Gullah Festival Recap
Well, folks I went on down to good ole Beaufort, SC for the Gullah Festival on Memorial Day weekend for Threaded Histories' FIRST cultural exploration.
...and it did not disappoint.
In preparation for the trip, I reviewed the festival schedule multiple times a few days before the trip. The learner in me wanted to go to EVERYTHING; these are the moments I wish I could magically split myself into three people so that I could really live the #winning life at a festival. Unfortunately, I could not do that so I narrowed down my options to make the most of the two days. I planned to hit all the workshops on Day One and hit up all the performances and vendors the next day. Ok cool, let's get it!
Spongebob brain on fire gif
We arrived to the Grace AME Church (location for the workshops) and operation Master the Gullah Festival was in full effect. Ok hands in team, 1, 2, 3.. break (insert emoji clap). We hop out the car. I take one step and hesitate on the second. My mind begins to flood with many thought... wait we are about to go to an AME church in conservative South Carolina and I have a crop top and shorts on. Realizing the 'mistake' I made, my eyes bulge (or at least felt that way) and I mentally play out the Spongebob brain on fire gif in my head. I began to mentally chew myself out because (1) I am already breaking cultural norms and (2) as an anthropologist, I should know this! Since I packed for the 'skies out thighs out' season, I did not have pants in my bag and the only other alternative to covering up was my tank top. I guess a tank top and my light cardigan will have to do.
I managed to do a quick wardrobe change and now we were ready to get to business. Afraid we were late, I briskly walked to the church doorsteps, sweating bullets (literally and figuratively). As I walked up the thick cement steps and grabbed the creaky wooden door, I think to myself "This is it, Leah." Deep breath, it's time.
...I'm dramatic, I know...
One of the churches in Beaufort, SC
I entered the church right towards the of the "Barbados Connection" workshop. Oh shoot did I misread the schedule? We're late! I feel round two of Spongebob panic brain coming on again and then, I hear a woman ask a question. I do not remember the exact question but I know it was languages. The speaker starts running down language similarities between Barbadian and Gullah people and I notice my muscles loosened, stress brain left, and I started feeling in my element, ready to quickly take a seat and jump into nerdy mode. I am not sure what about this moment calmed me. Perhaps it was because I saw people asking questions about cultural connections in the African Diaspora or hearing the speaker explain that Gullah people sound like West Indians or the energy of inquiry, community, and comradery I felt in the room. Whatever the reason was, I knew I was in for quite a treat!
So, I bet you want to know what I learned and what happened right. Well, my friend, you will need to check out the next post. But, in the meantime I will drop a few little nuggets I gathered/things I noticed.
Art by a local artist
Steel Drum Band
- As suspected, black people are interested in learning about our connections with other communities from the African Diaspora.
- Elders in the town are walking history books! Go find a seasoned person in the community and ask them a million questions. Side note: I kind of knew this but sitting in a room with at least six elders in the room dropping knowledge (depositing historical facts about the community) was A FIRST and an experience everyone must have at least once in your lifetime.
- Gullah Geechee people share many things in common with people in the West Indies.
- Storytelling. We all need to keep sharing stories because it's one of the most powerful things communities possess.
- Gullah Rice is pretty much jambalaya with a twist, Aye!
- Steel Drum Bands give me life. I want to learn more about them!
- We sleep on art sometimes but art tells stories too! Sidenote: the term "sleep on" is slang for ignoring something or not valuing something like we should.
These are just a few takeaways. The next few posts will provide more details on a few of the workshops and some of my 'learnings'.
