Located on the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia are communities of people who are the descendants of enslaved Africans. They have a unique culture that is directly linked to West Africa. In South Carolina, this group of African-Americans and the language they speak are referred to as Gullah (Gul-luh). In Georgia, they are called Geechee (Gee-chee). Native Islanders is another term that refers to the Gullah and Geechee people.
Many historians believe that the word "Gullah" comes from Angola, a West African country from which many of the slaves came. Another idea is that "Gullah" is from the Gola, a tribe found near the border of Liberia and Sierra Leone, West Africa. Although the exact origin of the word is not known, most historians agree that the Gullah people and their language have African roots.
En las Islas del Mar de Carolina del Sur y Georgia hay comunidades de personas que son descendientes de Africanos esclavizados. Tienen una cultura única que está directamente vinculada con África Occidental. En Carolina del Sur, este grupo de Afroamericanos y el idioma que hablan se conoce como Gullah (Gul-luh). En Georgia, se llaman Geechee (Gee-chee). Los Isleños Nativos es otro término que se refiere a los pueblos Gullah y Geechee.
Muchos historiadores creen que la palabra "Gullah” viene de Angola, un país de África Occidental del que vinieron muchos de los esclavos. Otra idea es que "Gullah" es de la Gola, una tribu encontrada cerca de la frontera de Liberia y Sierra Leona, África Occidental. Aunque no se conoce el origen exacto de la palabra, la mayoría de los historiadores están de acuerdo en que el pueblo Gullah y su idioma tienen raíces Africanas.
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The Gullah tradition of creating coiled grass baskets is a craft that has been handed down from generation to generation. Instead of weaving the baskets, a needle made from a spoon handle, bone or...
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In the video, St. Helena resident Frank Brown weaves a net while singing a song rich in the Gullah dialect. This clip was extracted from Palmetto Places - St. Helena Island. After the Civil War and...
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Native Islanders share their folklore and history through storytelling and singing. Gullah storytellers often perform folktales that feature animals as the main characters. Much like tales heard in...
Document
benne wafer (ben.ne wa.fer) n. - a cookie made with sesame seeds and eaten for good luck; introduced by slaves from West Africa. / cast (cast) v. - to throw or fling. chaff (chaff) n. - lightweight...
Lesson
When enslaved Africans came to the coast of South Carolina they brought many foods with them that have become traditional Southern favorites. They include peanuts, sweet potatoes, okra, black-eyed...
Document
From West Africa During the late 1600s, English settlers in the new colonies needed more workers to farm thousands of acres of land on Sea Island plantations. Although some of the workers were Native...
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Gullah communities are located where enslaved Africans once lived and worked on Sea Island plantations that were owned by American colonists. Native Americans were also part of these communities. The...
Lesson
The goal for this project is to create an electronic storybook to teach younger students about Gullah. The storybook should be a multi-sensory, interactive experience for young readers so that they...
Document
Gullah traditions are the customs, beliefs and ways of life that have been passed down among Sea Island families. Making sweetgrass baskets, quilting, and knitting fishing nets are a few of the crafts...
Interactive
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...