Blog Post 11

The Gullah people's music culture is very similar to various African music cultures due to their African heritage and preservation of traditions. The isolation of the Gullah people due to geography and disease has allowed them to remain very similar to the various tribes their ancestors represented, especially those from Sierra Leone. In their music, they use several types of membranophones and employ polyrythym to create intricate beat patterns. There are also several "shakers" and tambourines used. The music is very participatory. People dance, sing, call out and become involved in the action. It seems that everyone does something when the music is going. The music tells stories of their past and also of their beliefs. Some of the dancing seems to be a group dance that everyone can participate in. There also seems to be a sort of "battle" dance where to people go back and forth. They use a "drum call" to signal the death of a member of their community and they also sing and dance around the grave at a funeral. Music is very much a part of their everyday lives.