Cultural Contributions to South Carolina

The Gullah Culture

Ms. Barrett

Houston Elementary

What is Gullah?

Culture directly linked to West Africa

“Gullah” comes from Angola in West Africa

Combined European, Native American, African cultures

History

Settlers in colonies needed plantation workers

West Africans were skilled farmers

European ships carried West Africans to SC

West African heritage brought to SC

Language

Gullah is also a language Developed by Africans to communicate with

tribes, Europeans Gullah language is similar to Krio Krio-language spoken in Sierra Leone, West

Africa

Traditions-Basket Making

One Gullah tradition is creating coiled grass baskets Sweetgrass and palmetto leaves commonly used Baskets were used on rice plantations Art form of sweetgrass basketry continues today

Fishnets

Gullah fishermen knitted their own fishing nets Natural materials were used to make the nets Art of fishnet making came from West Africa

Storytelling

Gullah folklore was shared through storytelling

Folktales often included animals as main characters

Stories always included a lesson to be learned

Songs

Music is very important to the Gullah culture

Stories were often told through songs

Gullah is found in religious practices

Gullah songs were an expression of slave experiences

Summary

Gullah culture strongly impacted South Carolina Gullah language and traditions still present in South

Carolina Gullah culture most prevalent in Low Country of

South Carolina

Credits

All photos are courtesy of the Library of Congress

And the American Memory Collection

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