Returning for the first time since 2019- The Original Gullah Festival Celebrated Gullah Roots
“How oonuh da do?”*
*That’s the Gullah greeting meaning “how are you doing” as taught by Hilton Head native islander Emory Campbell, author of “Gullah Cultural Legacies” [The State].
Glorious blue skies greeted attendees of the Original Gullah Festival held May 27-29, 2022 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort, South Carolina.
It is fitting the Original Gullah Festival is held on Memorial Day weekend as the observance, originally known as “Decoration Day” celebrated in May 1865 included newly freed African Americans who fought in the Civil War, and decorated soldiers’ graves. [insider.com]
A full slate of events featuring numerous workshops, crafts, music, food introduced patrons to the Gullah Geechee culture rooted in the sea islands of the area.
Who are the Gullah Geechee?
The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is a National Heritage Area and it was established by the U.S. Congress to recognize the unique culture of the Gullah Geechee people who have traditionally resided in the coastal areas and the sea islands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Visit us to learn more about the Gullah Geechee people and a unique, world culture.
Gullah Geechee Corridor Commission
[https://gullahgeecheecorridor.org]
The Gullah/Geechee Nation exists from Jacksonville, NC to Jacksonville, FL. It encompasses all of the Sea Islands and thirty to thirty-five miles inland to the St. John’s River. On these islands, people from numerous African ethnic groups linked with indigenous Americans and created the unique Gullah language and traditions from which later came “Geechee.” The Gullah/Geechee people have been considered “a nation within a nation” from the time of chattel enslavement in the United States until they officially became an internationally recognized nation on July 2, 2000.
[gullahgeecheenation.com]
Gullah Traditions
It was a pleasure to meet the founder of Lowcountry Gullah and her mother at the festival. Previously, I had interacted on a Gullah Geechee Corridor Zoom Meeting, but nothing beats meeting and connecting in person!
Here is some introductory information and more can be found in the direct link below.
Lowcountry Gullah is the culmination of several years of experience being immersed within the Hilton Head Island Gullah community and a body of work highlighting the culture and its people. For several years, writer Luana M. Graves Sellars has developed a large local and national following for her Gullah articles and stories, which focus on the history and culture. As a result of ongoing demand for access to over 200 previously published magazines and future articles, as well as requests for speaking engagements, Lowcountry Gullah fills the void for a central source and online location for Gullah information.{ Lowcountry Gullah.com}
Yummy Food Court
This Virtual Book Club Founder was very pleased to meet HabitForce Teacher and Author of “I Am S.A.N.E.”, Stacey Gibbs.
Susie L. McMahon, Luxe Lowcountry Travel was a Proud Sponsor of the Original Gullah Festival. I enjoyed the festival and all of the lovely people I met!
For more information about The Original Gullah Festival visit Original Gullah Festival and enjoy this video of Previous Gullah Festivals: Glimpse of Gullah Festivals Past
