Four new Essence magazine covers featuring Mardi Gras Indians are hot sellers

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — With Essence Fest days away, Essence Magazine is already showcasing four different magazine covers featuring Mardi Gras Indians for its 30th anniversary issue.

Filmmaker and photographer Edward Buckles Jr. is the photographer for the collector’s covers.

“What’s funny about this is at first, I was only assigned to do one cover, but when the Essence team was going through selects, they couldn’t choose just one, so they said they were putting four covers on newsstands. I was like, I am not mad at that,” Buckles Jr. said.

Buckles Jr. is well-known for his award-winning documentary, “Katrina Babies,” which he documented and interviewed those in New Orleans who were kids or teens during Hurricane Katrina and how they were affected by the storm.

He said what struck him about this project is that typically Essence puts A-listers and celebrities on its covers, but he wanted to showcase the cultural superstars of New Orleans.

“But in my eyes, those are my superstars. You know, our cultural bearers, our Indians, and just the everyday people who make up the pulse of our culture. Having the opportunity to write a love letter like this to my city is something I couldn’t pass up,” he said.

The various covers feature Tahj Willaims, Queen of The Golden Eagles, J’Wan Boudreaux, Ajah and Zoie of The Mohawk Hunters, which is based in Algiers and Yolanda “Short Dog” Taylor who is with a Babydoll group, and Mohawk Big Chief Tyrone Casby.

These covers are so popular right now, quickly becoming collector’s items. Many stores are already sold-out.

“Essence is putting in a rush order,” he said.

Buckles Jr. also created a short film to coincide with the Essence covers called, “Dear New Orleans.” The film will be screened during Essence Fest this weekend. There will be a special show on Friday at 5 p.m. celebrating his new exhibit at The Barnett Hotel, formerly known as The Ace Hotel this weekend.

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