Post #11 - The Gullah People

The Gullah people have astonishingly been able to preserve their culture and way of life for as long as they have. Their music culture has obvious roots in African traditions. The time and space of their music can vary from inside their church to open spaces inside or out.Percussion instruments especially the drums are very prevalent, creating very rhythmic and pulsatile beats. "Rhythm- everything's about rhythm," says Queen Quet. Dancing among other activities is a significant part of this culture. Often seen with many performers dancing in sync to the tempo and beat. Regarding the material culture, performers seem to often wear traditional dress while dancing. Sometimes both the dancing and the instrument playing are incorporated into the actual performance as seen when the young people are hitting and striking the sticks in their dance (first video). The Gullah people also us stilts in their performances. There are also some hints of shimmers among the cries and trills of the women. Also, there seems to be a bit of the call and response quality in the music. Music is incorporated into their religious life, taking form in the gospels that they sing in church. The music often blends English with African languages, notable Mende, resulting in this unique Gullah music culture. With a rich culture such as of the Gullah people, music is also prevalent in ceremonies as seen with the example of the Mende funeral song.