Gullah People Music Culture

The Gullah people come from a line of slaves that were made to work as manufacturers of rice in South Carolina and Georgia coastal plantations in the 1700s. Even today there remains many small rural communities in the islands just off these two states' coast and the people have managed to retain some parts of their culture and language from their African homeland. It has been said that because of the geographical climate and diseased environment in which the Gullah people were/have been subject to in this region, they have subsequently been able to keep their traditions intact.

Reminiscent of other forms of African music, the Gullah music primarily consist of drums. Also, like many other music cultures of Africa there is a great deal of dancing. The dancing seems to be highly organized and it is evident that tradition plays a great role among the performances. Most of their songs that include a vocal component is made up of some kind of chant or a collection of voices singing to the music.

Today, it is even more evident that the Gullah people are more determined than ever to fight outside pressures in preserving what remains so dear to them. Many developers want to come into the region to commercialize their way of life. However, the Gullah remain steadfast in their beliefs and traditions and continue to share their unique way of life with the rest of the world in hopes that others will recognize it's value as well.