The Cajun French Music Association of Louisiana, Inc., is a non-profit (501-C3) organization comprised of musicians and non-musicians of Cajun and non-Cajun whose sole purpose is to promote and preserve Cajun music and culture wherever possible.
The CFMA was founded and chartered in November 1984 by Harry LaFleur of Eunice, Louisiana. Since its’ beginning with a handful of people, chapters have been established in the cities of Eunice, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Houma, Lafayette, and New Iberia, Louisiana, as well as Gulf Coast, Texas. Associate chapters are in the process of being formed in other states as well.
We have various projects such as conversational Cajun French classes, Cajun dance lessons, Cajun Music Lessons, and Cajun Choir. Our annual Cajun Music and Food Festival, held on the third weekend of July, is a roaring success and has made the “Top Twenty Events list of the Southwest Louisiana Tourism Society”. We also hold the “Miss Cajun Music Pageant” a week prior to our festival. The Chapter has a Mardi Gras Krewe, a dance troupe and a Cajun Choir.
We have donated over $15,000 to an endowment at McNeese State University Foundation with the proceeds going towards a scholarship yearly to schools in our area that offer French classes.
We are a very active hardworking group of people who are welcoming our new members to become active in what we consider a very worthwhile cause, to preserve our Cajun Heritage.
The Lake Charles Chapter was chartered on September 28, 1987.