I’m creole, my people are from New Orleans. I appreciate how Gullah people own their culture unlike creole folks who give French people credit for African dishes. So many of our dishes in New Orleans are entirely African like dirty rice, jambalaya, gumbo and meat pies. Thank you for keeping the culture as pure as possible.
We have NOT handed over credit to France. N.O. has a strong French influence but we are very aware that our gumbos ,jambalaya, crawfish dishes, etc. come from our black heritage. We are a majority black city. We know.
chgosyndicate My folks are Haitian, I’m from Bahamas. Every time we see videos or pics of New Orleans. We’re mind blown how much it looks like Haiti, specifically jacmel the art district part of town. But in the Haitian culture Gumbo is okra but the dis is, shrimp, stewed beef, okra served over a bed of white rice
@Conscious One79, my family is from Villplatte Louisiana and our African/Creole culture is very well preserved! I think the entire south has preserved a stronger African culture, the funny thing is from state to state, region to region we have different versions of Afro culture that still exist because of cultural isolation, and family traditions passed down. Let's keep on the tradition by passing down languages, cooking, etc.
Sangodele Olodumare it took an anthropology class for me to learn the obvious: Africa and the diaspora are the most culturally and genetically diverse population.
Don't let this cute video placate you. The Charleston area Gullah Geechee culture is being gentrified and pushed off the land that they have inhabited for over a hundred years. If you think these traditions should be preserved then please get informed and active as to how you can help.
@@sandychick94 maybe you should take a trip down there to see it for yourself and then maybe the answer on how you can help will come to you. The ancestors will speak to you. I am going to head down there when the weather gets better. Also, I think there might be some organizations that you can look up.
@@atlantabrooklyngal keep me in mind too. Although my family is from Edgefield, SC, I find that I am drawn to the Gullah culture. Maybe it's the ancestors calling.
My maternal heritage. This also shows that Southerners, Caribbean’s and West Africans are not different from each other. We may have ‘lost’ our mother tongue but we can recognize it and our people.
I know this was a post made two years ago but I have ancestral ties to both the Gullah Geechee and Bahamians-we are in both a literal and spiritual sense-close cousins our cultures.
My grandfather’s grandmother was said to have fled from South Carolina to The Bahamas to escape slavery and a lot of first Bahamian settlers are from Carolinas they may have been freed slaves or the 1st or 2nd generation children/grandchildren of freed slaves
They are the same culture bc our ancestors originated in Africa but some of the Gulla Geechee people were in the Bahamas before landing on the sea islands. Same with Louisiana creole. That’s why it’s referred to as the corridor…. We’re all connected. 😊
I'm a white guy born in California, having lived half my life in Oklahoma. All that being said, I grew up watching Gullah Gullah Island and was fascinated by the dancing, language, and food! Now as an adult with my own kids (watching Gullah Gullah Island with them), I started looking into this region and culture. I love it and I wish more people knew this history. I hope activist groups band together to preserve this culture.
I'm born and raised in SoCal an remembered the Gullah from an episode on Martin when I was a kid an learned the people an culture from that point on. I'm proud u an I know about this culture even though we were born on a whole different coast 😊💪🫵🫶
@@TheQueenOfGreatness I went out there to see my nephew graduate. And I was amazed by all the museums y'all have out there. I do plan to go back out there and just go explore as much as possible. ❤😊
The Gullah Geechee culture is similar to my Jamaican culture in speech, dress , food and burial traditions . Listening to the singing at a Gullah wake, I thought I was in Jamaica.
What part of Jamaica are you from? I'm from Georgia. Many people from the Caribbean are moving to what is referred to as the deep south. Is there a particular reason why they're choosing this region?
Yes! Half of my child hood I grew up right there in the low country I'm half African American bo I do I miss some good ole red rice my grandfather use to make
@@QueenOfNY10 it's interesting, because when I meant someone from the gullah community I thought she was from the Caribbean, but she wasn't. She sounded like she was from the island.
I'm African American, born and raised in NYC. Last week I got a chance to meet my husband's family from SC. I was mind blown. I always thought of them as "Southern Black"... But the more that I learned about Gullah Greeche culture the more I am amazed. His family have their own land, they cooked, shared stories. Its amazing how I've been with someone for 10 years and it never dawned on me that his culture is different although we are both African American. Lol I have so much to learn. I did make red rice last night for dinner! 🙌🏾 lol I think I killed that. Lol Now I have to learn how to make some of these dishes for my husband. ❤❤
This is amazing. I am from Trindad & Tobago. A lot of the foods of the Gullah-Geechee tradition resembles African-Caribbean food. The red rice looks exactly like our Pelau. Browned rice, meats and vegetables. A national dish in T&T from our slave ancestors. Looks like Jollof rice. Callaloo with either salted meat, okra, coconut milk, seasonings, crab or seafood resembles your gumbo. This is also West African. We eat coo coo a cornmeal dish which is also West African and is eaten in most Afro Caribbean islands. Pounded plaintains or foo foo is mainly still made in Tobago where our African presence is strong. The more we look is the more we see how similar the children of Mama Africa are.
My Geeche used to be so strong, my mother could not even understand me. When we moved to NJ when I was around 6 y/o I had to go to a Speech Language Pathologist in elementary school in Mt. Laurel. The students thought I was speaking Spanish and Speech Pathologist advised them I was speaking Geechee.
That’s sad. I’m Geechee and was sent all white schools for this reason. A lot of our elders felt it was best for us to leave our culture behind to make a better life. I would code switch for a long time but funny thing is, my friends who are not from here would point out that my accent would come out when I would get excited. 😂 As I get older, I realize that my accent gets stronger just like my mom who wanted me to hide it. I love it. Our Gullah Geechee culture is strong. I’ll never abandon my ancestors or be ashamed of my culture ever again.
We must teach this in the schools. I am 74 and I am just learning about the Gullah. If the good Lord willing I will come and learn all I can about the people and the traditions. Thank you for being on UA-cam.
Sara Lee yes sister we are the Aboriginals Indigenous to these Americas....I'm still doing research on my parental they are all from South Carolina: Sullivan's Island,Beaufort,and Lauren's
Hailing from Wadmalaw Island, I love seeing my culture acknowledged and celebrated! Though I am concerned about its erasure and the possibility of it being stolen as everything in black culture ends up stolen. I remember growing up, people outside of the community spoke of us like we were ignorant for speaking geechee. It was during college when I learned to keep my language/dialect limited to when I'm at home or in the company of "home" folks. I was made to feel ashamed. As I grow older, I uberappreciate my culture, lessons and the stories told to me by my ancestors. I'm no longer ashamed of my accent or offended by being called geechee.
I can relate..I went to through the same thing. People kept saying they couldn’t understand me and I felt how I spoke diminished my perception of intelligence in college. I’m not holding back anymore lol
CocoaKissesSC no I love you guys! Dont lose it. Document, document, document!!! Start a tour company and offer authentic experience. I’ll be the first one to sign up. We have to protect the culture!!!
WELCOME TO WEST AFRICA 101.. I’m Yoruba from Nigeria and have been to Sierra Leone ,where I found out we are nothing but the same people .Is super crazy to know what we have in common is huge..Love y’all my Gullah fam❤️
Yes, agreed. My grandmother was Geechee and my grandfather was from Batesburg, South Carolina. I have many relatives there but have never met them. It's past time.
I am from Senegal. I live in the US. I have diverse food cooking experiences. It will nice and so beneficial for all of us to reconnect. Let's work on events which can reconnect the diaspora in large.
Red Bays in North Andros, Bahamas was settled by the Black Seminoles in the 1700 or 1800's. The Black Seminoles were runaway slaves from South Carolina, Georgia etc. In Red Bays, the hand-woven baskets made locally are exactly the same as those in the video made by the Gullah geechee. The Geechee language, however, is spoken prevalently throughout the Bahamas
What a lot dont know is these are the folks the government waged war against but mask them by calling them Indian aka native American war when it was really a war against gullah and geechie i for one know based on family history
@@howardconyers7623 Please do! it is fascinating because the research always leads back home (whereever home may be for you) and helps dispels the myth that Blacks in bondage never resisted that bondage in anyway other than prayer or waiting for deliverance.
Letitia my father is from Andros and his great grandmother was a Red Bay Indian. It's amazing how close our Bahamian culture is to that of the Gullah people.
Nothing but pride! Being from New Orleans myself, seeing this just reminds me of how important our rich culture is!..........it also shows just how much colonial whites who are called “Cajun” are relabeling black culture of Louisiana!
Whites didn't want be apart of our culture until it started getting recognition around the world. I laugh every time I see a watered down second line or taste unflavored creole food
The west African culture is so strong. They tried to get rid of it but it is literally engrained in us. The rythm the lady was clapping is literally the rythm Haitian people use for most of our music. Clap 👏🏿 1,2 clap 👏🏿 clap👏🏿!
Moors were on this continent over 250,000 years before any other people's. See rvbeypublications. com A good way to steal a people's land, make their descendants think they came from some where else.
My family's from Santee, Elloree South Carolina........when my Dad or family speak it is totally another language. You would think are these really Americans. Whole nother culture.......Gullah Geechee's we do exist.
I'm from cold northern Europe and will probably never go to these places, but it's very interesting to see and learn about culture, history and delicious food. Thanks for making this content!
Gullah Geeche also ran as far down as St Augustine Florida. SEMINOLE means "run away" many run away Slaves ended up in Florida fighting alone side the Indians.
I heard my dad speak about a man we grew up around. He had a strange language. We had to make out what he was saying . The grownups all ways call him Geechee. So my GOD. There was a people called Geechee. This is so amazing. But he passed a way bout 10 yrs ago. I wish I new his real name.
The Gullah Geechee is rooted in the SC/NC/GA coasts and a little bit of the North FL coast... anywhere else would be transplants... the Gulf states (TX, AL, LA, MS) would not be Gullah Geechee culture... maybe Creole and some other cultures.
im a Pacific islander & i must say deep pit cooking is changing. we here in the islands still do it the traditional way. 1. dig the hole. 2. line black stones in the pit. 3. build the fire in the pit over the stones. 4. let it burn until charred. 5. wen charred, use long stinks to spread the burned charred woods all over the pit & also take some stones out for topping. 6. place leaves in pit & start laying food items that needs to be cooked this way. 7. cover with leaves again & place the rest of the hot stones on top of the leaves. 8. place more leaves to trap in heat & to cover the inside the pit. 9. after its all done, bury the pit carefully & fully with the dirt u dug out of the pit. 10. enjoy!! ✊🏽✊🏽✌🏽✌🏽
Thank you for sharing. The style of pitcooking you are referencing is a different approach to pitcooking that was done in the American South in the late 1700s and 1800s, until the 1970s.
I love these kinds of videos. African-American culture is very rich, so it´s great to be able to know more about the culture of my cousins across the pond!
@@pimpiniseasy2778 What u mean, it has nothing 2do with the issue @t hand? Ru that dense, that u can/will not connect the dots? I just wanted 2 show the connection2 &correlation with All diasporan Afri- cans. The cuisine is basically similar in All those countries &islands, bcz of the African cultural influence. Does THAT clarify &placate ur lack of deductive/ inductive reasoning???
@@pimpiniseasy2778 Incidentally, I shdnt expect any scholarly reasoning, from somebody who wd ignorantly glorify the un- ethical &exploitative sub -culture of 'pyimpin'??? Pssh!!!
Some legends around those tables. Rodney Scott and Bryan Furman are two of the best in the game to go along with BJ's amazing approach to honoring and promoting Lowcountry heritage. That's one dinner where I'd love to just sit back and listen.
In West Africa Rice is the most staple food, Rice with Beans Cook together, is another typical West African. And I see many of these food, among the Haitians, Guyanese, Jamaican, and many other Caribbean. We are the same families, but with different experiences. I am happy, despite the long separation, our People across Atlantic, still keep the tradition, in Music, food, hair style and many more
@@nubiannile4606 We have Gullah culture, zydeco music, jazz, blues, R&B, Rock and Roll. Black poets and authors like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Ralph Ellison, Alice Walker who wrote things like Their Eyes Were Watching God, Native Son, Sounder and Raisin in The Son, The Color Purple. We have Folklore like Highwalker, Why We say Umhmm, Brer Rabbit, The Buzzard King, but all we are known for is rap lol
That red rice could be a main dish itself! And the those grits...I almost had a foodgasm seeing that butter melt in slow motion. I have to visit this area.
I love the culture I love the food! I moved tho charleston sc when I was 15 absolutely fell in love my hole life I felt like charleston is my home! Can't wait to move back!
I appreciate the Gullahh Geechee culture. My father and his family lived on James Island when he was young. My family has always had a connection to the low country though we live in the Midlands. Please continue to preserve this.
There was a fairly recent episode of the show "United Shades of America" about the Gullah Geechee culture that was very fascinating. This adds to that and makes me want to try some recipes from these.
I was born in Charleston South Carolina. We later moved to Johns Island S.C. I currently live in California and has been here for 26 years...South Carolina will always be my home!
As a West African I just want to clarify that Thieboudienne IS jollof rice, it’s the real and original jollof rice coming from the Wolof people from Senegal. It is nice to see that Okra soup is still being enjoyed because it is too good!
I wanna thank you for posting this segment. My family is from St. Stephen SC and i'm currently living in Myrtle Beach SC. I grew up out there and the same history existed back then. Black People up North need to experience this. Maybe they would stop the killing if they knew the love of our culture. I love everyone and it's because of the old school upbringing. I pray that way of life will return. Once again thank you. Lots of love from your brother, Preacher.
@@jayjdietrich "Check out 'The Water is Wide' by Pat Conroy. Good book to get your soul thinking. " Watched this on UA-cam: ua-cam.com/video/de8fUSbwGoc/v-deo.html
Wow, this is fascinating.... I learned something today. Being Acadian, the concept of cultural survival is very dear to my heart. all the best to the Gullah Geechee
We must all stick together and save our Black people land!! If not, next year, there will be a white man making a video talking about how to make red rice and declaring that he is a Gullah Geechee!
I am a white man who is fortunate enough to have family residing in Beaufort. My son in law is stationed there. We visit as often as we can. I have come to love and appreciate the Gullah culture. I have gotten to the point where I can make a pretty solid red rice, but I would never claim to be to be Gullah Geechee. All I can do is honor the culture as best I can. The history is real.
My late mother is from St. Mathews, SC and I have family through out Charleston, Orangeburg, St. Helena and Buford. I have told many Jamaican friends of mine that my uncles, cousins, and my late grandfather sounded like them and they wouldn't believe me lol. So proud to be of this culture and heritage.
My grandmother is from St. Helenas Island Sc, which will become my home in two more months. She always cooked red rice on holidays. I'm so looking forward to connecting with my roots. Such a beautiful place 🦋👁💖💫🍃 #Gullahroots
As the elders say when proud, "Us Chil'rens be learned they ancestas' ways". From my paternal heritage in the Carolinas/Georgia/Alabama where this food ,brought from Africa and her diaspora, sticks to your soul; to my maternal Mississippi/Louisiana Creole seafood, but my love is my grandmother's Texas Afro-Tejano fusion of spicy hot tamales, fried tomatoes & onions; pickled green peppers, cucumbers, & carrots served over brown rice with a side of mixed greens collard/mustard/turnip greens-yes greens, simmered for hours in fatback(now turkey bacon) and salt-hot water cornbread-see now! I'm hungry.
My friend is from Senegal, who does similar dishes. I finding out more from her and our cooking culture. Example, I was making for breakfast, rice, skinned milk, sugar and nutmeg, and simmer my rice cereal. My friend said that is Sombe in her Wolof language. I'm from Baltimore, Maryland, and finding out that a lot of traditional African cooking is all ingrained in the american culture, some people may call it soul food. I also lived in Savannah, Georgia for a year and know about the low country boil, which is fish stew in Senegal. By the way, the rice cereal, in the south or some people say the country, is called Sugar Rice. 🤗
As I am watching this I am things about Africans coming to an unknown land and substituting food to preserve there African food/ culture. Its obvious red rice is a substitute for jollof rice. We are all one people. It is amazing how the Gullah culture survived. Great people may the culture continue to be taught and stay preserved.
Very interesting we of African American decent have so much in different dishes that have not been experienced, this was great hope more is shown. We are so much more diverse in culinary dishes passed down generations.
Very interesting. My beloved grandmother was from the sea islands of South Carolina. I never, never, never heard Grandmother or any of the relatives use the term Gullah. Instead, they always used the word Geechee to refer to themselves and their wonderful culture.
This is why I want to move out of Miami and learn my real culture. My grandparents raised me like this in Miami, they’ve passed on, but I still hold to the things I’ve learned as a cook.
Red rice is the Liberian daughter of jollof rice. That’s very similar to Liberian Jollof. We make ginger beer and okra soup!! We love seafood as well and fresh fruits!! The gumbo dish is very similar to what we call Palava Saice in Liberia. Fun fact: We have a tribe in Liberia called the Gullah.
My in-laws are from Mt Pleasant and love love the culture. I have so many sweet baskets and jewelry made from sweet grass. Love red rice and love going to visit. I’ve learned so much about Gullah cooking and language. My husband and I were born and raised in NYC now reside in ATL but we take our children to Mt pleasant all the time. So much history there. Our family is holding on to their land. People save your land in Mt Pleasant, keep it in the family.
Nothing like some good ole Gullah dishes. I am a Geechie myself from Charleston. I love the history of how the food, dishes so influenced. New Orleans as well. Folks always think Louisiana folks and Charlestonians sound alike. We share a strong link.
Nice video. My uncle via marriage was a Gullah Gee Chee . Growing up, I used to think he was from the Caribbean islands, but he wasn’t. He was born and raised in South Carolina! The African diaspora is amazing and they should not be division among the cultures (African American, Cape Verdean, Afro-Carribbean). Someone in this video said that food is the binding agent that brings the culture back together, reminding everyone where we came from. Amen.
Definitely I'm a gullah boy, i grew up walking distance from this very farm and the owner Joseph Fields is a distant cousin of mine. I live in Miami now and whenever I speak people ask me if I'm bahamian
Man that was so cool! I’ve heard of theGullah most of my life but have never experienced the culture. I live in Southport North Carolina so not quite in that area . Would love to try some of that food cooked the traditional way! ❤❤❤
This was such a pleasant video to watch. There are so many things in here that I've done naturally since a child especially the clapping rhythm. I'd do that 1 and another 1 and only either in The House of Worship or at home. The language I use to interpret to others that could make no sense of what's being said. I wasn't ever "taught" any of this, it all comes from my soul. I am over 50 now and this gave me so much clarification, peace and joy. 🙏🏽🤎😢😁🤗 Thank you
I’m creole, my people are from New Orleans. I appreciate how Gullah people own their culture unlike creole folks who give French people credit for African dishes. So many of our dishes in New Orleans are entirely African like dirty rice, jambalaya, gumbo and meat pies. Thank you for keeping the culture as pure as possible.
Gumbo derived from the word "nki gumbo" meaning "okra" in some African languages.
Thank you for this information. There a guy on UA-cam from NOLA says that our food come from France. I told him he put of his mind. Still in slavery.
We have NOT handed over credit to France. N.O. has a strong French influence but we are very aware that our gumbos ,jambalaya, crawfish dishes, etc. come from our black heritage. We are a majority black city. We know.
chgosyndicate My folks are Haitian, I’m from Bahamas. Every time we see videos or pics of New Orleans. We’re mind blown how much it looks like Haiti, specifically jacmel the art district part of town. But in the Haitian culture Gumbo is okra but the dis is, shrimp, stewed beef, okra served over a bed of white rice
@Conscious One79, my family is from Villplatte Louisiana and our African/Creole culture is very well preserved! I think the entire south has preserved a stronger African culture, the funny thing is from state to state, region to region we have different versions of Afro culture that still exist because of cultural isolation, and family traditions passed down. Let's keep on the tradition by passing down languages, cooking, etc.
Black culture is so broad, diverse, and beautiful! So proud that the ways of my ancestors are being preserved!
Sangodele Olodumare it took an anthropology class for me to learn the obvious: Africa and the diaspora are the most culturally and genetically diverse population.
@@dogeyes7261 Agreed. Can I get a like though? Lol
ha ha
*African culture* we are more than just a color.
@@GullahGeecheeFarmer that's why I call myself African instead of black because black is easier to deny
Don't let this cute video placate you. The Charleston area Gullah Geechee culture is being gentrified and pushed off the land that they have inhabited for over a hundred years. If you think these traditions should be preserved then please get informed and active as to how you can help.
I don't even live there but find their culture fascinating. What can we do?
That is so true I just saw a documentary about that big land developers are pushing those people off their land
@@sandychick94 maybe you should take a trip down there to see it for yourself and then maybe the answer on how you can help will come to you. The ancestors will speak to you. I am going to head down there when the weather gets better. Also, I think there might be some organizations that you can look up.
@@atlantabrooklyngal keep me in mind too. Although my family is from Edgefield, SC, I find that I am drawn to the Gullah culture. Maybe it's the ancestors calling.
@@toianders986 Yes 😊
I felt that way about New Orleans. I went on vacation, left, but kept thinking about it.
My maternal heritage.
This also shows that Southerners, Caribbean’s and West Africans are not different from each other. We may have ‘lost’ our mother tongue but we can recognize it and our people.
Speak Sis!
facts!!
Good point … 🙏🏽
I'm from the Bahamas and love to learn more about the Gullah Tribe cause we really have the same culture. Lord have mercy
I know this was a post made two years ago but I have ancestral ties to both the Gullah Geechee and Bahamians-we are in both a literal and spiritual sense-close cousins our cultures.
My great grandfather was from the Bahamas and his daughter was Gullah gee her
Hey Bahamian family!!
My grandfather’s grandmother was said to have fled from South Carolina to The Bahamas to escape slavery and a lot of first Bahamian settlers are from Carolinas they may have been freed slaves or the 1st or 2nd generation children/grandchildren of freed slaves
They are the same culture bc our ancestors originated in Africa but some of the Gulla Geechee people were in the Bahamas before landing on the sea islands. Same with Louisiana creole. That’s why it’s referred to as the corridor…. We’re all connected. 😊
I'm a white guy born in California, having lived half my life in Oklahoma. All that being said, I grew up watching Gullah Gullah Island and was fascinated by the dancing, language, and food! Now as an adult with my own kids (watching Gullah Gullah Island with them), I started looking into this region and culture. I love it and I wish more people knew this history. I hope activist groups band together to preserve this culture.
Come on over to South Carolina.
Nothing like visiting.
Come to Charleston 😊
I'm born and raised in SoCal an remembered the Gullah from an episode on Martin when I was a kid an learned the people an culture from that point on. I'm proud u an I know about this culture even though we were born on a whole different coast 😊💪🫵🫶
Wow thank you for loving us❤
@@PopAChoppaDropperwhy are you thanking white people for loving us? You seek YT validation that much? 😂
@@TheQueenOfGreatness I went out there to see my nephew graduate. And I was amazed by all the museums y'all have out there. I do plan to go back out there and just go explore as much as possible. ❤😊
The Gullah Geechee culture is similar to my Jamaican culture in speech, dress , food and burial traditions . Listening to the singing at a Gullah wake, I thought I was in Jamaica.
What part of Jamaica are you from? I'm from Georgia. Many people from the Caribbean are moving to what is referred to as the deep south. Is there a particular reason why they're choosing this region?
Like everyone else, they are coming due to cost of living. Unfortunately it’s driving the natives out.
No we are similar to Bahamas
The red rice dish is very interesting. In Africa the dish original dish is called “Jollof.” In Louisiana the version of it is called Jamabayla.
Yes! Half of my child hood I grew up right there in the low country I'm half African American bo I do I miss some good ole red rice my grandfather use to make
So interesting of how much we have in common as African Americans and Africans ... I’m open to learn more about my brothers and sisters
@@QueenOfNY10 it's interesting, because when I meant someone from the gullah community I thought she was from the Caribbean, but she wasn't. She sounded like she was from the island.
@@QueenOfNY10 thats because we are Africans too
@@iayyam yes I concur
I'm African American, born and raised in NYC. Last week I got a chance to meet my husband's family from SC. I was mind blown. I always thought of them as "Southern Black"... But the more that I learned about Gullah Greeche culture the more I am amazed. His family have their own land, they cooked, shared stories. Its amazing how I've been with someone for 10 years and it never dawned on me that his culture is different although we are both African American. Lol I have so much to learn.
I did make red rice last night for dinner! 🙌🏾 lol I think I killed that. Lol Now I have to learn how to make some of these dishes for my husband. ❤❤
Enjoy your new life experience
Watching this has made my heart so full. I'm so proud to be Afro/African American.
Yes!
nikki me too 😩
thumbs up
I'm glad to be melanated
Yes.❤
This is amazing. I am from Trindad & Tobago. A lot of the foods of the Gullah-Geechee tradition resembles African-Caribbean food. The red rice looks exactly like our Pelau. Browned rice, meats and vegetables. A national dish in T&T from our slave ancestors. Looks like Jollof rice. Callaloo with either salted meat, okra, coconut milk, seasonings, crab or seafood resembles your gumbo. This is also West African. We eat coo coo a cornmeal dish which is also West African and is eaten in most Afro Caribbean islands. Pounded plaintains or foo foo is mainly still made in Tobago where our African presence is strong. The more we look is the more we see how similar the children of Mama Africa are.
My Geeche used to be so strong, my mother could not even understand me. When we moved to NJ when I was around 6 y/o I had to go to a Speech Language Pathologist in elementary school in Mt. Laurel. The students thought I was speaking Spanish and Speech Pathologist advised them I was speaking Geechee.
Cute 🥰
You think you would have widened your speech access if they had left you to it? Can you revert by choice now?
That’s sad. I’m Geechee and was sent all white schools for this reason. A lot of our elders felt it was best for us to leave our culture behind to make a better life. I would code switch for a long time but funny thing is, my friends who are not from here would point out that my accent would come out when I would get excited. 😂 As I get older, I realize that my accent gets stronger just like my mom who wanted me to hide it. I love it. Our Gullah Geechee culture is strong. I’ll never abandon my ancestors or be ashamed of my culture ever again.
Yep -- had the same experience
I hope you can still speak it fluently ?
I'm from West Africa.bit was Soo exciting to recognize the dishes you were preparing. Blood is definitely thicker than water. Love you.
LOVE this thank you! My grandma is Gullah Geechee from South Carolina.
🩵🩵🩵🪶🪶🪶🪶
We must teach this in the schools. I am 74 and I am just learning about the Gullah.
If the good Lord willing I will come and learn all I can about the people and the traditions. Thank you for being on UA-cam.
If didn't move from Miami to South Carolina
I'm geechee Gullah and Creole Seminole and I was taught I'm native to this land
Sara Lee yes sister we are the Aboriginals Indigenous to these Americas....I'm still doing research on my parental they are all from South Carolina: Sullivan's Island,Beaufort,and Lauren's
So you Seminole too! Geechee cousins.
me too my drandad tried to hide it but the truth came out what gave him away was the red rice
adangme yes 😘😘😘
@@islandgyal5269 my family is from St. Johns Island
Hailing from Wadmalaw Island, I love seeing my culture acknowledged and celebrated! Though I am concerned about its erasure and the possibility of it being stolen as everything in black culture ends up stolen. I remember growing up, people outside of the community spoke of us like we were ignorant for speaking geechee. It was during college when I learned to keep my language/dialect limited to when I'm at home or in the company of "home" folks. I was made to feel ashamed. As I grow older, I uberappreciate my culture, lessons and the stories told to me by my ancestors. I'm no longer ashamed of my accent or offended by being called geechee.
I can relate..I went to through the same thing. People kept saying they couldn’t understand me and I felt how I spoke diminished my perception of intelligence in college. I’m not holding back anymore lol
I stumbled upon this video and I'm so happy that I did. I have deep roots in Charleston SC and cousins on Wadmalaw Island. Hey cuz!!
CocoaKissesSC no I love you guys! Dont lose it. Document, document, document!!! Start a tour company and offer authentic experience. I’ll be the first one to sign up. We have to protect the culture!!!
🖤
My husband's family is from wadmalaw island!! Went there a week ago! Its so beautiful out there! 😍😊❤
WELCOME TO WEST AFRICA 101.. I’m Yoruba from Nigeria and have been to Sierra Leone ,where I found out we are nothing but the same people .Is super crazy to know what we have in common is huge..Love y’all my Gullah fam❤️
And that clap is most definitely used in many black churches.
Jadea Campbell yup it is😂👏🏾
It also mimics the African drum, which was banned in America.
I was born in Trinidad & Tobago. Same. Same culture. Wow.
Im Trini too and for sure this is identical to ours.
@Cynthia Dickerson Certain entities/groups want to keep us separated as much as possible in any form.
Because it's ancient American culture, we've always been here from Canada to south America including the islands
@@wildwoman2520 no it's African. Keep that made up Aboriginal nonsense to yourself.
Its similar not the same. Trinidad has a huge Indian influence that Afro Americans don't and our music traditions are completely different.
I feel another South Carolina trip in my bones 😍😍
Mercedes Desere’
Yae-boh!♏👑
@@zhoxzalabrique5749 me too never been
Yes
Come on down...
Yes, agreed. My grandmother was Geechee and my grandfather was from Batesburg, South Carolina. I have many relatives there but have never met them. It's past time.
I am from Senegal. I live in the US. I have diverse food cooking experiences. It will nice and so beneficial for all of us to reconnect. Let's work on events which can reconnect the diaspora in large.
I love you for this...
Thanks
Red Bays in North Andros, Bahamas was settled by the Black Seminoles in the 1700 or 1800's. The Black Seminoles were runaway slaves from South Carolina, Georgia etc. In Red Bays, the hand-woven baskets made locally are exactly the same as those in the video made by the Gullah geechee. The Geechee language, however, is spoken prevalently throughout the Bahamas
Thanks for sharing such useful information. i am going to dig into this more.
What a lot dont know is these are the folks the government waged war against but mask them by calling them Indian aka native American war when it was really a war against gullah and geechie i for one know based on family history
@@howardconyers7623 Please do! it is fascinating because the research always leads back home (whereever home may be for you) and helps dispels the myth that Blacks in bondage never resisted that bondage in anyway other than prayer or waiting for deliverance.
Barbadian, Blacks came to sc and settle there in 1670, landed on the Ashley river with John Drayton .
Letitia my father is from Andros and his great grandmother was a Red Bay Indian. It's amazing how close our Bahamian culture is to that of the Gullah people.
I’m from SC born and raised, and that at red rice, grits, okra soup, fried fish, and allat be hittin man🤪😋😍
Be bussin something different fasho!!!
Nothing but pride! Being from New Orleans myself, seeing this just reminds me of how important our rich culture is!..........it also shows just how much colonial whites who are called “Cajun” are relabeling black culture of Louisiana!
@Right Cha you are so right, we allow everybody to take our stuff.
@Right Cha We don't seem to see the value in what we produce until it is validated by whites.
justcallme... so true
Whites didn't want be apart of our culture until it started getting recognition around the world. I laugh every time I see a watered down second line or taste unflavored creole food
Daisy Sauce! Bill Cosbys Quaalude Cocktail! O
The west African culture is so strong. They tried to get rid of it but it is literally engrained in us. The rythm the lady was clapping is literally the rythm Haitian people use for most of our music. Clap 👏🏿 1,2 clap 👏🏿 clap👏🏿!
Indeed sis
Yes indeed
4 Sho!
Moors were on this continent over 250,000 years before any other people's. See rvbeypublications.
com
A good way to steal a people's land, make their descendants think they came from some where else.
@@foxybill1836 There are no 250,000 year old human remains found anywhere in the western hemisphere. Please don't make up stuff.
My family's from Santee, Elloree South Carolina........when my Dad or family speak it is totally another language. You would think are these really Americans. Whole nother culture.......Gullah Geechee's we do exist.
South Carolina man born and raised here and I'm still here..I love my roots
So proud of my people...born and raised in south Carolina .our tradition is so strong!!! The south 💪💪
The African diaspora is beautiful. We all come from Africa and have developed our own story from her love.
Our African roots seem to always appear in Our Food🍛 & Music 🎶
AND our dance
Hair too.
That's Love.
African food is not all the same there’s 54 countries in Africa
Janice Asante We are referring to West African culture influencing African American culture, especially in the south. We know Africa is diverse.
I'm from cold northern Europe and will probably never go to these places, but it's very interesting to see and learn about culture, history and delicious food. Thanks for making this content!
I have been to cold Northern Europe,the people and the scenery's were wonderful.Norway .
I hope you get a chance to visit one day.
Gullah Geeche also ran as far down as St Augustine Florida. SEMINOLE means "run away" many run away Slaves ended up in Florida fighting alone side the Indians.
Gee Foo
Yep, Second Seminole War. Led by John Horse.
Facts
We BUILT THIS MFN COUNTRY ‼️💯
Heard my mother speak of Geechee people even in Texas.
Me too I'm from Texas also, but my mom always spoke of the Louisiana geechee she grew up with. I guess.
I heard my dad speak about a man we grew up around. He had a strange language. We had to make out what he was saying . The grownups all ways call him Geechee. So my GOD. There was a people called Geechee. This is so amazing. But he passed a way bout 10 yrs ago. I wish I new his real name.
The Gullah Geechee is rooted in the SC/NC/GA coasts and a little bit of the North FL coast... anywhere else would be transplants... the Gulf states (TX, AL, LA, MS) would not be Gullah Geechee culture... maybe Creole and some other cultures.
Say it loud! I'm Black and I'm Proud!
I'm black and I'm proud to be
I'm Black and I'm Proud!! ❤😁
im a Pacific islander & i must say deep pit cooking is changing. we here in the islands still do it the traditional way.
1. dig the hole.
2. line black stones in the pit.
3. build the fire in the pit over the stones.
4. let it burn until charred.
5. wen charred, use long stinks to spread the burned charred woods all over the pit & also take some stones out for topping.
6. place leaves in pit & start laying food items that needs to be cooked this way.
7. cover with leaves again & place the rest of the hot stones on top of the leaves.
8. place more leaves to trap in heat & to cover the inside the pit.
9. after its all done, bury the pit carefully & fully with the dirt u dug out of the pit.
10. enjoy!! ✊🏽✊🏽✌🏽✌🏽
Thank you for sharing. The style of pitcooking you are referencing is a different approach to pitcooking that was done in the American South in the late 1700s and 1800s, until the 1970s.
Howard Conyers your welcome🤗
Thanks for this :o)
I love these kinds of videos. African-American culture is very rich, so it´s great to be able to know more about the culture of my cousins across the pond!
As a Bahamian I truly would love to visit these people. They speak just like me
How beautiful and important! Thanks for showing me (I´m from Brazil) your culture and magical cuisine.
Cont'd: NIGERIA, GHANA, CONGO, ANGOLA, GUINEA, SENEGAL, CAMEROON, SUDAN, GAMBIA, COTE D'IVOIRE etc..................
@@ameliavanderveere8708 this has nothing to do with anything
@@pimpiniseasy2778 What u mean, it has nothing 2do with the issue @t hand? Ru that dense, that u can/will not connect the dots? I just wanted 2 show the connection2 &correlation with All diasporan Afri- cans. The cuisine is basically similar in All those countries &islands, bcz of the African cultural influence. Does THAT clarify &placate ur lack of deductive/ inductive reasoning???
@@pimpiniseasy2778 Incidentally, I shdnt expect any scholarly reasoning, from somebody who wd ignorantly glorify the un- ethical &exploitative sub -culture of 'pyimpin'??? Pssh!!!
@@ameliavanderveere8708 The connection is very little Most of it was innovated in America by us
Wow, what insight. My grandmother spoke of an island off the coast of Georgia were gullah geechee people lived.
I know I'm a year late, but which island. We may be kinfolk
Who would thumbs down this video about this beautiful African culture?
Some legends around those tables. Rodney Scott and Bryan Furman are two of the best in the game to go along with BJ's amazing approach to honoring and promoting Lowcountry heritage. That's one dinner where I'd love to just sit back and listen.
It was an incredible event. Lot of talent in the food world, and fun too!
Rodney did pretty good for a poor boy from Hemingway, South Carolina.
In West Africa Rice is the most staple food, Rice with Beans Cook together, is another typical West African. And I see many of these food, among the Haitians, Guyanese, Jamaican, and many other Caribbean. We are the same families, but with different experiences. I am happy, despite the long separation, our People across Atlantic, still keep the tradition, in Music, food, hair style and many more
My grandmother LOVED rice, she had rice w/ EVERYTHING!!! Tomatos and rice
Dr you should go into Georgia, McIntosh county and Sapelo Island. Low country here! I love my people.
Riceboro, Harris Neck all in those spots.
Wow. Not many people know about Sapelo island.
@@gaboy3778 yaaasss Harris Neck, Cannon Bluff, Meridian, all them areas
@@Freeiz4me at all and it's untouched still (thankfully)
MayaEJa'Nae Jo even Eulonia
As she was singing something deep down in my soul was moved
We are a very diverse people of African Americans
Yes, we are thats why I hate when they just bring up rap.
We are HEBREWS! Not AA
@@yahsgracemercy1676 stop
SheLearnsLife
Thank you....they always bring up the rap/hip hop culture and just music.
There are many aspects to our diverse culture.
@@nubiannile4606 We have Gullah culture, zydeco music, jazz, blues, R&B, Rock and Roll. Black poets and authors like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Ralph Ellison, Alice Walker who wrote things like Their Eyes Were Watching God, Native Son, Sounder and Raisin in The Son, The Color Purple. We have Folklore like Highwalker, Why We say Umhmm, Brer Rabbit, The Buzzard King, but all we are known for is rap lol
That red rice could be a main dish itself! And the those grits...I almost had a foodgasm seeing that butter melt in slow motion. I have to visit this area.
My people and my home! Gullah boy til i die!
I love the culture I love the food! I moved tho charleston sc when I was 15 absolutely fell in love my hole life I felt like charleston is my home! Can't wait to move back!
I appreciate the Gullahh Geechee culture. My father and his family lived on James Island when he was young. My family has always had a connection to the low country though we live in the Midlands. Please continue to preserve this.
Thank you for making this. With your channel, I feel like I'm back in the South eating my grandmother's food and spending time with my cousins agin.
Keep watching, more to come!
Exactly!! So do I. Those were the good old days for sure!
Geechee man from Richmond Hill Georgia...We still out there !!!
There was a fairly recent episode of the show "United Shades of America" about the Gullah Geechee culture that was very fascinating. This adds to that and makes me want to try some recipes from these.
I was born in Charleston South Carolina. We later moved to Johns Island S.C. I currently live in California and has been here for 26 years...South Carolina will always be my home!
As a West African I just want to clarify that Thieboudienne IS jollof rice, it’s the real and original jollof rice coming from the Wolof people from Senegal. It is nice to see that Okra soup is still being enjoyed because it is too good!
I wanna thank you for posting this segment. My family is from St. Stephen SC and i'm currently living in Myrtle Beach SC. I grew up out there and the same history existed back then. Black People up North need to experience this. Maybe they would stop the killing if they knew the love of our culture. I love everyone and it's because of the old school upbringing. I pray that way of life will return. Once again thank you. Lots of love from your brother, Preacher.
Never heard of this culture before. Needs to be better known. As always, thanks Doc for the insight and the good food.
Rich culture - and good food too!
Check out "The Water is Wide" by Pat Conroy. Good book to get your soul thinking.
@@jayjdietrich
"Check out 'The Water is Wide' by Pat Conroy. Good book to get your soul thinking. "
Watched this on UA-cam: ua-cam.com/video/de8fUSbwGoc/v-deo.html
I used to could catch hints of that accent in the older folks in conway ,sc. They are gone on to heaven now.....but yeah..... ......its beautiful.
Love this! I’m proud of my Gullah/Geechee culture. I have roots in Charleston as well as Beaufort S.C. ❤️
Wow, this is fascinating.... I learned something today. Being Acadian, the concept of cultural survival is very dear to my heart. all the best to the Gullah Geechee
Really impressed by the chef. He really knows the history and culture behind all these dishes!
I love how they never lost their Flava.
🖤💚💙💛✊🏾
And dudes well versed in the food history
Food & Music are the 2 things that bring people together with love
I can not explain my natural joyful response to the sound and rhythm of the sister singing Kumbaya. I know that sound.
Yes Lord!
We must all stick together and save our Black people land!! If not, next year, there will be a white man making a video talking about how to make red rice and declaring that he is a Gullah Geechee!
Yep it really really sad.
He will probably say it's a French dish.
We Chicanos eat red rice too actually, we make it similarly except we don't usually mix meat into it
I am a white man who is fortunate enough to have family residing in Beaufort. My son in law is stationed there. We visit as often as we can. I have come to love and appreciate the Gullah culture. I have gotten to the point where I can make a pretty solid red rice, but I would never claim to be to be Gullah Geechee. All I can do is honor the culture as best I can. The history is real.
Right. That's right up they alley.
My late mother is from St. Mathews, SC and I have family through out Charleston, Orangeburg, St. Helena and Buford. I have told many Jamaican friends of mine that my uncles, cousins, and my late grandfather sounded like them and they wouldn't believe me lol. So proud to be of this culture and heritage.
imari2305 people from SC go to Buford to see Dr Buzzard the voodoo root man
My grandmother is from St. Helenas Island Sc, which will become my home in two more months. She always cooked red rice on holidays. I'm so looking forward to connecting with my roots. Such a beautiful place
🦋👁💖💫🍃 #Gullahroots
I LOVE THE DEEPNESS IN THESE PEOPLES VOICE AND SOUND!
Im a caribbean american and I love the Gullahs man this food looks amazing
As the elders say when proud, "Us Chil'rens be learned they ancestas' ways". From my paternal heritage in the Carolinas/Georgia/Alabama where this food ,brought from Africa and her diaspora, sticks to your soul; to my maternal Mississippi/Louisiana Creole seafood, but my love is my grandmother's Texas Afro-Tejano fusion of spicy hot tamales, fried tomatoes & onions; pickled green peppers, cucumbers, & carrots served over brown rice with a side of mixed greens collard/mustard/turnip greens-yes greens, simmered for hours in fatback(now turkey bacon) and salt-hot water cornbread-see now! I'm hungry.
I'm from Georgia. Those dishes sound very interesting. I'll have to look up a recipe and try them.
My friend is from Senegal, who does similar dishes. I finding out more from her and our cooking culture. Example, I was making for breakfast, rice, skinned milk, sugar and nutmeg, and simmer my rice cereal. My friend said that is Sombe in her Wolof language. I'm from Baltimore, Maryland, and finding out that a lot of traditional African cooking is all ingrained in the american culture, some people may call it soul food. I also lived in Savannah, Georgia for a year and know about the low country boil, which is fish stew in Senegal. By the way, the rice cereal, in the south or some people say the country, is called Sugar Rice. 🤗
As I am watching this I am things about Africans coming to an unknown land and substituting food to preserve there African food/ culture. Its obvious red rice is a substitute for jollof rice. We are all one people. It is amazing how the Gullah culture survived. Great people may the culture continue to be taught and stay preserved.
Wow we've GOTTA PRESERVE....... Some of THESE historical ways....
Very interesting we of African American decent have so much in different dishes that have not been experienced, this was great hope more is shown. We are so much more diverse in culinary dishes passed down generations.
I just had dinner but at 3 mins into the video I’m salivating at the food! Love your content Dr. Conyers! Kudos!
This is a great series, thanks doc
Glad you like it! Subscribe and watch for more!
I wish I could go to visit the Sea Islands ... my ancestors came from over the Ashley River long, LONG ago.
Georgia here. Great grandpa from SC great grandma from southern coastal Georgia
This is the only food show I've gotten excited about for a long time. Keep em coming, Dr!
Very interesting. My beloved grandmother was from the sea islands of South Carolina. I never, never, never heard Grandmother or any of the relatives use the term Gullah. Instead, they always used the word Geechee to refer to themselves and their wonderful culture.
This is why I want to move out of Miami and learn my real culture. My grandparents raised me like this in Miami, they’ve passed on, but I still hold to the things I’ve learned as a cook.
Gullah people are in Florida also
Not in Miami tho
Don't leave the NC Gullahs out, love the video family
Red rice is the Liberian daughter of jollof rice. That’s very similar to Liberian Jollof. We make ginger beer and okra soup!! We love seafood as well and fresh fruits!! The gumbo dish is very similar to what we call Palava Saice in Liberia. Fun fact: We have a tribe in Liberia called the Gullah.
Interesting
Could this be due to the fact that the American Colonization Society sent Free "African-Americans to Liberia in the early 1800s?
@@slspn2 Yes! Absolutely!
@@slspn2 No, black americans didn't introduce Jollof to West Africa.
My in-laws are from Mt Pleasant and love love the culture. I have so many sweet baskets and jewelry made from sweet grass. Love red rice and love going to visit. I’ve learned so much about Gullah cooking and language. My husband and I were born and raised in NYC now reside in ATL but we take our children to Mt pleasant all the time. So much history there. Our family is holding on to their land. People save your land in Mt Pleasant, keep it in the family.
i love all of that FRESH food. it's all beautiful.
Nothing like some good ole Gullah dishes. I am a Geechie myself from Charleston. I love the history of how the food, dishes so influenced. New Orleans as well. Folks always think Louisiana folks and Charlestonians sound alike. We share a strong link.
Im in Philly dis make me wanna move back to SC so bad. I love my culture. Im going straight to James Island
There are dishes served in this part of Pennsylvania , our heritage isn't dead . We must pass this on to our children , what a gift .
too tall mccall I spent my whole childhood living in NY Brooklyn but we never left the old traditions in SC food and all pig head and pig feet
Wow... went my family came from west Africa, I wish we moved to the Carolinas. I think I am going to buy my home there. This brought tears to my eyes.
You can here the geechee accent on the chef. I love it!
I loved this, this was a wonderful piece of history.
Red rice is the daughter of Joloff rice. I am of Afro Caribbean and the Gullah like most Southern cultures are very similar to ours.
love seeing ancestor food and culture in all this
Nice video. My uncle via marriage was a Gullah Gee Chee . Growing up, I used to think he was from the Caribbean islands, but he wasn’t. He was born and raised in South Carolina! The African diaspora is amazing and they should not be division among the cultures (African American, Cape Verdean, Afro-Carribbean). Someone in this video said that food is the binding agent that brings the culture back together, reminding everyone where we came from. Amen.
The Bahamas has 100%Geechee culture
Lol, yes. It is said Bahamians are the closest in dialect and culture to the us. People who hear the accent want to say Jamaican, but its Bahamian.
So true.
Definitely I'm a gullah boy, i grew up walking distance from this very farm and the owner Joseph Fields is a distant cousin of mine. I live in Miami now and whenever I speak people ask me if I'm bahamian
To me the short brother sounds like he was from the Bahamas.
@@iayyam correct the short brother is from a gullah community the taller one is not.
Love my culture. My mother told me that we are from the geechee islands. My favorite dishes are Gumbo and jumbulyah.
Wow > I noticed the difference in the way you spelled ' jumbulayah ' , it rings true to me .
@@jacksonernie484 yes, people spell it differently.
Man that was so cool! I’ve heard of theGullah most of my life but have never experienced the culture. I live in Southport North Carolina so not quite in that area . Would love to try some of that food cooked the traditional way! ❤❤❤
Im from the bahamas , where my fam at? Really looking for my lineage tho!
It’s in west Africa
Me, too. Except, I am from South Carolina.
So happy to see you brotgers preserving the culture. How can one reconnect with the culture.
This was such a pleasant video to watch. There are so many things in here that I've done naturally since a child especially the clapping rhythm. I'd do that 1 and another 1 and only either in The House of Worship or at home. The language I use to interpret to others that could make no sense of what's being said. I wasn't ever "taught" any of this, it all comes from my soul. I am over 50 now and this gave me so much clarification, peace and joy. 🙏🏽🤎😢😁🤗 Thank you