The Wild Tchoupitoulas were a prominent New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian tribe who transformed into a unique music group in the mid-1970s. Renowned for incorporating the chants and rhythms of traditional Mardi Gras Indian ceremonies into a contemporary musical context, they fused the sounds of funk, R&B, and traditional African music. Their self-titled 1976 album, featuring a lineup that included the future members of the Neville Brothers, is considered a landmark in New Orleans music history. The Wild Tchoupitoulas played a significant role in the evolution and preservation of Mardi Gras Indian culture, bringing it to a wider audience.