
*[[Cajun]]
*[[Louisiana Creole people]]
'''Music'''
*[[Cajun music]]
*[[Music of Louisiana]]
*[[Zydeco]]
'''Similar local events'''
*[[Festivals Acadiens et Créoles]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.festivalinternational.org/ Official website]
*[http://www.krvs.org/ KRVS 88.7] public radio; [[KRVS]] broadcasts the festival
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110928065917/http://worldmusic.about.com/b/2011/02/11/festival-international-de-louisiane-announces-2011-lineup.htm 2011 Lineup for the Festival]

{{Music venues of Louisiana}}

[[Category:Acadiana]]
[[Category:Folk festivals in the United States]]
[[Category:Ethnic music in the United States]]
[[Category:French-American culture in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Cajun culture]]
[[Category:Music festivals in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Culture of Lafayette, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Rock festivals in the United States]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in Louisiana]]