Gullah/Geechee Nation Cultural Celebrations Promoting Food Security and Food Safety

Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ October 7, 2012 ♦ 2 Comments

October is a month filled with celebrations in the Gullah/Geechee Nation beginning with Moja in downtown Charleston.  This year, the Gullah/Geechee Nation is engaging in the celebrations with an educational benefit to all the people surrounding food security and food safety in their area.   It all begins Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 5 pm at the Workmen’s Café 1837 North Grimball Road James Island SC 29412 with a Gullah/Geechee Supper done by Chef Benjamin Dennis and Desmond Brown of “Geechee Island Food Truck.”  These native Gullah/Geechee culinary artists have come together to assist with “Dinner for a Cause: A Fun and Fundraiser for the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network.”

The Gullah/Geechee Angel Network is the official non-profit for the Gullah/Geechee Nation.   The Gullah/Geechee Angel Network executive director and founder, Elder Carlie Towne and the board of directors and advisory board are working to build the “International Gullah/Geechee Camp Meeting Center” in Cross, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

This is the architectural rendering of the “International Gullah/Geechee Camp Meeting Center” that is being built by the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network in Cross, SC.

The 4 hour event on James Island will include honored guest, Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, music, and spoken word with the culinary feast.  Advance tickets can be purchased at http://charleston.strangertickets.com/events/6372670/gullahgeechee-angel-network-fundraiser.  Even if you cannot attend, your purchase will help with the completion of this major project that the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network has undertaken.

Queen Quet, Chieftess and Head-of-State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation deals with matters of food security and food safety for the Gullah/Geechee Nation daily within her nation and representing her people in these discussions at the United Nations.

Queen Quet who will make this fundraiser her return stop in the Gullah/Geechee Nation as part of the “Gullah/Geechee Gold Souls World Tour” will continue this celebration and education on Gullah/Geechee food, foodways, and food security as a part of the College of Charleston events leading up to the celebration of “National Food Day.”  Queen Quet will present on Thursday, October 18th at 4 pm at the College of Charleston’s Stern Center Ballroom on George Street in historic downtown.   The event is FREE and open to the public.   There will be a fundraising event that same evening at 7 pm to support GrowFood Carolina.

The Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association will close out the month with its “Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival” which happens every other year.   The event has been moved to the Hunting Island Nature Center from St. Helena Island in order to have a more engaging and interactive day with food, fishing, crabbing, family games, films, music, dancing, and Gullah/Geechee presentations.  Admission is FREE, but plates of food are $10 per person with drink included.   The event on Saturday, October 27 from Noon to 6 pm will support the Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association and the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition this year.   For more information, email GullGeeCo@aol.com or call (843) 838-1171.

All of these events will be opportunities for the community to learn about Gullah/Geechee traditional foodways and how their traditions are been impaired due to foodways.  People that are interested in working with the Gullah/Geechees will be able to learn how they can do this by working with the Gullah/Geechee organizations that are a part of each of the events.  If you would like to know more or send a donation to the continue work being done to sustain the Gullah/Geechee foodways traditions including sea work and agriculture, contact the Gullah/Geechee Nation Headquarters at (843) 838-1171 or email GullGeeCo@aol.com.

Cum yeddi bout who webe an nyam pun de ting we gedda frum de lan an de sea!