Researching the Gullah Geechee Culture

A group of islands located in the South Eastern United States boasts of a rich and old Gullah-Geechee culture, dating back to hundreds of years. 

Delving into the Gullah Geechee Culture

The Gullah Geechee culture is exclusive to Hilton Head Island. The Gullah Geechee culture is composed of different aspects of various African cultures. These practices and ways of life have been maintained by the descendants of the African inhabitants who first lived here centuries ago. 

Before the Civil War, farmers brought people from Africa to be slaves on their plantations. The slaves were largely cut off from the world around them.  Nevertheless, they maintained their traditions and culture; the various cultures became blended over the years, and formed the Gullah Geechee culture. The first bridge that bridged the gap of the islands with the world came in 1920.  

Even after the end of slavery in the Civil War, people continued to reside and work here on Hilton Head Island. 

Closely Related Cultures

The Gullah culture and the Geechee culture are closely related. While the residents of the South Carolina islands are known as the Gullah, the residents of Georgia are known as the Geechee. On Hilton Head Island, to learn more about the Gullah Geechee culture, people frequently turn to top-notch touring companies like Gullah Heritage Trail Tours. 

The word “Gullah” is derived from an African language spoken by the ancestors of the Gullah people. Some claim that Gullah is derived from the word “Gola”; “Gola” is the name of a group of African tribal people living in Liberia.  

The Gullah people have retained their ancestral African sources in their speech, dialect, and traditions. The language spoken on these islands is a blend of the African language and English language; there is a difference in the syntax, grammar and speech of the English component. To learn more about the culture of the people on the islands, you can take a tour with Gullah Heritage Trail Tours. 

If you want to peek into this rich culture, plan your next vacation to these islands and take a tour with Gullah Heritage Trail Tours. To learn more about their services, you can visit their website at http://gullaheritage.com/.