A Journey into the Rich Culture and History of Gullah Geechee People in Hilton Head Island

The gullah geechee community present in the south eastern part of United States are descendants of the African people brought as slaves. The enslavement on coastal plantations and isolated island has left an indelible mark on the present-day people of this community. Even today, the African retentions are clearly visible in food, art, crafts, language and music on the gullah geechee people residing in Hilton Head Island. The Gullah geechee culture in Hilton Head Island has a historical significance and the traditions that have remained over centuries reflect a unique heritage.

Here are the most important aspects of African American history in South Carolina that reflects in the present day culture of the gullah geechee people. If you want to know what is the history of gullah people in South Carolina.

 

Unique language

One of the noted aspects of gullah culture in Hilton Head Island is their unique language. It is the Creole language that may be considered as a blend of several languages spoken in the West African region and English. From the enslaved Africans of the past to the language that the modern-day gullah communities speak, it is hard to spot a difference. With this, one can easily establish that the linguistic aspects of this region remain untouched and have been spoken since centuries. Although children and young people may not speak Creole fluently, efforts to restore and revitalize the language continue to this day.

Food

Once can hardly ever miss the diet of the gullah geechee people residing in Hilton Head Island. It is undoubtedly one of the most important traditions of the community consisting of vegetables that are locally grown and available in plenty. Besides, there is a dominance of seafood, livestock and fruits. Overall, gullah dishes contain rice, yams, peanuts, sesame seeds, watermelon, and sorghum. Furthermore, there is an impact of food introduced by the Native American people like tomatoes, corn, berries, and squash. Rice is one of the most staple diets of the gullah geechee community.

Historically, African cultural practices focused on using the food available and eating little for long. Accordingly, leftovers from butchering and communal stews, supplementing the food with fish are a couple of things noted. The gullah geechee people continue using spices and seasonings that are used in African homes. Primarily enslaved women were cooks in plantation and their creativity reflects in the modern-day food preparation as well.

Basket-weaving

Another area where the gullah culture in Hilton Head is deeply influenced by African ancestors is sweet basket weaving. Today, you will come across several people of the community engaged in weaving baskets; so popular is this craft that live workshops are being held for those who are keen to learn, including the visitors arriving in the island regions for enjoying a vacation. 

Storytelling tradition

According to African American history in South Carolina, the gullah geechee people have expertise in storytelling. The tradition has been passed on to this generation where people from the community narrate stories about the victory of their people from the fangs of slavery. The overall tradition is not just about preserving history but one form of community bonding as well as the cultural tradition. 

Religion

The gullah geechee people are primarily Christians but also blends African traditions in the way they practice Christianity. It is evident in the way they sing hymns, style of worship, rituals, and use of music. The traditional hymns feature the call-and-response style of singing that blend themes from their culture as well as Christianity. The heritage and culture of the gullah geechee people is intensely rich and efforts have been constantly made to restore the age-old culture of the people over the decades. From their unique language, religion, food, and craft, each aspect of their culture is unique. If you are planning to head on to Hilton Head tour Island for a short vacation, don’t miss the heritage trail tour of Gullah Heritage that takes you to explore each aspect of this community. Explore here to view the tour slots and get ready to step into the enchanting world of the gullah geechee people.