Next Wednesday's Formation
Date and Time
We are honored to welcome the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters of Darien as our final formation program of the fall season.
The Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters are a group from Darien, GA who perform the sacred ring shout, an African-based spiritual ritual that involves call-and-response singing and a shuffling, counterclockwise dance. The tradition is rooted in West African culture, mixed with elements of Christianity.
The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of those enslaved in the Sea Islands of Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. Because of the remoteness of the plantations, the Gullah Geechee were able to retain some of their African traditions, including the ring shout. The group, founded in 1992, works to preserve and promote this heritage, which includes aspects of Gullah Geechee language, storytelling, and spiritual traditions.
Their performances have been featured on various media platforms and in museums, highlighting a cultural practice with roots in enslaved African traditions that influenced later forms of black music.