Deux Voyages - Balfa Toujours

The Cajun band Balfa Toujours performed in Albuquerque a few weeks ago. They are a very popular musical group in a localized region of the United States, centered around New Orleans. Cajuns are descendants of the French Acadians who settled in Louisiana as a result of the 'Seven Years War,' better known in American history books as the 'French and Indian War' of 1755-1763. The Acadians arrived in Louisiana and settled there after being exiled from Nova Scotia for refusing to swear allegiance to Great Britain. Because of their desire to remain neutral, they were ostracized by the British who - fearing the Acadians would align forces with the French - forced them to leave Canada. The exile was called, the Great Upheaval or Le Grand Dérangement.

In 1847, American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote an epic poem describing the tragedy of displacement in, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie.

The Acadians or, 'Cajuns' as they refer to themselves, still speak French and their language remains alive. I am uncertain how isolated their dialect has become from the rest of the French-speaking world but if it is at all like New Mexico Spanish then I am certain it is probably a bit antiquated.

My paternal ancestors arrived in the New World through New Orleans as surveyors during the Louisiana Purchase. They eventually settled in what would later become New Mexico. They spoke French, Spanish and Basque as they were from the Pyrenees - a mountain range that acts as a natural boundary between Spain and France. There is a town in France's adjacent valley that bears our family name.

While I speak virtually no French and my translation skills are limited, I do appreciate the beauty of Cajun music because it has a sound that I find familiar, soothing, rooted and beautiful. Its folksiness also bears a resemblance to local New Mexico Spanish music.

People who visit New Mexico from other Spanish-speaking countries are always intrigued to hear such our ancient dialect is still spoken. This phenomenon has occurred because New Mexico was isolated from the rest of the Spanish speaking world after the area was taken over by the American conquerors in 1848. In certain areas of Northern New Mexico and very commonly with the dialect of Spanish spoken here, it is not unusual to hear words and phrases spoken that sixteenth century Spanish writer, Miguel de Cervantes would have been familiar with.

I admire Cajuns and the descendants of their predecessor’s fellow countrymen in Canada because they have clung not only to their language but their culture as well. I believe the reason why Franco-Canadians have thrived and actually succeeded in pursuing their right to self-determination to this day is because the early French settlers brought their women along with them.

I have celebrated the importance of women in previous posts and this one is no different. The example I have just described attests to the notion so beautifully put by Abraham Lincoln, 'The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.' Franco-Canadian endurance as a people is direct evidence that woman is the foundation of culture.

The song Deux Voyages is also the album title released by Balfa Toujours. It is a song which Christine Balfa and her husband - who plays accordian in the band - wrote after visiting their ancestral European homeland. The song is a waltz whose melancholy melody is delivered on the accordion and violin.

Deux Voyages

Ils sont partis du pays pour faire un grande voyage
They left the land to make a great journey
Ils ont traversé la mer avec juse leur courage
They crossed the sea with only their courage
Mes pères ont laissé tout pour la liberté
My forefathers left everything of their liberty
Il y avait pas un roi qui pouvait les enchainer
There wasn't a king who could keep them in chains.

[violin and accordian instrumental]

J'ai traversé la mer pour rechercher mon héritage
I crossed the sea to seek out my heritage
Dans le pays de mes pères à leur petit village
To the country of my forefathers, to their little village
Comment ils quitté cette belle place.
How they left this beautiful place,
je peux pas comprendre
I cannot understand
Ils ont risqué tout ils avaient pour leurs descendants.
They risked everything they had for their descendants

If you have a chance, check their music out at one of your local music stores. I am not certain whether any of their music is sampled on the official Balfa Toujours website which I linked earlier. Christine is the daughter of a local Louisiana legend in his own right, Burke Balfa. His instrumental, Le Falcon Gris - The Gray Hawk, and 73 Special are lively, upbeat tunes.