Join us for Cultural Day ’04
   

Experience music, dance, food and crafts at
the 10th annual festival on Sapelo Island, GA

By Michele Nicole Johnson

My first Cultural Day experience was just last year. I had heard about the annual festival on Sapelo Island, Ga., but had put off going. Now I know what I was missing -- a celebration of the Geechee/Gullah culture and legacy complete with soul-stirring music and breath-taking dance, crafts and island cuisine so good you wanna slap somebody.

This year’s Cultural Day, sponsored by the Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society Inc. (SICARS), will include songs by the Sea Island Singers, the McIntosh County Shouters (see below), The Golden Tones old South brass band, gospel by The Gospel Messengers and Sons of Zion; dance by Rakaba West African Ballet and Folade Na Weusi Afrikan Dance Ensemble; history about the Buffalo Soldiers; and tales by storytellers Lillian Grant Baptiste and Louise Cohen. Cohen will welcome attendees in the Gullah language.

And yes, as always there will be food, food and more food -- including smoked mullet and shrimp-and-grits worth a wait in line.

The Geechee residents of Sapelo's Historic Hog Hummock Community and nearby areas will demonstrate sugar cane grinding, how sweetgrass baskets, castnets and quilts are made, and much more. Medicinal herbs will be available as well as pure Sapelo harvested honey, a new item featured at this year's festival.

They say each festival is bigger and better than the one before. I can't imagine how it could get any better, but I plan to be there Oct. 16 to see if it's true.

I hope I see you there, too.

Michele is an associate member of SICARS and she lives in Charlotte, N.C.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR CULTURAL DAY! Please call the SICARS office at (912) 485-2197

QUESTIONS? IDEAS?
Send e-mail to:
sicarsferry1@aol.com

Karen Grovner, Editor
Dr. Benjamin F. Lewis, Asst. Editor
Michele Nicole Johnson, Writer/Designer

WHERE:
The grounds of the
Farmer’s Alliance Hall,
Hog Hummock
Community,
Sapelo Island, Ga.

TICKETS:
$15 SICARS members
$20 nonmembers
Children under 6 free.
Includes round-trip ferry
and island bus to the site.
Island tours: $10 per
person.

TO ORDER:
Call (912) 485-2197 Wed.-
Fri., 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., to
buy tickets with a Visa or Mastercard; or send
check/money order and
self-addressed, stamped
envelope payable to:
SICARS, P.O. Box 6
Sapelo Island, GA 31327