2026 | Namur-Lafayette twinning: Zachary Richard named Citizen of Namur during his conference

On Wednesday, 11 February 2026, the International Relations Office of the City of Namur had the pleasure of welcoming Louisiana singer-songwriter Zachary Richard for a conference entitled “L’Histoire des Acadiennes et Acadiens de la Louisiane”, the history of the Acadian people of Louisiana. 

The event, which took place in the Auditoire Michaux at La Bourse, was a great success: the venue was full, with around 100 people in attendance to listen to this passionate advocate for the French language and Louisiana’s Cajun culture.

The History of the Acadian People of Louisiana

This event formed part of the twinning between the Cities of Namur and Lafayette. During this richly illustrated conference, Zachary Richard recounted the history of the French-speaking community of south-western Louisiana, known as the “Cajuns”. This history bears witness to the community’s resilience, courage and ability to adapt. 

Citizen of Namur

At the end of the conference, Charlotte Bazelaire, Acting Mayor of the City of Namur, awarded Zachary Richard the title of Citizen of Namur.

This distinction recognises not only his artistic career, marked by iconic songs such as “Travailler c’est trop dur”, but also his essential role as a cultural bridge between Louisiana and the Walloon capital.