Gullah, << GUHL lah, >> are a group of African Americans who inhabit the coastal regions and sea islands of South Carolina and northern Georgia. The Gullah are descended from people taken from Africa during the slave trade period to work indigo, rice, and cotton plantations in the southeastern United States. Those in Georgia and Florida are often called Geechee.
During the 1700’s and 1800’s, the Gullah developed into a unique group. Their way of life has preserved many elements of African culture. For example, certain Gullah farming and fishing techniques follow African practices. Other distinct African elements in Gullah culture include basketmaking, folk medicine, funeral customs, folk tales, games, music, ironworks, and woodcarving. The Gullah dialect is a mixture of English and several West African languages.
Gullah culture began to disappear in the 1930’s when bridges were built that connected isolated Gullah islands to the mainland. Many Gullah also migrated north after World War II (1939-1945). Today, many groups are working to preserve Gullah language and culture.
Experts are uncertain about the origin of the name Gullah. Some believe it may come from Gola, an ethnic group from present-day Liberia. Others think the term comes from Angola, a Portuguese name for their Southwest African colony that was a source of many slaves.
See also Peterkin, Julia .
