Queen Quet & De Gullah/Geechee Nation Standing Strong fa We Ancestas
Queen Quet has been the elected head-of-state and Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) for 17 years as of July 2, 2017. She has been standing up for the rights of Gullah/Geechee people for over three decades. Whenever asked about this, she will let you know that she stands due to her faith and the strength of her ancestors. Thus, she has effectively led a number of endeavors that have led to global recognition of Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage. The annual event that she co-founded to celebrate this rich heritage while also supporting the businesses and institutions of the Gullah/Geechee Nation is the “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™” which will be held on her home island-historic St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation August 4-6, 2017.
When Queen Quet was enstooled on July 2, 2000, thousands of people from throughout the Sea Islands and around the world gathered at Sullivan’s Island, SC. Sullivan’s Island is where more than 40% of all Africans enslaved in North America came through. On that historic day of the enstoolment, drums were sounded at this island bringing in a new era of existence of people of African descent on the Sea Islands and throughout the Lowcountry. For several years, Queen Quet and the Wisdom Circle Council of Elders continued to return for the “Gullah/Geechee Reunion” at Sullivan’s Island. However, for the past twelve years, they have hosted “Gullah/Geechee Reunion Day” on the Saturday of the “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™” no matter where the event was located for that year. The event goes to different area of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and the African Diaspora each year.
This year, the drums are being called in from around the world in celebration with Queen Quet and the citizens of the Gullah/Geechee Nation as they celebrate “Fa We Ancestas” as the theme for this year. On Sunday, August 6, 2017, there will be a massive ancestral ceremony and drumming at the Atlantic Ocean at Hunting Island, SC to close out not only the “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™,” but also “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week.” “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” will be launched at historic Mosquito Beach just down the Intercoastal waterway from Sullivan’s Island on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at Noon. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gullahgeechee-famlee-day-at-mosquito-beach-2017-tickets-33510881950)
Queen Quet is calling the entire Gullah/Geechee Famlee and all those that support keeping Gullah/Geechee traditions alive to come together and support these events.
The entire celebration of events under the theme “Fa We Ancestas” will raise funds and awareness. Many people are unaware of how Gullah/Geechees changed the landscape of North America through their intellectual and physical abilities. Many are also not aware of how extremely important it is for Gullah/Geechees to remained linked to their homeland. To insure this, the “Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy Fund” (https://www.gofundme.com/gullahgeechee-land-legacy-fund) was launched last December and will be supported via the “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” events. The “Gullah/Geechee Collection” for the landmark St. Helena Branch Library and De Gullah/Geechee Alkebulan Archive which is the ONLY archive in the world totally dedicated to Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, and culture will also be beneficiaries of the funds raised. De Gullah/Geechee Alkebulan Archive was founded due to Queen Quet’s leadership of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition (www.gullahgeechee.net) which is celebrating its 20th year in existence.
The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition sponsors the Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ along with All Mobile Productions™ (AMP™), the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network, the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Committee of Northeast Florida, and the Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association. This year, they are being joined in leading this outstanding celebration by the St. Helena Island Community Market which is where people will engage with Gullah/Geechee craft artists and featured artists of the year, “Sonja Griffin Evans” whose “American Gullah” collection will be on display at the St. Helena Branch Library for “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week.” Ms. Evans will do an artist talk at the library during the “Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™.”
As Queen Quet says,
“Ef hunnuh ain got a drum, hunnuh got time fa mek or buy one!
Cum ta de islands een de sea and drum wid we fa we ancestas!”
For more information about the celebration, go to www.gullahgeechee.info, www.gullahgeecheenation.com or email GullGeeCo@aol.com.
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- Tagged: All Mobile Productions, celebrations, drumming, Geechee, Gullah, Gullah/Geechee Angel Network, Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage, Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Committee of Northeast Florida, Gullah/Geechee Nation, Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week, Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival, Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, human rights, Hunting Island, Queen Quet, Sea Islands, St. Helena Island, St. Helena Island Branch Library