The Gullah people have a very unique culture. Their ideas about music are very rhythmic while they sing songs through their own dialect – a cross between the native Gullah language and English. Throughout these songs, they try to rid the thought of slavery. The Gullah people do not take for granted that their ancestors went through slavery when they first came to the island. The activities around their music include how they pray to God, their dances, and burial customs. According to Queen Quet, their dance movements consists of however the music makes them feel and move. The Gullah people believe highly that the spirits must be laid to rest the right way. Their repertoire of music includes chant songs from the days when their ancestors were slaves or about the freedom they enjoy now. The material culture of the Gullah really focuses on their drums and percussion. In most videos, it looks like they rely on the conga drum.
The aspects of their music performance have a very free nature to it. The rhythms included in their music have repetitive patterns but change throughout the song. Their use of other percussion can include other instruments like bells or a type of shaker. The performers are nearly anyone who plays the drums or dances throughout the music. In most cases, the audience becomes the performers.
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