Cha Wa is a funk band unlike any other since it is strictly connected with the ancient traditions of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Indians: spicy like gumbo, multicolored like the spice market of the Delta city, summoner of mysteries and spells. The band also recalls the marching bands parading in the French Quarter. If music isn’t enough, the band offers a solid visual impact with the picturesque clothing and headdresses of the native tribes of Louisiana. “Cha Wa” means “we’re comin’ for ya” in a slang used by Mardi Gras Indian tribes.
Cha Wa was founded in 2014 by drummer Joe Gelini. While attending Berklee, he heard of Mardi Gras Indians and fell in love with it so much that he moved to New Orleans. The band has become known internationally within a few years by participating in the most significant festivals, including Montreal, San Francisco and New Orleans. The band’s second and third albums, “Spyboy” and “My People”, were nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category.