FESTIVAL'S AUTHENTICITY UNDER FIRE FROM CAJUN.Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - The Rotary Club's annual Cajun-Creole Music Festival, which last year raised $100,000 for local charities, is under attack by critics who claim it is ``insensitive, exploitative and a misrepresentation misrepresentation In law, any false or misleading expression of fact, usually with the intent to deceive or defraud. It most commonly occurs in insurance and real-estate contracts. False advertising may also constitute misrepresentation. of Louisiana CODE, OF LOUISIANA. In 1822, Peter Derbigny, Edward Livingston, and Moreau Lislet, were selected by the legislature to revise and amend the civil code, and to add to it such laws still in force as were not included therein. French culture.'' Gary Huggins, a Cajun who lives near San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , is spearheading a movement seeking to change the format of Simi SIMI Sea Ice Mechanics Initiative SIMI Search for Intelligent Monkeys on the Internet SIMI Students Islamic Movement in India SIMI Society of Irish Motor Industry SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Markets Initiative Valley's two-day festival, scheduled for this weekend. ``What we would like for them to do is put authentic music up there on stage or change the format,'' said Huggins, who was born and reared in southern Louisiana. ``Misrepresenting it as they are doing and exploiting it for money is reprehensible rep·re·hen·si·ble adj. Deserving rebuke or censure; blameworthy. See Synonyms at blameworthy. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin repreh .'' Huggins complained that just two of the six bands scheduled to play represent Louisiana French music and that the two headlining acts - Hal Ketchum and Lynn Anderson - are country singers. But Steve Smith, president of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, said four of the acts represent Cajun or Creole music and that the country singers provide a more diverse slate of entertainers and help attract more people. Last year's festival drew roughly 15,000. ``What we are trying to do every year is to raise money for the community,'' Smith said. ``We are trying to put together a mix that will help the event. If we are successful, it will give us more money to donate to the community and continue to upgrade all of the entertainment,'' he said. ``We don't feel by having country acts we are not a Cajun festival.'' Cajun music is the music of white French-speaking descendents of exiles from Acadia in Canada who largely settled in southern Louisiana. And zydeco zydeco (zī`dĭkō'), American musical form originating among the African-American Creoles of Louisiana. Drawing on elements of traditional Cajun music as well as jazz, country and western, and blues, it is characterized by French lyrics, or Creole music, defined by the use of a washboard and accordion, was invented by black French speakers in Louisiana. Redlands resident David Sousa, who with his band, Zydeco Mud Bugs, performed at last year's festival, concurred with Huggins. ``Those of us who spend a lot of time and effort trying to be true to the culture and music are concerned with the representation that will be seen there,'' Sousa said. |
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