Mississippi Blues Trail

The Mississippi Blues Trail marker commemorating Napolian Strickland is on the center median in the 200 block of Main Street in Como, Mississippi.

The GPS location of this marker is: N 34° 30.734′ W 89° 56.477′

 

Mississippi Blues Trail marker for Napolian Strickland, Como, Mississippi
Mississippi Blues Trail marker for Napolian Strickland, Como, Mississippi

The marker reads:

“NAPOLIAN STRICKLAND – Napolian Strickland (1924-2001) was one of Mississippi’s most gifted musicians in the fife and drum and country blues traditions. A life-long resident of the Como-Senatobia area, Strickland excelled on the homemade cane fife and was also proficient on harmonica, guitar, the one string “diddley-bow,” and various percussion instruments. Strickland’s music was the highlight of countless fife and drum picnics in this area, and he was featured in several documentaries and recording projects.”.

 

Mississippi Blues Trail marker for Napolian Strickland, Como, Mississippi
Mississippi Blues Trail marker for Napolian Strickland, Como, Mississippi

There are two more Mississippi Blues Trail markers nearby on Como’s Main Street: one for Mississippi Fred McDowell and one for Otha Turner.

Here are some videos of Napolian Strickland:

This is a 1978 Alan Lomax video of Napolian Strickland demonstrating the diddley-bow:

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