GULLAH CULTURE + AFRICAN AMERICAN INFLUENCE WHAT IS GULLAH CULTURE? It is a living, breathing culture emanating from the once-enslaved Charleston people, who infused their new world with treasured African ways. And it is part of a broader sea island tradition now known as Gullah-Geechee. Gullah culture is traced along the intricately woven sweetgrass baskets made from flora of the Lowcountry. It is heard in the resonant hymns that enfold time-honored West African song and cherished Christian hymns and in the distinct dialect marked by faraway rhythms and cadences. It is seen in visual art that reflects both the Lowcountry and a distant continent. It is tasted in the evocative foodways that traversed a mighty ocean with their flavors and methods in tact. Gullah culture is far more than an essential part of the Lowcountry experience. It is an essential part of the American experience. It has informed roots and blues music, as well as rock and roll. It has powered dances like the Charleston, a craze that started on Broadway and continued around the world. It has powered art and food, and shaped a people. A visit to the Charleston area provides a rare chance to follow a far-reaching thread of our nation’s story.
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