Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week to be Celebrated Throughout the Coast

 

 

“Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” began in 2012 in the City of Charleston, SC.  Since then, the celebration has grown to encompass the counties and townships of the Gullah/Geechee Nation in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.  This year, the theme of the celebration is “Fa We Ancestas.”  The Gullah/Geechee Nation is proud that this week is part of the global activities for the “United Nations International Decade of People of African Descent.”  The “Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day” launch celebration for the week will take place at Island Breeze on historic Mosquito Beach in Charleston, SC (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gullahgeechee-famlee-day-at-mosquito-beach-2017-tickets-33510881) and thereafter, those that are interested in learning about and supporting the continuing historical legacy of the Gullah/Geechee Nation can attend:

• the ribbon cutting on Sunday, July 30th from 1 to 5 pm at the Heyward House in Bluffton, SC where enslavement cabins and big house built by Gullah/Geechee has been restored.  While in the town, people should journey over to the Garvin-Garvey House to learn about this historic Gullah/Geechee family home that continues to stand proudly along the May River.

• the “American Gullah” exhibition at the landmark St. Helena Branch Library during the entire week of celebration.  They will be able to discuss the journey of these works at an artist talk with the creator of this powerful collection, Sonja Griffin Evans on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 2:30 pm to conclude the performances and workshops at the library as part of the “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™” (www.GullahGeechee.info).

•  August 1st and 2nd people are encouraged to take authentic Gullah/Geechee tours operated by natives of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.  For details on the tour companies that are participating, email GullGeeCo@aol.com or go to www.gullahgeechee.us.

• Thursday, August 3rd is “Queen Quet Day” in Brunswick, GA!  Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) request the presents of everyone at the Glynn County Council meeting wherein they will present their “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week Proclamation” as a gift on her day.

• August 4-6, 2016 the entire “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” will culminate with the “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™” on historic St. Helena Island, SC.  The celebration begins with De Gullah Root Experience Tour (www.gullahgeechee.net) at Noon.  Those arriving that evening will be part of a welcoming “Party with a Purpose Juke Joint Jam at MJ’s Soul Food” on Sea Island Parkway on St. Helena Island, SC.

Saturday, August 5th from Noon to 6 pm is “Gullah/Geechee Reunion Day” at the landmark St. Helena Branch Library and the St. Helena Island Community Market.

Sunday, August 6th participants in the celebration are encouraged to worship at a spiritual center in the Gullah/Geechee Nation and then at 3 pm to gather at Hunting Island, SC for a massive drumming and ancestral tribute.

Throughout the course of the entire week, people should stop and sign in at the “Gullah/Geechee Visitors Center” in Beaufort, SC. When they shop there, they will receive Gullah/Geechee dollars that they can present to Queen Quet whenever they see her during that week.

If you want to find out more details or keep up with the week of festivities, follow www.gullahgeecheenation.com, “Gullah/Geechee Nation” on Facebook and @GullahGeechee on Twitter and Instagram.  Go to this link for weekend passes for the “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™” events:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gullahgeechee-nation-international-music-movement-festival-2017-tickets-30573330655?aff=es2

Make sure to bring drums, tambourines, and chairs to the activities!

 

Jayn we and bring de famlee!  #GullahGeechee

Webe Gullah/Geechee Anointed Peepol!

Lun mo bout who webe

www.gullahgeecheenation.com

Hilton Head Island Proclaims Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week 2017!

The Town of Hilton Head Island, SC continues its participation in “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” this year.  Mayor Bennett presented Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) with a proclamation to this effect during the June town council meeting which was also broadcasted live.

 

Interestingly enough, the Town of Hilton Head took the celebration one step further when they unanimously voted for a “Gullah/Geechee Land Preservation Task Force” to be seated for the island.

Queen Quet was very pleased to witness this given that the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition used the Ruda/t Report which was provided to them by some of their members that were doing research on Hilton Head Island as a basis to host meetings with the various property owners associations that are split up across the island a decade ago.  At that time, many of the native islanders already felt defeated and did not see the value in continuing to press the issue of working together to hold onto the land and to insure the recognition of Gullah/Geechee culture on the island.   So, we look forward to what will come with the work of this new task force given the continued myriad of land issues and the commercialization of Gullah/Geechee culture for tourism purposes on the island.  We look forward to the native Gullah/Geechees stepping forward to truly carry out the task of reviving living Gullah/Geechee traditions throughout Hilton Head especially during Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week.

www.gullahgeecheenation.com

Jasper County Proclaims Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation

Jasper County Council in South Carolina presented Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) with a proclamation in honor of “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week 2017.”  Jayn we fa disya July 29-August 6, 2017 een de Gullah/Geechee Nation!

 

www.gullahgeechee.info

www.gullahgeecheenation.com

Cum fa Juneteenth at de Jepson wid de @GullahGeechee Famlee!

It’s the oldest celebration of its kind commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. This year, Savannah’s Telfair Museums will mark its tenth annual Juneteenth Jubilee.

The two-day event spotlights the Gullah/Geechee culture.  It begins June 9 at 6 pm with a lecture by Dr. Emory Shaw Campbell and culminates June 11 from 1 pm to 4 pm during ‘Free Family Day’ at Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center for the Arts.  Historic presentations will be done by historian Dr. Amir Jamal Toure, percussionist David Pleasant, and Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

The Second Annual Juneteenth Artist of the Year Award will be presented to local artist Arthur “Artie” Milton.

All Juneteenth events are free and open to the public. Click here for more information or call:  912-790-8800.

www.gullahgeecheenation.com