The Wild Magnolias are one of the most famous Black Masking Indian tribes to come out of Uptown New Orleans. Under the leadership of the late Big Chief Theodore “Bo” Dollis, the tribe helped carry the Mardi Gras Indian tradition from the neighborhood streets onto records and stages around the world.

In 1970 Bo Dollis, alongside Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles, recorded “Handa Wanda,” widely considered the first commercial Mardi Gras Indian single. The song turned the call-and-response chants heard on Mardi Gras morning and Super Sunday into music that people everywhere could hear and love.

Today the tribe continues under Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr., who keeps his father’s legacy alive by masking each year and performing the songs that made the Wild Magnolias a household name. Their beautiful hand-sewn suits, sharp chants, and deep pride make them a cornerstone of the culture.