Gullah Geechee Food Traditions 

I’m creole, my people are from New Orleans. I appreciate how Gullah people own their culture unlike creole folks who give French people credit for African dishes. So many of our dishes in New Orleans are entirely African like dirty rice, jambalaya, gumbo and meat pies. Thank you for keeping the culture as pure as possible.

Black culture is so broad, diverse, and beautiful! So proud that the ways of my ancestors are being preserved!

I'm a white guy born in California, having lived half my life in Oklahoma. All that being said, I grew up watching Gullah Gullah Island and was fascinated by the dancing, language, and food! Now as an adult with my own kids (watching Gullah Gullah Island with them), I started looking into this region and culture. I love it and I wish more people knew this history. I hope activist groups band together to preserve this culture.

My maternal heritage. This also shows that Southerners, Caribbean’s and West Africans are not different from each other. We may have ‘lost’ our mother tongue but we can recognize it and our people.

Don't let this cute video placate you. The Charleston area Gullah Geechee culture is being gentrified and pushed off the land that they have inhabited for over a hundred years. If you think these traditions should be preserved then please get informed and active as to how you can help.

I'm African American, born and raised in NYC. Last week I got a chance to meet my husband's family from SC. I was mind blown. I always thought of them as "Southern Black"... But the more that I learned about Gullah Greeche culture the more I am amazed. His family have their own land, they cooked, shared stories. Its amazing how I've been with someone for 10 years and it never dawned on me that his culture is different although we are both African American. Lol I have so much to learn. I did make red rice last night for dinner! 🙌🏾 lol I think I killed that. Lol Now I have to learn how to make some of these dishes for my husband. ❤❤

My Geeche used to be so strong, my mother could not even understand me. When we moved to NJ when I was around 6 y/o I had to go to a Speech Language Pathologist in elementary school in Mt. Laurel. The students thought I was speaking Spanish and Speech Pathologist advised them I was speaking Geechee.

This is amazing. I am from Trindad & Tobago. A lot of the foods of the Gullah-Geechee tradition resembles African-Caribbean food. The red rice looks exactly like our Pelau. Browned rice, meats and vegetables. A national dish in T&T from our slave ancestors. Looks like Jollof rice. Callaloo with either salted meat, okra, coconut milk, seasonings, crab or seafood resembles your gumbo. This is also West African. We eat coo coo a cornmeal dish which is also West African and is eaten in most Afro Caribbean islands. Pounded plaintains or foo foo is mainly still made in Tobago where our African presence is strong. The more we look is the more we see how similar the children of Mama Africa are.

The Gullah Geechee culture is similar to my Jamaican culture in speech, dress , food and burial traditions . Listening to the singing at a Gullah wake, I thought I was in Jamaica.

I'm from the Bahamas and love to learn more about the Gullah Tribe cause we really have the same culture. Lord have mercy

Hailing from Wadmalaw Island, I love seeing my culture acknowledged and celebrated! Though I am concerned about its erasure and the possibility of it being stolen as everything in black culture ends up stolen. I remember growing up, people outside of the community spoke of us like we were ignorant for speaking geechee. It was during college when I learned to keep my language/dialect limited to when I'm at home or in the company of "home" folks. I was made to feel ashamed. As I grow older, I uberappreciate my culture, lessons and the stories told to me by my ancestors. I'm no longer ashamed of my accent or offended by being called geechee.

Watching this has made my heart so full. I'm so proud to be Afro/African American.

The red rice dish is very interesting. In Africa the dish original dish is called “Jollof.” In Louisiana the version of it is called Jamabayla.

I'm from West Africa.bit was Soo exciting to recognize the dishes you were preparing. Blood is definitely thicker than water. Love you.

And that clap is most definitely used in many black churches.

WELCOME TO WEST AFRICA 101.. I’m Yoruba from Nigeria and have been to Sierra Leone ,where I found out we are nothing but the same people .Is super crazy to know what we have in common is huge..Love y’all my Gullah fam❤️

The west African culture is so strong. They tried to get rid of it but it is literally engrained in us. The rythm the lady was clapping is literally the rythm Haitian people use for most of our music. Clap 👏🏿 1,2 clap 👏🏿 clap👏🏿!

Red Bays in North Andros, Bahamas was settled by the Black Seminoles in the 1700 or 1800's. The Black Seminoles were runaway slaves from South Carolina, Georgia etc. In Red Bays, the hand-woven baskets made locally are exactly the same as those in the video made by the Gullah geechee. The Geechee language, however, is spoken prevalently throughout the Bahamas

I'm geechee Gullah and Creole Seminole and I was taught I'm native to this land

I feel another South Carolina trip in my bones 😍😍

We must teach this in the schools. I am 74 and I am just learning about the Gullah. If the good Lord willing I will come and learn all I can about the people and the traditions. Thank you for being on RU-vid.

I am from Senegal. I live in the US. I have diverse food cooking experiences. It will nice and so beneficial for all of us to reconnect. Let's work on events which can reconnect the diaspora in large.

Nothing but pride! Being from New Orleans myself, seeing this just reminds me of how important our rich culture is!..........it also shows just how much colonial whites who are called “Cajun” are relabeling black culture of Louisiana!

Gullah Geeche also ran as far down as St Augustine Florida. SEMINOLE means "run away" many run away Slaves ended up in Florida fighting alone side the Indians.

I’m from SC born and raised, and that at red rice, grits, okra soup, fried fish, and allat be hittin man🤪😋😍

I was born in Trinidad & Tobago. Same. Same culture. Wow.

Our African roots seem to always appear in Our Food🍛 & Music 🎶

So proud of my people...born and raised in south Carolina .our tradition is so strong!!! The south 💪💪

Heard my mother speak of Geechee people even in Texas.

I'm from cold northern Europe and will probably never go to these places, but it's very interesting to see and learn about culture, history and delicious food. Thanks for making this content!

Say it loud! I'm Black and I'm Proud!

LOVE this thank you! My grandma is Gullah Geechee from South Carolina.

We must all stick together and save our Black people land!! If not, next year, there will be a white man making a video talking about how to make red rice and declaring that he is a Gullah Geechee!

im a Pacific islander & i must say deep pit cooking is changing. we here in the islands still do it the traditional way. 1. dig the hole. 2. line black stones in the pit. 3. build the fire in the pit over the stones. 4. let it burn until charred. 5. wen charred, use long stinks to spread the burned charred woods all over the pit & also take some stones out for topping. 6. place leaves in pit & start laying food items that needs to be cooked this way. 7. cover with leaves again & place the rest of the hot stones on top of the leaves. 8. place more leaves to trap in heat & to cover the inside the pit. 9. after its all done, bury the pit carefully & fully with the dirt u dug out of the pit. 10. enjoy!! ✊🏽✊🏽✌🏽✌🏽

We BUILT THIS MFN COUNTRY ‼️💯

How beautiful and important! Thanks for showing me (I´m from Brazil) your culture and magical cuisine.

I love these kinds of videos. African-American culture is very rich, so it´s great to be able to know more about the culture of my cousins across the pond!

Wow, what insight. My grandmother spoke of an island off the coast of Georgia were gullah geechee people lived.

My family's from Santee, Elloree South Carolina........when my Dad or family speak it is totally another language. You would think are these really Americans. Whole nother culture.......Gullah Geechee's we do exist.

As a West African I just want to clarify that Thieboudienne IS jollof rice, it’s the real and original jollof rice coming from the Wolof people from Senegal. It is nice to see that Okra soup is still being enjoyed because it is too good!

South Carolina man born and raised here and I'm still here..I love my roots

That red rice could be a main dish itself! And the those grits...I almost had a foodgasm seeing that butter melt in slow motion. I have to visit this area.

The African diaspora is beautiful. We all come from Africa and have developed our own story from her love.

My people and my home! Gullah boy til i die!

I used to could catch hints of that accent in the older folks in conway ,sc. They are gone on to heaven now.....but yeah..... ......its beautiful.

I appreciate the Gullahh Geechee culture. My father and his family lived on James Island when he was young. My family has always had a connection to the low country though we live in the Midlands. Please continue to preserve this.

In West Africa Rice is the most staple food, Rice with Beans Cook together, is another typical West African. And I see many of these food, among the Haitians, Guyanese, Jamaican, and many other Caribbean. We are the same families, but with different experiences. I am happy, despite the long separation, our People across Atlantic, still keep the tradition, in Music, food, hair style and many more

We are a very diverse people of African Americans

My grandmother LOVED rice, she had rice w/ EVERYTHING!!! Tomatos and rice

Love this! I’m proud of my Gullah/Geechee culture. I have roots in Charleston as well as Beaufort S.C. ❤️

There was a fairly recent episode of the show "United Shades of America" about the Gullah Geechee culture that was very fascinating. This adds to that and makes me want to try some recipes from these.

Some legends around those tables. Rodney Scott and Bryan Furman are two of the best in the game to go along with BJ's amazing approach to honoring and promoting Lowcountry heritage. That's one dinner where I'd love to just sit back and listen.

I love the culture I love the food! I moved tho charleston sc when I was 15 absolutely fell in love my hole life I felt like charleston is my home! Can't wait to move back!

Never heard of this culture before. Needs to be better known. As always, thanks Doc for the insight and the good food.

As a Bahamian I truly would love to visit these people. They speak just like me

Nice video. My uncle via marriage was a Gullah Gee Chee . Growing up, I used to think he was from the Caribbean islands, but he wasn’t. He was born and raised in South Carolina! The African diaspora is amazing and they should not be division among the cultures (African American, Cape Verdean, Afro-Carribbean). Someone in this video said that food is the binding agent that brings the culture back together, reminding everyone where we came from. Amen.

Dr you should go into Georgia, McIntosh county and Sapelo Island. Low country here! I love my people.

Wow, this is fascinating.... I learned something today. Being Acadian, the concept of cultural survival is very dear to my heart. all the best to the Gullah Geechee

As I am watching this I am things about Africans coming to an unknown land and substituting food to preserve there African food/ culture. Its obvious red rice is a substitute for jollof rice. We are all one people. It is amazing how the Gullah culture survived. Great people may the culture continue to be taught and stay preserved.

Wow we've GOTTA PRESERVE....... Some of THESE historical ways....

My friend is from Senegal, who does similar dishes. I finding out more from her and our cooking culture. Example, I was making for breakfast, rice, skinned milk, sugar and nutmeg, and simmer my rice cereal. My friend said that is Sombe in her Wolof language. I'm from Baltimore, Maryland, and finding out that a lot of traditional African cooking is all ingrained in the american culture, some people may call it soul food. I also lived in Savannah, Georgia for a year and know about the low country boil, which is fish stew in Senegal. By the way, the rice cereal, in the south or some people say the country, is called Sugar Rice. 🤗

Thank you for making this. With your channel, I feel like I'm back in the South eating my grandmother's food and spending time with my cousins agin.

I wanna thank you for posting this segment. My family is from St. Stephen SC and i'm currently living in Myrtle Beach SC. I grew up out there and the same history existed back then. Black People up North need to experience this. Maybe they would stop the killing if they knew the love of our culture. I love everyone and it's because of the old school upbringing. I pray that way of life will return. Once again thank you. Lots of love from your brother, Preacher.

Food & Music are the 2 things that bring people together with love

I was born in Charleston South Carolina. We later moved to Johns Island S.C. I currently live in California and has been here for 26 years...South Carolina will always be my home!

Really impressed by the chef. He really knows the history and culture behind all these dishes!

My late mother is from St. Mathews, SC and I have family through out Charleston, Orangeburg, St. Helena and Buford. I have told many Jamaican friends of mine that my uncles, cousins, and my late grandfather sounded like them and they wouldn't believe me lol. So proud to be of this culture and heritage.

Very interesting. My beloved grandmother was from the sea islands of South Carolina. I never, never, never heard Grandmother or any of the relatives use the term Gullah. Instead, they always used the word Geechee to refer to themselves and their wonderful culture.

Who would thumbs down this video about this beautiful African culture?

Im a caribbean american and I love the Gullahs man this food looks amazing

I can not explain my natural joyful response to the sound and rhythm of the sister singing Kumbaya. I know that sound.

Red rice is the Liberian daughter of jollof rice. That’s very similar to Liberian Jollof. We make ginger beer and okra soup!! We love seafood as well and fresh fruits!! The gumbo dish is very similar to what we call Palava Saice in Liberia. Fun fact: We have a tribe in Liberia called the Gullah.

I LOVE THE DEEPNESS IN THESE PEOPLES VOICE AND SOUND!

My grandmother is from St. Helenas Island Sc, which will become my home in two more months. She always cooked red rice on holidays. I'm so looking forward to connecting with my roots. Such a beautiful place 🦋👁💖💫🍃 #Gullahroots

As she was singing something deep down in my soul was moved

I wish I could go to visit the Sea Islands ... my ancestors came from over the Ashley River long, LONG ago.

As the elders say when proud, "Us Chil'rens be learned they ancestas' ways". From my paternal heritage in the Carolinas/Georgia/Alabama where this food ,brought from Africa and her diaspora, sticks to your soul; to my maternal Mississippi/Louisiana Creole seafood, but my love is my grandmother's Texas Afro-Tejano fusion of spicy hot tamales, fried tomatoes & onions; pickled green peppers, cucumbers, & carrots served over brown rice with a side of mixed greens collard/mustard/turnip greens-yes greens, simmered for hours in fatback(now turkey bacon) and salt-hot water cornbread-see now! I'm hungry.

This is why I want to move out of Miami and learn my real culture. My grandparents raised me like this in Miami, they’ve passed on, but I still hold to the things I’ve learned as a cook.

I remember growing up ppl would speak of the Geechy in a negative way as if they weren't a part of us!

Very interesting we of African American decent have so much in different dishes that have not been experienced, this was great hope more is shown. We are so much more diverse in culinary dishes passed down generations.

i love all of that FRESH food. it's all beautiful.

This was such a pleasant video to watch. There are so many things in here that I've done naturally since a child especially the clapping rhythm. I'd do that 1 and another 1 and only either in The House of Worship or at home. The language I use to interpret to others that could make no sense of what's being said. I wasn't ever "taught" any of this, it all comes from my soul. I am over 50 now and this gave me so much clarification, peace and joy. 🙏🏽🤎😢😁🤗 Thank you

Wow... went my family came from west Africa, I wish we moved to the Carolinas. I think I am going to buy my home there. This brought tears to my eyes.

Red rice is the daughter of Joloff rice. I am of Afro Caribbean and the Gullah like most Southern cultures are very similar to ours.

This is the only food show I've gotten excited about for a long time. Keep em coming, Dr!

I just had dinner but at 3 mins into the video I’m salivating at the food! Love your content Dr. Conyers! Kudos!

Don't leave the NC Gullahs out, love the video family

Reminds me so much of Louisiana

My in-laws are from Mt Pleasant and love love the culture. I have so many sweet baskets and jewelry made from sweet grass. Love red rice and love going to visit. I’ve learned so much about Gullah cooking and language. My husband and I were born and raised in NYC now reside in ATL but we take our children to Mt pleasant all the time. So much history there. Our family is holding on to their land. People save your land in Mt Pleasant, keep it in the family.

Charleston born and bred. I’m actually making greens for dinner tonight. I remember in church, we would start with a one clap rhythm and then transition into the low country clap. Unfortunately, like someone said in the comments, it’s true that gentrification is happening. They’re also forcing the Gullah people off their land that they’ve inherited after slavery by raising the taxes. I grew up in an all black neighborhood where my grandma still lives and they’re moving in slowly but surely. They keep trying to buy her house and she refuses. It’s quite annoying.

Nothing like some good ole Gullah dishes. I am a Geechie myself from Charleston. I love the history of how the food, dishes so influenced. New Orleans as well. Folks always think Louisiana folks and Charlestonians sound alike. We share a strong link.

That red rice tho 😍😍

Im in Philly dis make me wanna move back to SC so bad. I love my culture. Im going straight to James Island

This is a great series, thanks doc

This has been one of my favorite series. If you ever decide to do a deeper dive, I'm ready. (I'm sure I'm not the only one!)

Lovin this video! Every day I embrace my Africanness -- despite Black men and women from the Mother Continent but naturalized U.S. citizens trying to shame me as NOT being African American. They say they're African American, I'm not. What gives? No one can take away my joy! I cook red rice all year round because I've been eating it since my first memory of eating solid food. lol Every single family gathering on my mother's side MUST have red rice, collards and fried chicken. Oftentimes someone will bring peas and rice, too. My male relatives don't want to learn to prepare red rice, so it's we women on my mother's matrilineal line who have kept up the Gullah and Geechee traditions. Just to clarify: my maternal grandmother's mother and father were descended from Gullah and Geechee peoples from the South Carolina coast. When I was in my 20s and verrry curious about why we eat red rice often (and, in general, a lot of rice dishes, including rice 'n peas, black-eyed peas ...), Grandma spelled it all out. By the way, although my mother cooked a huge pot of red rice (hers was super-spicy!) every other week (but never at the same time as baked macaroni and cheese, except for Thanksgiving), it was her mother's -- yup, Grandma's -- deliciOUS red rice (she threw in much more garlic and lots more sausage ... OH YEH!) that I loved. So by now you must've guessed that, yeh, I jumped at the chance when Grandma asked, "You wan learn how to cook red rice?" Like many other recipes around the world, red rice can be prepared with myriad adaptations. I follow Grandma's way, only substituting turkey kielbasa for beef sausages. (Why? I live in a neighborhood that had a majority Polish population until it began gentrifying [sad face]. When most of our Polish populace moved away from, and were priced out of, this town, the Polish deli disappeared, too (now replaced with a hot pot shop and an uber-expensive Italian eatery). So I buy Hillshire Farms turkey kielbasa and crisp it slightly before combining it with the tomatoey "soup" containing allat onion, green pepper, garlic ... and rice, of course! One time I tossed in a lil bit pimiento peppers. It was aiiight. I prefer a lil ground cayenne pepper for heat. I forgot to mention I was born and raised in NYC to a mother descended (by her mother) from Gullah people living in Beaufort and Edisto Island. My Grandma waited till close to the year of her transition to tell me that, after Granddad brought her up North -- during the Great Migration -- she was insulted with insults by other Black people in Harlem (where my grandparents lived after they got married) for having what they thought was a West Indian accent. This was in the early 1930s. She still felt a world of hurt because of that hatred from her own people: Africa-descended people. It sickens me to think how she was harassed and threatened on buses and other public places in Harlem. Those incidents didn't happen when my Granddad was present with her; only when she was out and about alone. Getting back to Gullah and Geechee history, cuisine, language and dialect, and music --- I'm proud to be descended from people who fiercely held and continue to hold onto their West African origins. And how cool that the pathway to my learning about this misunderstood-by-many-Americans(including Black Americans) was revealed through my deep love for red rice. Because I said yes, Grandma kept me by her hip as she showed me -- with much love and talking while doing it -- how to prepare it. Now I've passed her way of red rice cooking to my descendants, including on my father's side. It's like a kiss from Grandma and from more-distant ancestors -- West African people that I know from this great video, and from some historical literature, were scientists and engineers of rice cultivation, harvesting and preparation. Thank you for this video, Nourish! Thank you for reminding us of how strong ties to Mama Africa whether we are Gullah / Geechee, Bahamian, Jamaican, New Orleanian, Barbadian, Trini, Jamaican, Haitian, St. Lucian, Martiniquais, Guadeloupean, or from Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts-Nevis, the Virgin Islands, Cape Verde, Fiji ... or anywhere else around the world where there are folks from the African Diaspora.

I love how they never lost their Flava.

Love my culture. My mother told me that we are from the geechee islands. My favorite dishes are Gumbo and jumbulyah.

Georgia here. Great grandpa from SC great grandma from southern coastal Georgia

You can here the geechee accent on the chef. I love it!