Sustainable Heritage Tourism Through Gullah Geechee Musical Performance

Abstract

The Gullah Geechee people originally came to the United States as enslaved Africans from the coast of West Africa. Because of harsh conditions along the sea islands, spanning from North Carolina to Florida, the enslaved were often left to work the land while plantation owners retreated to less hostile, inland environments. As a result, many Gullah Geechee cultural, linguistic, and artistic practices remained intact. Today, there is interest in preserving these rich traditions. Because of environmental and cultural threats, preservation efforts must focus on sustainability. This qualitative, critical theory research includes interviews with musical performers from the sea islands and details their perceptions of the role music plays in sustainable heritage tourism. The researchers explored if music performance could be used to promote preservation locally, through tourism to cultural corridor sites, and globally, through touring musical acts. Participants urged caution with traditional tourism models and emphasized the role of younger generations in preserving Gullah Geechee music.