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.
The McIntosh County Shouters
are one of the favorites at Cultural
Day on Sapelo Island, Ga. They perform traditional
“ring shout” and slave
songs of the South.
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
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QUESTIONS?
IDEAS?
Send e-mail to:
sicarsferry1@aol.com
Karen
Grovner, Editor
Dr. Benjamin F. Lewis, Asst. Editor
Michele Nicole Johnson, Writer/Designer
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WHEN:
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 16.
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
Upcoming
Events
November
19
Descendants
Meeting
7:00 p.m. in Darien, Ga. Place to be announced.
November
20
SICARS Appreciation Party
2:00 p.m. on grounds of Farmer's
Alliance Hall. All residents, SICARS members,
Sapelo descendants and supporters are
welcome. Each attendee is encouraged to
bring a covered dish. SICARS will furnish
fish and drinks.
December
10
Hog Hummock
Community Meeting
7:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Building,
Sapelo Island.
February
26
SICARS General Membership Meeting
10:00 a.m. at the SICARS Office.
March
11
Hog Hummock
Community Meeting
7:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Building,
Sapelo Island.
April
22
Descendants Meeting
7:30 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla. Place to
be announced.
June
10
Hog Hummock
Community Meeting
7:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Building,
Sapelo Island.
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