Let's go to...Gullah Gullah iiiiisland!

No not that, I meant Gullah island...my bad.

The Gullah people of South Carolina are descendants of slaves brought over from areas in Western Africa, particularly Sierra Leone, and a large part of their music culture is an effort not only to preserve their ties to their ancestral home but also to celebrate their culture, which in many ways is distinct from American culture. Since the Gullah lived in such isolation for so long, many elements of their culture remain nearly unchanged from those of their ancestors.

For instance, much of the music is in Mende or other traditional African languages, and at last count over 100,000 people in the area spoke fluent Mende. Similar to other West African forms of music as well, drums are the center of the music. In the words of Queen Quet, nominal leader of the Gullah, “everything is about rhythm”. You will hear some of the same polyrhythmic drum beats in Gullah music as in the music of such West African cultures as the Mende or Wolof.

Another characteristic of Gullah music culture is how much of it centers around religious rituals. Music is a large part of things such as funerals, worship services, and public feasts. While many Gullahs are Christian, their worship music is closer to that of West Africa than of a Georgia choir. Finally, a part of Gullah music culture that cannot be ignored is the pride taken by the Gullah in their music and heritage. To them, their music is an expression of who they are, and a reminder that they have a proud and distinct tradition, which they show the world through their music.