Brian's Story
Nkem Big Chief Brian Harrison Nelson is one of the youngest known big chiefs in the history of the New Orleans Black Mardi Gras Indian Nation. In 2014 he was crowned a Nkem (royal chief), within the N’weh Nation of Cameroon, West Africa. Early in his film career at age 18 years old, Brian was selected as one of Sundance Film Festival's Generation Y young filmmaker honorees for a short film he wrote and directed entitled "Choices". Choices was a public service announcement which explored life in New Orleans from a teenager's perspective who refused to participate in crime, drugs and gang activity in order to be a Indigenous cultural leader within the Mardi Gras Indian and Social Aid and pleasure traditions.
In 2011 Brian earned his MFA in cinematic arts from the University of Southern California. His thesis film, “Keeper of the Flame,” has received local, national, and international awards and honors including the prestigious Paul Robeson Award for independent Black Film, special honors at the Femi International Film Festival of Guadeloupe, San Francisco Black Film Fest best short film award, San Diego Black Film Festival's best short documentary award, and New Orleans Film Festival's Emerging Voices honor to name a few.
Big Chief Brian's musical career has been deeply influenced through close ties to a number of personal mentors who have helped him develop his own musical style and approach. Included in this group of mentors are legendary New Orleans Jazz icon Danny Barker, New Orleans rhythm and blues icon Ernie Vincent, Bounce pioneer Rick B, and Big Chief Donald Claude, Sr., Mia X, the iconic Mardi Gras Indian Chief of the Blackfoot Hunters. Among his most requested songs is his original composition, entitled Happy Birthday to Ya’. He continues to travel the world as a performing artist and as a student of the tradition of the Black Mardi Gras Indian nations.
In 2011 Brian earned his MFA in cinematic arts from the University of Southern California. His thesis film, “Keeper of the Flame,” has received local, national, and international awards and honors including the prestigious Paul Robeson Award for independent Black Film, special honors at the Femi International Film Festival of Guadeloupe, San Francisco Black Film Fest best short film award, San Diego Black Film Festival's best short documentary award, and New Orleans Film Festival's Emerging Voices honor to name a few.
Big Chief Brian's musical career has been deeply influenced through close ties to a number of personal mentors who have helped him develop his own musical style and approach. Included in this group of mentors are legendary New Orleans Jazz icon Danny Barker, New Orleans rhythm and blues icon Ernie Vincent, Bounce pioneer Rick B, and Big Chief Donald Claude, Sr., Mia X, the iconic Mardi Gras Indian Chief of the Blackfoot Hunters. Among his most requested songs is his original composition, entitled Happy Birthday to Ya’. He continues to travel the world as a performing artist and as a student of the tradition of the Black Mardi Gras Indian nations.
Big Chief Brian's Performance Highlights
Brian Nelson has performed in many locations around the world. Here are a few:
- Louisiana: Pick Your Passion Chicago, IL
- HBO’s Treme Series New Orleans, LA
- Trinity United Church Maafa Service Chicago, IL
- Music of New Orleans in Périgueux, France
- LA Grammy Luncheon Los Angeles, CA
- Old Yard Mas San Fernando, Trinidad
- Woodland Cultural Arts Centre Brantford, Ontario
- Arts and Ideas International Festival New Haven, CT
- Jazz at Lincoln Center - Higher Ground Tour Dubai, U.A.E. Colombo, Sri Lanka
- New Delhi, India
- Festival Garonne Toulouse, France
- Cultural Rendezvous in Borneo Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- World of Rhythms Tour Penang, Malaysia
- PanaFest Accra, Ghana
- Thunderous Drums, Singapore
- Jazz a la Plantation Martinique, Fr. West Indies
- Folklarama Festival Winnipeg, Canada
- LA Academy Awards Presentation Hollywood, California
- Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow Albuquerque, New Mexico
- New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival New Orleans, Louisiana
- Essence Music Festival New Orleans, Louisiana