The Gullah people are an African American people that came to the United States as slaves and were known for their cultivation of rice. They were very isolated and did not have as much interaction with whites as the north did, and were therefore able to keep a tighter grasp on their traditions and way of life. All of their customs have a deeper meaning than what may be realized. Their stories, arts and crafts, funerals, dance/music, and even their diet has reason(s) of why they perform them the way they do.
The Gullah dance and music in particular, is more than just entertainment. This is their way of expressing that they are not inferior to anyone, and their “resistance to slavery”. They believe and want the focus of the dance not to be any of the physical moves or physical sound, but the depth of expression and the meaning behind the expression to be what is understood by their folk performance. It’s about expressing their gratitude for their ancestors continued resistance to slavery and the freedom that they fought for and still have now. As simple as it may look and sound, the Gullah attack another whole world of their own to it that their community understands and is thankful for.
The majority of the music comes from the drums, but some of those who were dancing and some who were watching also had a type of shaker that made noise as well. Anyone in attendance was encouraged to dance, shout, or whatever you needed to “if the spirit moved you”.
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