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Gullah/Geechee Artisans Reconnect Culture Through Crafts
The Gullah/Geechee Nation International Music & Movement Festival™ is one week away. This celebrations brings together authentic Gullah/Geechee artists from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida in a major showcase of the artistic skills of Gullah/Geechees that teach how their visual arts, music, dances, and songs connect to their ancestry in Africa. Over the course of three days in historic Charleston, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation, people will be able to purchase traditional items and participate in a number of performances and interactive educational workshops. The events will be at different locations on Friday, August 22, 2008. However, the main events will be held Saturday, August 23, 2008 and Sunday, August 24, 2008 at the Charleston Maritime Center at 10 Wharfside Drive from Noon to 7 pm.
This year's event will feature painters, Al Hawkins, Brother Nizar, and the world reknown Charleston native, Leroy Campbell. Each of these visual artists will unveil their new Gullah/Geechee series of art. All of them will have paintings on exhibit and for sale throughout the weekend.
Gullah/Geechee traditional items will also be created on location and sold throughout the weekend. Featured artisans are Carolee Holmes Brown, Gullah/Geechee quilter, Corey Alston, sweetgrass basket maker, Halim Gullahbemi, wood carver and Minister of Adornment for the Gullah/Geechee Nation, and Rita Pratt, Bahamian doll maker. In addition to these artisans, there will be Gullah/Geechee books, CDs, jewelry, and other items for sale. When going through the "Living Marketplace" attendees can learn the history behind all of these crafts as they are made on-site and also purchase Gullah/Geechee cuisine.
Presentations will be made by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, Louise Miller Cohen, Gullah storyteller, Ras Solo, spoken word artist, Rev. Real, Gospel rapper, Evangelist Walker and YAMM Choir, Clyde Walker, stiltwalker and swing dance instructor, Delvina Wescott, drummer, Oyotunji African Village Dancers and Drummers, Centenary Youth Choir, Djole African Drumming Troupe, Nia Productions, and special guests from Sierra Leone, West Africa. The event will be hosted by Queen Quet and the Wisdom Circle Council of Elders for the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
The entire community should be there when the drums sound at Noon on Friday, August 22, 2008 at the Agapé Center on Blake and East Bay Streets. A special libation ceremony will be held there in the Phillip Simmons Garden in honor of this Gullah/Geechee traditions keeper. Saturday begins with an ancestral tribute boat ride at 9 am and the event officially opens at the Charleston Maritime Center at Noon that day and Sunday. Admission varies for different activities and workshops. To pre-register and obtain discounts including those for groups, call 843-838-1171 or e-mail GullGeeCo@aol.com or AMPTurnItUp@aol.com.
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