February is a time to celebrate, acknowledge, and honor the local Gullah culture. A time to study and reflect on the significant contributions and experiences related to Gullah traditions, wisdom and way of life from the past to the present.
Gullah culture originated from enslaved Africans, primarily from the Rice Coast of Africa, who brought distinctive and rich elements of their African heritage to the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. The Gullah people have worked hard to maintain, preserve and share their beautiful Gullah language, cuisine, folklore, spiritual practices and traditions.
Storytelling and respect for elders are keystones of Gullah culture that continues today. Fortunately, modern families with a Gullah culture background have preserved cherished elements of their history, values and traditions. The stories reflect the folklore of West Africa and often feature animal characters illustrating moral lessons.
Aspects of Gullah culture that have long fascinated history students and are frequently asked about by tourists involve their spiritual practices. These include the role of root doctors, sometimes called “conjure men” or “healers,” and shout dancing.
The Shout and the Ring Shout share similarities but have significant differences. They both can occur during religious worship, but the Shout is less structured than the Ring Shout and serves different purposes.
A Gullah “Shout” typically refers to spontaneous vocalizing with energetic rhythmic movement during religious gatherings. Shouts are usually described as ecstatic responses of joy and praise to sermons or exclamations from other congregation members, accompanied by stomping, swaying and clapping. A Shout has historical significance as a representation of how enslaved Africans expressed their spiritual fervor and Gullah culture, strengthening and affirming their identity in the safe space of praise houses and now in modern-day churches.
A Ring Shout is more structured. Participants dance in a choreographed, counterclockwise circle, with their feet never entirely off the ground, to maintain a physical connection to the earth with the spirits of ancestors. A unique stick or special walking stick keeps the rhythm. Call-and-response singing and movement patterns passed down through generations make the Ring Shout a dance and a spiritual practice. Ring Shouts are sometimes performed to celebrate special occasions at social events, religious venues, or churches, whereas Shouts occur primarily at churches or during religious events.
Root doctors are highly respected and have a mystical status in their Gullah communities. Known for their knowledge and power to heal sickness through herbs, roots, and rituals, root doctors are said to possess supernatural powers to protect against evil. Intriguing stories about them are shared in books, articles, and by storytellers.
Beaufort County, South Carolina, is an epicenter for preserving and sharing Gullah Culture through various events and activities during the winter months, especially during Black History Month in February. Live performances, cultural exhibits and demonstrations, authentic cuisine, workshops, storytelling, discussions, and historical presentations exist to entertain and educate.
Websites: lowcountrygullah.com, gullahcelebration.com, thegullahproject.org
Books: The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy, Gullah Cultural Legacies by Emory Campbell, Gullah Days: Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge 1861-1956 by Carolyn Grant, Emory Shaw Campbell, and Thomas C. Barnwell, Jr., Gullah Home Cooking, the Daufuskie Way by Sallie Ann Robinson
Tamela Maxim is thrilled to write for the Bluffton Sun and Hilton Head Sun. She was previously the assistant publisher of Realtor Listings magazine, editor of Bluffton Breeze and Premier Lowcountry magazines, and occasional contributor to local newspapers and magazines, including Carolina Morning News, Bluffton Today, Bluffton Eccentric, Premier Lowcountry, and PINK. She plays the role of the assistant art instructor on the YouTube channel Art Posse, a local reality TV show that has just completed its 2nd season. www.artposseproductions.com She recently edited and published two books, Et Cetera Y’all, Volume 1 by Annelore Harrell, and From Jellybeans to a Nobel Prize Nomination by Arthur V. Martin, Ph.D.
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