Gullah Language

   While the Gullah language is more likely to be heard in the Lowcountry, you may catch a bit in the Pee Dee. The Gullah language is an English-based creole language thought to have developed as a means of communication during the colonial period. Africans from various tribes needed a common language for communication between themselves and the plantation owners. The Gullah language is related to the Krio language of Sierra Leone in West Africa.

Glossary of Gullah Terms
Gumbo

Some Gullah words have become standard Southern vocabulary, such as gumbo – the Bantu word for okra. Gumbo is a meal of okra, tomatoes, onion and a little salt pork. It is usually eaten on a bed of rice or cornbread.

Other examples are kumbaya, which is Gullah for “come by here,” and benne — Gullah for sesame. Strong influences of West African cultures can be found in Gullah storytelling, cuisine, music, folk beliefs, crafts, farming and fishing traditions. The Jamestown Community Reunion is a great time to experience the Gullah culture in the Pee Dee. The gathering is normally held in late July. For more information about the reunion, contact Terry James at (843) 661 – 5679.

 

Jamestown Historical Marker