Hitting the Road: Exploring Georgia Sea Islands Culture Through Music and Oral History

This blog post was written by Andrea Jones Blackford, Washington Revels Associate Artistic Director, and Jubilee Voices Founder and Director

The Washington Revels Jubilee Voices have had amazing journeys: from the National Archives to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, across the Potomac to the portico of Arlington House in Virginia, and around the world on the Daily Antidote of Song.

As Jubilee Voices celebrates its 13th year, the group will be taking a special road trip to St. Simons Island, Georgia, to perform a program blending digital stories, music, and education about the island’s Gullah-Geechee community. The program is part of the Coastal Georgia Research Initiative, a ten-year partnership between Mercer University’s College of Professional Advancement and the St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition.

Under the guidance of Dr. Melanie Pavich, Associate Professor of History and Interdisciplinary Studies, Mercer students participated in a semester-long project, with coursework centered on conducting interviews and producing digital stories in collaboration with the African American Heritage Coalition. By adding live musical performance, the Initiative hopes to expand the visibility of the project to a broader audience, and help preserve this rich history. 

You may be familiar with songs from Gullah Geechee tradition, like “Kum Bah Yah,” “Yonder Come Day,” or “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” from Jubilee Voices’ performances, at schools and other locales. The Gullah Geechee were originally people taken from the west coast of Africa and enslaved for their knowledge in cultivating cotton and rice. Because of their skills, the Africans who were brought to the islands shared common ancestors, customs and languages. Forbidden from speaking their native tongue, they communicated with one another in a language that came to be known as “Gullah.” The islands’ remote location enabled Gullah-Geechee culture, music, and foodways to retain their West African traditions, sounds, speech patterns and flavors. 

For Washington Revels and Jubilee Voices, this project not only provides the group an opportunity to learn more about this culture and share the music, but also meet with and learn from the people, community, and culture from which the music originated. Knowing more about the Gullah Geechee community and its legacy helps to protect and preserve endangered traditions and enhances our American history and culture. We are happy and grateful to be part of this year’s project, which directly speaks to the Jubilee Voices’ mission of preserving African American music, history, and culture.

The project and public programs have been supported by multiple grants from Georgia Humanities, in addition to grants from Mercer’s Office of the Provost and the University’s Center for the Study of Narrative. If you’d like to help support the work of the Initiative, including funding to augment the travel costs for Jubilee Voices performers, visit the College of Professional Advancement – Coastal Georgia Research Initiative Enhancement Fund. 

Watch this space to learn more about this upcoming trip, preparations, and experiences in addition to Jubilee Voices programs for Juneteenth.