October 2009

The festival was a huge success and we received a number of wonderful emails from festival guests/patrons who enjoyed learning about the history of coastal Georgia.  The McIntosh County Shouters (above) demonstrated the ring shout while the narrator, Bettye Ector, told the stories behind the songs they “shouted”. 

The McIntosh County Shouters, Sea Island Singers, Gospel Messengers, and Oak Grove Youth Praise Group captivated audiences of all ages for the two-day festival.

Frankie Quimby leads her family in song and story

The Sea Island Singers performed two wonderful performances and told stories about their ancestors’ lives, sang traditional Gullah Geechee songs.  Truly an inspirational weekend of Gullah Geechee performances and a rare treat for anyone interested in the humanities, arts, culture, and history of coastal Georgia.  Many thanks to Target and Georgia Council for the Arts for their support of this festival.

Featuring Gullah Geechee artifacts

Denise White Field exhibited Gullah Geechee artifacts that added yet another interesting layer to the festival.  Included in her exhibit was a letter in which a slave girl was given as a wedding gift to a couple, and shackles from the middle voyage that were used on the last slave ship to arrive on Jekyll Island.

Oak Grove Youth Praise Group

The children are learning songs and dances and performed for the crowd.  Everyone loves it when children perform.  Younger members of the Quimby family are part of this group, carrying on a tradition the family has been doing for generations–teaching people about the history of coastal Georgia.

Gospel Messengers

The Gospel Messengers, led by Dennis Wiley, entertained the crowd with lively Gospel music.  In years past, there used to be more performances with Gullah Geechee on St. Simons Island, a place that is rich in Gullah Geechee culture.  It is a special treat to be able to see them nowadays.  If you are interested in having any of these groups performing for a corporate or special event, email ShoutForFreedom@bellsouth.net.

Cornelia Bailey

Anyone who has ever heard of Cornelia Bailey knows what a wonderful storyteller she is. Mrs. Bailey is a Sapelo native and has been a great champion for keeping the Gullah Geechee heritage alive. Come listen to her stories of growing up on Sapelo and learn about Georgia history on Saturday afternoon, October 10 at the Fall Festival on Saint Simons Island. Postell Park in the Village of Saint Simons Island.

Cornelia Bailey

This festival will offer insight into the Gullah-Geechee history and culture.  For over 250 years, this culture has remained intact–mainly due to the fact that air conditioning was not available to homeowners/individuals until 1929.  With the advent of air conditioning in  homes, people started migrating to the islands.

Over time, large homes, retail establishments, and luxury hotels have been constructed on these islands (from NC to northern FL), real estate taxes increased…thus forcing the Gullah Geechee to sell the land they were either given or purchased after the Civil War and move inland where real estate was less expensive. 

The African American population on these islands has decreased dramatically.  Today, there are very few African American/Gullah Geechee who reside on these islands and there is a very real possibility that this entire culture could be relegated to museums and history books if nothing is done about preserving it.

As the elders pass away, one by one, the Gullah Geechee become one less.  Sadly, many of the younger generation have lost interest in maintaining the integrity of their heritage.  Ultimately, this too contributes to the disintegration of the culture.

We need to keep this culture alive.  Thanks to the generosity of Georgia Council for the Arts and to Target Corporation for supporting this festival.  We are very appreciative!

Join us for this festival and learn about the history of coastal Georgia.

Saint Simons Island, GA October 10-11, 2009

WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CORNELIA BAILEY WILL BE DOING HER LEGENDARY STORYTELLING ABOUT GROWING UP ON SAPELO ISLAND.  ALSO, THE SEA ISLAND SINGERS AND THE YOUTH PRAISE GROUP WILL BE JOINING US FOR THE FESTIVAL.  The Gullah Geechee you will see are veritable National Treasures and their stories/performances/worskshops are worth the trip to the Georgia Coast!

CALL GLYNN ART ASSOCIATION, 912-638-8770

FOR MORE INFORMATION.  WWW.GLYNNART.ORG

Gullah Geechee performances and festival are free and open to the public.  Come learn about the GEORGIA Gullah Geechee and coastal Georgia history!

Take a workshop in basket weaving or net making to make your visit complete.  Call Glynn Art Association for more information about the workshops:  912-638-8770 or email glynnart@bellsouth.net

Performance is by the McIntosh County Shouters of Briar Patch, GA.  They were featured on Art Rosenbaum’s 2009 Grammy Award winning “Best Historical Album” !  This group will be performing at the Glynn Art Association’s Fall Art Festival on October 10, 2009 along with several other award winning, renowned Gullah Geechee groups. 

Although the McIntosh County Shouters were officially founded in 1980 (once outsiders discovered that the ring shout was still being practiced in the Gullah Geechee community), they had been practicing the ring shout all their lives.  This tradition has been literally handed down from generation to generation in this group.  No one “learned” how to do the ring shout to be a part of the group; rather, it was instilled within them from the time they were born.  As they grew up, the elders taught them how to do the ring shout.

The McIntosh County Shouters were awarded Master Artist status in New York City by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2008.  They have received many commendations and awards for their solid dedication to the integrity of this tradition. 

The McIntosh County Shouters have won numerous performance awards and have been featured in documentaries. They appeared in the production of “Roots to Resistance,” a story of the underground railroad. They were featured on “Across America with Larry Woods,” CNN News. They have recorded and released an album, “The McIntosh Country Shouter’s Slave Shout Songs from the Coast of Georgia,” with Folkways Records, New York, NY. They have published the book, Shout Because You’re Free. They were also featured in the June 2000 issue of Southern Living Magazine. The Shouters recently were featured on Oxygen TV’s “Who Needs Hollywood.” They were also highlighted in the documentary, “Unchained Memories,” which is aired on HBO every February.  

THIS IS A MUST SEE FESTIVAL!!!

Contact the McIntosh County Shouters:  ShoutForFreedom@bellsouth.net

David Pleasant

Special Gullah Geechee Performance

October 10, 2009 at 7pm

Ritz Theater

1530 Newcastle Street

Brunswick, GA  31520

For information on individual/Group Ticket Sales,  call:  912-262-6934 or 912-638-8770

      Reserve your tickets early.  This is a must-see event! 

Learn about the history of music and its connection to the Gullah-Geechee.

David Pleasant is a multi-faceted percussion virtuoso, rhythm effects vocalist, avant-garde performance artist, Storyteller and lecturer who specializes in African-American traditions. Born in Savannah, GA and    raised in McIntosh County, Pleasant grew up immersed in the rich  Gullah/Geechee (Georgia and South Carolina Sea Island) culture, which thrives in that area. The Gullah culture, particularly juba, hand jive, pattin’, `rhappin” and shout has played a major role in the development of David Pleasant’s RiddimAthon!®, a performance and teaching method developed from a synthesis of African, Caribbean and African American musical traditions. Using assorted drums, cymbals, tambourines and marimbas, as well as the body percussion rhythms of shout, juba, and jive, RiddimAthon!® aims to get everyone singing, dancing and clapping.

Pleasant is a Fulbright Senior Specialist who presents his work at universities and institutions worldwide. He is also a critically acclaimed, award-winning composer/performer and soloist who has worked with Tony and Grammy Award artists such as: Audra McDonald, Regina Taylor, Graciela Daniel, Paul Simon, Jonathan Tunic, Wynton Marsalis, Michael John LaChiusa, Erykah Badu and others.

Gullah/Geechee culture has influenced over 25 years of Pleasant’s work which has been featured from Broadway to television to dance. Pleasant’s   collaborations with major choreographers and companies such as Jawole    Zollar (Urban Bush Women), Ron Brown, Dianne McIntyre, Jane Comfort,  Harris, Marlise Yearby, Abdel Salaam (Forces of Nature), Batoto Yetu, Step Afrika! and others support his belief in high artistic standards and educational relevance.

Master net maker to conduct workshop