The Gullah
The “Gullah” is a name given to slaves who were brought to the South to work on the plantations. They came from places that are now known as Angola, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, and Senegal. They brought their folklore, traditions, and beliefs with them. Gullahs practice a unique blend of Christianity, herbalism (herbal medicine), and folk magic (some call this black magic or hoodoo, also known as Lowcountry Voodoo). Many of the descendents of these men and women still call the lowcountry home. It is believed that roughly 250,000 Gullah still live on sea islands on the northern tip of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. In Florida, and Georgia, they are also known as Geechee. But some dispute the accuracy of this count, citing a much smaller population.
It is uncertain where the name “Gullah” came from. Some believe that “Gullah” was shortened from “Angola,” a region on the West African Coast. Some believe that the term derives from a Liberian group, the “Golas,” who also come from the West African Coast. Still others believe Gullah was the language spoken by slaves and that the term later came to encompass their culture and way of way, as well.
Gullah history, folklore, beliefs, traditions, recipes, and more can be found in my titles, Lowcountry Voodoo and Coastal South Carolina.
f you’re interested in visiting the Lowcountry and learning more about the Gullah…
Sites & Insights Tours offers Black History and Porgy & Bess Tours. These include stories of the Gullah culture and visits to Emanuel A.M.E. Church, Catfish Row, Old Slave Mart Museum, City Market, Site of Hanging Tree, and more. They also offer Sea Island Tours, which shares Gullah culture and takes visitors to James Island, Johns Island, Angel Oak, Burn Churchyard Cemetery, and more. www.sitesandinsights.com
Sample authentic Gullah cuisine at the Gullah Cuisine Restaurant in Mt. Pleasant, SC. 843.881.9076.
Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival is a lowcountry tradition. It is held in Mt. Pleasant, SC every June. http://www.sweetgrassfestival.org/
Native Islander Gullah Celebration is held on Hilton Head Island every February. Highlights include gullah and gospel music, local art, storytelling, a dance, barbecue, and more. www.gullahcelebration.com
Penn Center on St. Helena Island was founded to preserve the unique history, culture, and environment of the SC Sea Islands. Brick Church, near Penn Center, was built in 1855 by Gullah slaves. There is a Heritage Days celebration every November. www.penncenter.com
Gullah-N-Geechee Mahn Tours shows visitors St. Helena Island and other area sea islands while sharing stories about the Gullah. http://www.gullahgeechietours.net/
FYI: After more than thirty years work by translators, a CD version of the Gullah Bible is now available. This is the largest collection of Gullah recordings ever made available to the public. http://www.penncenter.com/
