Tag Archives: celebrations
Beyond Tourism Week in the Gullah/Geechee Nation

The U.S. travel and tourism industry generates approximately $2.1 trillion per year. So, it is no surprise that there is actually a “Tourism Week” celebrated. In South Carolina, Gullah/Geechee culture is often highlighted at the I-95 North Visitors Center in Hardeeville, SC. However, in most cases, Gullah/Geechee culture is not highlighted, it is hijacked!
The massive amount of tourists that come to the Gullah/Geechee Nation annually believe that by driving through and taking photos and then staying in a hotel or camp ground over night, they have supported the Gullah/Geechee people. They even end up often duped into spending funds at “historic sites” and plantations that have Gullah/Geechee listed on their websites and shots of sweetgrass baskets on their brochures to only find out that there are no Gullah/Geechee people that own that site. There may be one Gullah/Geechee person or a few that work there, but beyond their salaries, there is no economic support going to the citizens of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
Gullah/Geechee Events een De Conch Spring 2017 Edition
Gullah/Geechee Ezine De Conch March 2017 Edition

Disya de official ezine ob de Gullah/Geechee Nation!
WGN’s Underground, the Reconstruction Era National Monument, and the coming events of the Gullah/Geechee Nation are featured in this edition. Read online, download, and share. For the events, make sure that you are there!
Ef bout we hunnuh wan kno, den yeddi De Conch da blo!
De Conch January/February 2017 Edition
Engaging with Gullah/Geechee pun Hunnuh Journey

As many people make plans for the Memorial Day weekend and Sea Island summer journeys for their civic groups, family reunions, and social clubs, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition helps them to link to authentic Gullah/Geechee culture via De Gullah Root Experience Tour and providing information on Gullah/Geechee owned and operated businesses and historic sites. Also, in the midst of all of the nationally advertised commercial festivals, they link their supporters to the events that are being held by the grassroots and traditional Gullah/Geechee people. St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation which is one of very few Sea Islands that still have contiguous Gullah/Geechee family compounds in which Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage is lived daily. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that St. Helena is the place wherein those visiting will be able to fully engage with native Gullah/Geechees and support them economically.
De Conch 2015 Golden Edition
Gullah/Geechee Foodways and Heritage Days
St. Helena Island in the Gullah/Geechee Nation Celebrates September!

While September indicates the end of summer to many, it is a time of continuing commemorations and celebrations in the Gullah/Geechee Nation. September is “Middle Passage Month” in the Gullah/Geechee Nation… there are a series of events that will take place on historic St. Helena Island, SC that will allow people to directly engage with the Gullah/Geechee community in celebrations of the continuation of their cultural traditions, organizations, and institutions.
De Gullah/Geechee Nation Season of Celebration een De Conch!

In the May and July 2015 editions, De Conch presents information on the season of celebration in the Gullah/Geechee Nation. Both editions provide details on festivals and coming events in which people that seek to learn accurate information about and want to economically empower the Gullah/Geechee Nation can participate in. Ef bout we culcha hunnuh wan kno, den yeddi de conch da blo!