Across the state, from New Orleans to Opelousas and beyond, descendants of Creole-speaking ancestors hold a common hope — to reconnect with their history and legacy.
Chinbo, Inc. is on a mission to help Louisianians reclaim the power of language found deep in the history of their family and communities.
History of Kouri-Vini
Kouri-Vini, also known as Louisiana Creole, is the critically endangered Creole language native to Louisiana. It formed among enslaved African communities during the French colonial period in the early 18th century. In certain regions, it became the lingua franca (common language), spoken by enslaved and free peoples across racial lines.
By the end of the 20th century, the number of speakers had decreased significantly. Today, most remaining speakers of Kouri-Vini (Louisiana Creole) are concentrated in southern Louisiana as well as parts of the Gulf Coast (former territories of colonial Louisiana now present-day Mississippi and Alabama) and Louisiana Creole diasporic communities in southeastern Texas, California, and Illinois.
Kouri-Vini is experiencing a revitalization initiated by members of the Louisiana Creole community, some of whom began their work almost twenty years ago. Currently, there are more heritage language (re)learners studying Kouri-Vini than before World War I.
Louisiana civil parishes in which Kouri-Vini (Louisiana Creole) is still found, but are not limited to, include Iberia, Lafayette, Lafourche, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupée, St. James, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and St. Tammany.
NOAAM x Chinbo, Inc.
Reclaim, Reconnect, Restore: Living Tradition through Kouri-Vini
About Chinbo, Inc.
Chinbo, Inc. believes that language is the foundation of culture. Once a language has gone dormant or extinct, then the culture associated with it may become susceptible to assimilation, misunderstanding, and misrepresentation. Language informs our worldview. Speaking, reading, and writing Kouri-Vini provides a more profound connection to our culture and identity. We believe that having engaging learning resources and a strong community of learners is essential to the reclamation of an endangered heritage language.
Our Collaboration
Since opening The Heritage Lab in 2023, NOAAM & Chinbo, Inc. have shown how language can be both a tool of preservation and a source of joy. The Heritage Lab has hosted interactive cultural activations, unveiled the first-ever film in Louisiana Creole (Tambou), and created opportunities for people of all ages to hear, speak, and live the language in new ways.
These experiences prove that Kouri-Vini is not a relic of the past — it is a living tradition ready to guide our collective future.
Looking ahead, NOAAM & Chinbo, Inc. will expand this work by offering NOAAM’s exhibition tours in Kouri-Vini, introducing more immersive cultural experiences, and facilitating educational conversations that connect language to land, memory, and identity. Each step is designed to make the language more accessible and to ensure that every participant — from heritage learners to culture-bearers — has a pathway into this living tradition.
Chinbo Inc. Ongoing Fundraising Campaign
Our annual Gou é Gèt Festival (“Taste and See”) will be held this year on October 25–26. This two-day celebration offers an intimate experience of Louisiana Creole culture — featuring linguistic workshops, literary presentations, genealogical explorations, and live entertainment. Gou é Gèt is where tradition meets creativity, inviting you not only to witness Creole heritage but to taste, see, and live it.
Whether you are a fluent speaker, a curious beginner, a fan of The Heritage Lab, or simply someone who believes in the power of language- you have a place and space with us at NOAAM. Our team of educators and culture bearers will be waiting to build lakomminité (community) with you.
Help Chinbo, Inc. in its mission to save Kouri Vini for the next generation of Louisianans.
“Kouri-vini 101 | The History and Development of Louisiana Creole + Greetings”, Starring Clif St. Laurent, President, Chinbo, Inc.”