Waylon Thibodeaux receives 2024 Tradition Bearer Award at annual Rougarou Festival

During the annual Rougarou Festival this past weekend, in honor of Louisiana Folklife Month, the Louisiana Folklore Society alongside Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser presented local Cajun fiddler Waylon Thibodeaux with the annual Tradition Bearer Award.

Louisiana Folklife Month recognizes the rich diversity of Louisiana’s living traditions and showcases an array of tradition bearers across the state. Tradition Bearer Waylon Thibodeaux was recognized for his work preserving Cajun history and customs through music this past weekend.

“Born in Louisiana’s ‘Bayou Country’ just a few miles southwest of New Orleans, Houma native Waylon Thibodeaux has been dubbed Louisiana’s Rockin’ Fiddler. Today, this talented, self-taught Cajun musician has gained a notable reputation as one of Louisiana’s best known recording artists,” reads a statement from the Rougarou Festival website. “His rollicking, crowd-pleasing performance on stage is exactly what one would expect from someone who, at age 16, was Louisiana’s state fiddle champion. He never fails to serve up a good helping of spicy, high-energy Louisiana and Cajun/Zydeco music.”

Thibodeaux’s also conducts educational and musically-themed local workshops, dedicated to the preservation of Cajun history and customs while passing them on to the next generation. “Waylon utilizes his gift for storytelling as he traces the Acadian journey as they leave their native France for Nova Scotia and then are exiled to Louisiana.,” continues the description. “Audience members often find themselves with a washboard, triangle, or other Cajun instrument in hand as Waylon’s stories and music of the Cajun people unfold.”

“To be acknowledged for doing something that I’ve done for so many years was incredible,” said Waylon Thibodeaux. “This recognition is a huge honor and really reinforced what I’ve done my whole life.”

For more information about the local musician, please visit Waylon Thibodeaux’s official website.