Progress in restoring Slim’s Y Ki-Ki in Opelousas

OPELOUSAS, La. ( ) – With Opelousas being the Zydeco capital and the Slim's Y Ki-Ki Zydeco dancehall being a staple for Zydeco musicians and listeners for nearly 70 years, the Zydeco Historical Preservation Society hopes the restoration of the dance hall will begin a movement to highlight the historical significance of zydeco.

"Slim's Y Ki-Ki is one of the last remaining zydeco dance halls. Clifton Chenier played there, it's an integral part of Zydeco music, Creole culture and history, and so we're looking to preserve that," says Chairperson of the Zydeco Historical Preservation Society, Rod Sias.

In December of 2023, the Zydeco Historical Preservation Society became the first recipient of the Rural Development Grant in St. Landry Parish. With the grant funding, Sias says the society has been dedicated to preserving the dance hall and have dedicated the months since receiving the grant to focus on costs and the needs to get the building up and running.

"Everything from restoring the floors to the painting is going to be taking. It's not like a regular renovation. It is a preservation."

As their study has shown the costs of repairs, Sias says the Zydeco Preservation Society will also host a zydeco concert and fundraiser to add funding for the building and also honor the king of zydeco on his 100th birthday this July 23. "With the Clifton Centennial, we are raising money for a bronze statue to honor the King of Zydeco. So, we are bringing those two movements together."

With the mission of restoring the legendary dance hall and adding the statue to honor a legend, Sias says the hope is for this to mark the beginning of a Zydeco movement that will see historical sites be brought back to life across the south. "So we're not going to stop in Opelousas. We go we're going to move on to recharge club. You know, we're going to offer a lounge in Ciro's, in Hamilton, and we're going to go all the way to Houston. So, we want to create that network almost like a blues trail."

Sias says the plan is for the building restoration to begin next summer.