The Krewe of African Kings was founded in 1990 by a group of men from St. Joseph Church in Pensacola, and celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The first year, the krewe rented a float for its first parade and had its ball at St. Joseph Parish Hall. Martin Lewis — who has been a member of the African Kings for more than 20 years — said the group began with about 20 members. “It’s always been a small krewe, because if you get too big it gets to be more about business and politics,” he said. “We like to keep it a small mutual group that can get along.
The group's ball continues to be a black-tie affair by invitation only, with food, drinking, dancing and a program on the history of the king featured for the year, according to a krewe press release. This year, the krewe will celebrate King Samori Ture of the Wassoulou Empire. The krewe gives favors to guests, which over the years have ranged from masks to second-line handkerchiefs (second-line refers to traditional parades, with brass bands, dancing in the streets and often brightly colored umbrellas and props). The queen is one of the guests chosen by the use of a “Queen’s Cake."
Membership is limited to around 25 to 30 members. "We all belong to other organizations that help the community," Lewis said in the press release. "This is strictly a fun Mardi Gras krewe." The organization is open to male members of St. Joseph Church as well as the community. Membership fee is $ 250 a year. Members must have a costume reflecting some part of Africa made in the Mardi Gras tradition and must purchase their own throws for parades.
The group's activities include an invitation-only Mardi Gras Ball, parades for Mardi Gras and Fiesta of Five Flags, a Fat Tuesday trip to New Orleans, and a Fiesta Krewe Ball.
Contact Martin Lewis at mlewis34@cox.net.