Folk Narrative

Throughout the South, storytelling is a particularly rich form of verbal folklore. Stories can be sacred or secular, serious or funny, long or short, and performed by children or adults. Storytellers can be found on front porches, the corner store, the family dinner table - anywhere people tend to gather. Storytelling is not restricted to one particular culture group. Native American, African American, and EuroAmerican narrative traditions have deep roots in the South. In addition, much of the traditional music in South Carolina has a powerful storytelling aspect. Blues music usually incorporates storytelling into the song structure, as does much of the gospel, country, and ballad music performed from the hills of the upstate to the marshes along the coast.

Content is provided by McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina.

For further information about any of the artists featured on Digital Traditions, send your questions and comments to hallagan@mailbox.sc.edu.

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Listen to Gullah Language | Gullah Net
Listen to Gullah Language | Gullah Net

Interactive

Grades: PreK Kindergarten 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

INSTRUCTIONS: Click on an English word to see and hear the Gullah word. About Gullah Language Gullah is also a language. It was developed among Africans as a way to communicate with people from other...
Little Red Hen in English | Gullah Tales
Little Red Hen in English | Gullah Tales

Interactive

Grades: PreK Kindergarten 1 2 3 4 5

Listen to the interactive version of the Little Red Hen in English. Storytelling performance by Anita Singleton Prather (Aunt Pearlie Sue)
Little Red Hen in Gullah | Gullah Tales
Little Red Hen in Gullah | Gullah Tales

Interactive

Grades: PreK Kindergarten 1 2 3 4 5

Listen to the interactive version of the Little Red Hen in Gullah. Storytelling performance by Anita Singleton Prather (Aunt Pearlie Sue)
Louise Miller Cohen Photos | Digital Traditions
Louise Miller Cohen Photos | Digital Traditions

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

A native of Hilton Head Island, Louise Miller Cohen is able to trace her island roots back into the 1800s. Her homeplace still stands on property owned by her great grandfather – property purchased...
 Midwives | Digital Tradition
Midwives | Digital Tradition

Audio

Grades: Higher Education

A McClellanville, SC (Charleston County) resident, Ms. Wineglass has long been known for her folk medicine remedies, as well as the ability to interpret dreams
Red Riding Hood | Gullah Tales
Red Riding Hood | Gullah Tales

Interactive

Grades: PreK Kindergarten 1 2 3 4 5

Listen to the interactive version of the Little Red Riding Hood in both English and Gullah. Storytelling performance by Anita Singleton Prather (Aunt Pearlie Sue)
What a Friend in English | Gullah Tales
What a Friend in English | Gullah Tales

Interactive

Grades: Kindergarten 1 2 3

Listen to the interactive version of the What A Friend in English. Click here for the English Version. Storytelling performance by Anita Singleton Prather (Aunt Pearlie Sue).
What a Friend in Gullah | Gullah Tales
What a Friend in Gullah | Gullah Tales

Interactive

Grades: Kindergarten 1 2 3

Listen to the interactive version of the What A Friend in Gullah. Click here for the English Version. Storytelling performance by Anita Singleton Prather (Aunt Pearlie Sue).