Gullah Language News Today

From The Lowcountry to The Ivy Leagues! This Gullah Connections story shares how the Gullah language is breaking barriers in higher education and the man behind

Hear from Harvard’s first Gullah language instructor at this three-day event.

That was amazing. and thank you for being here for the gullah impaired. i appreciate that. [ laughter ] >> i loved hearing the gullah language. but before we go, lets talk about that song, you know the one >> it is called kum ba ya, but few people know the history of it, it came out of the gull gullah geechee culture. everybody knows kum ba ya. but its come by here. it goes a little bit like this. miss marcia, if you will? ♪ ♪ ♪ kum ba ya my lord, kum ba ya ♪ kum ba ya my lord, kum ba ya...

Keep not only much of their west african traditions,s they were able to invent their own. they were able to develop their own music, art, food, and most importantly, language. >> a language which was a mix of english, west african languages and some good old down home southern drawal. >> were happy you came to visit we people. >> while its hard to pin down the population, it is estimated 200,000 to 500,000 people that identify as gulla. but today this whole unique american culture is in danger o...

Im just looking at the fancy table clothes. [ laughter ] >> this is the south. thats what you need. >> oh, yeah. >> you always have to have newspaper on the table. wont taste right without newspaper. >> not going to taste right. you want that news print after taste. one of the things about this that is so interesting to me is that people think that black people are monolith in america, that black people are the same no matter where you go. but this part of the country for black people, black peo...

Yes, from the plantation. because you know what? i remember like yesterday, i remember like it was yesterday. >> how you doing? >> my joints hurt. where are you going? im going to the schoolhouse. walk in the yard. i say no car. i see it creeping across the yard. going down to the schoolhouse. one was fat like me and one was skinny. thats the language we teach. we do. >> its important for us to let them know that they dont have to be ashamed. thats what we tell them. you know, we say joint and p...

While the gulla culture can be found in georgia and the low country of south carolina, saint helena island is known for the center of gulla culture and language. for some the heart, soul and sound of the community are the renowned gichi gulla ring shouters. get ready. it is a religious ritual of song and dance that can be traced back to west africa and is believed to be the oldest surviving african performance tradition in network. ♪ god called adam ♪ god called adam ♪ god called adam ♪ ...

Language back. >> were helping to bring the gullah language in the school system. >> oh, so it can be taught the way other languages -- >> thats always been my personal mission. when i started working with gullah geechee teaching, i want it to be taught like other languages. i want to be so fluent that english is my second language. >> that you have to think in gullah and translate it back to english. >> wouldnt that be beautiful? yeah, i love my culture. >> i can tell, i can tell. what was life...

People having a good time, right? yeah. >> and if you notice, its not just black people. its everybody comes out. >> yeah. >> we celebrate everybody. >> ive seen three white people. [ laughter ] >> more than that. >> i know. i think i brought the other ones. >> you brought two of them? >> those are all my whites. [ laughter ] >> so, how would you say that the gulla culture is different than black culture in the rest of the country? >> its very different. >> yes. >> you say that like i dont have ...

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