Gullah Culture

Two Lips
Mary Jackson. Two Lips. 1984. bulrush, sweetgrass, pineneedles & palmetto. 16" x 19" x 19" Image courtesy of the South Carolina Arts Commission.Learn about the rich Gullah culture that continues in Charleston and the Lowcountry.

Music

Learn about slave songs and Gullah music with Aunt Pearlie-Sue! You can write a blues song, sing a worship song in the praise house, and find the hidden meaning in a work song.

Art

Sweetgrass baskets have been made in Charleston and along the coast for more than 300 years. Slaves from West Africa brought this art with them and have passed the tradition on from generation to generation.

Language

  • Afua’s Story
    Read the story of a slave who came to Charleston and hear her story in Gullah.
  • Two Prayers in Gullah
    Read and listen to two prayers in Gullah!
  • Spoken Gullah
    Learn about the Gullah language and hear an example of spoken Gullah.
  • Lowcountry Folklore
    Check out the Lowcountry Folklore section for folk tales in the Gullah language.
  • The Gullah Creole Language
    Scroll to the bottom to read a poem in English and in Gullah.
  • Gullah Dictionary
    This dictionary has lots of Gullah words and their definitions.
  • The Gullah Language
    Read the history of the Gullah language and try a few phrases yourself.

    Hoppin' John
    Hoppin John is a traditional beans and rice dish eaten on New Year's Day.

Food Culture

 

Learn about the foods, techniques, and recipes that the Gullah people prepare, from rice dishes to Hoppin’ John and sweet potatoes.
 
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