"One of the cultural wonders of the world you must see," USA Today.
Gullah History
Although it had its origins in slavery, the history and culture of the inhabitants that call Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry coastal region of South Carolina “home” is an inspiration to all Americans. Living simply just as they did more than a hundred years ago, these people, whose ancestors are known as the Gullah subscribe to high religion and the celebration of spiritual redemption in leading their daily lives.
The original Gullah were African slaves who were shipped across the Atlantic from West Africa to work the cotton plantations of the South. While plantation owners built their fortunes upon slave labor, the slaves were able to create something of their own -- the unique culture that is now known as Gullah. With that culture came a thriving mix of language, folktales and superstition, a mix that has shaped generations of families who live on Hilton Head Island and in the Lowcountry today.
In addition to attending the annual Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration held each February, which gives visitors the opportunity to share in rich cultural traditions and crafts, such as the Gullah basket weaving; while in town, they can also visit Mitchelville - the first freed Negro township; Gullah Heritage Trail - Hilton Head Island; Ibile Indigo House - a working studio where visitors learn the tradition of West African indigo-dye processes and products; Zion Chapel of Ease - Hilton Head's oldest cemetery; Queen Chapel AME Church - established in 1860 as a "praise house" for Pope Plantation slaves.
Hilton Head Island visitors can immerse themselves in Gullah culture year round with a visit to De Gullah Creations. Located in Shelter Cove Mall, this unique consignment store is a cultural co-op owned and operated by the native Gullah community and is dedicated to improving the economic condition of the Gullah community and to providing a unique showcase for the talented artisans who celebrate and capture lowcountry life.
Visit www.degullahcreations.com for more information.
Gullah Language
The Gullah culture is kept alive through vivid storytelling in the native tongue of Gullah, a dialect that appears to be a combination of a variety of African languages and English. Forbidden by plantation owners to speak their native tongue, the African slaves developed the dialect out of necessity by incorporating broken English with African words. The Gullah dialect survives today as a “creolized” version of English. Through passionate prayers, sermons and tales, the Gullah remember their past and look toward the future preservation of their culture; a culture distinguished by the crafts of sweet grass basket weaving, boat building and quilting.
Gullah Culture Preservation by Veronica D. Gerald (abridged).
In the days before Interstate 95 made its way down the Atlantic Coast, travelers heading south to the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida often drove along Highway 17, a long rambling roadway that connected hundreds of small towns and hamlets, including the region that has become known as Gullah/Geechee country, home of one of the oldest living cultures in the United States.
John Henrik Clarke, a noted scholar of African and African-American history, once said that the survival of African people away from their ancestral home is "one of the great acts of human endurance in the history of the world," and the Gullah are a shining example of that resilience.
Although tourism provided many opportunities, it has become a double-edged sword. On the one hand, "Gullah business people benefit from tourists who spend money in their establishments," says Michael Allen, education specialist for the National Park Service. But the rapid growth brought on by people moving into historically Gullah regions has attracted many developers interested in securing property cheaply, then reselling to newcomers, or what the Gullah call "Come yah" ("Come here" people).
Along with development pressure, perhaps the biggest threat to the Gullah community is the skyrocketing increase in property taxes brought on by the rising value of real estate. "The masses can no longer afford to own their own homes and land [in our communities]," says Richard Habersham, president of the Phillips Community Association.
Fortunately, the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Preservation Act was signed into law in October 2006 and will establish a culture heritage corridor and create a commission to help federal, state, and local authorities manage it. The bill authorizes $1 million per year for ten years to carry out the work of the commission and calls for one or more interpretive centers within the heritage corridor. It is a long overdue salute to the descendants of slaves who made significant contributions to the growth and development of the region.
This event sponsored by the Native Island Business and
Community Affairs Association, Inc.
21 Cardinal Road, Suite 105. Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Charles Young, Chairman - James Mitchell, Jr., President & CEO
Phone: (843) 689-9314 
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