Seine Fishing on Nannygoat Beach
The technique of Seine fishing was brought over to Sapelo Island by West African slaves. Today, this technique of fishing continues on Sapelo and in West African villages. Bridging the West African and Sapelo Geechee cultures.
The seine technique continues to be passed down from generation to generation on Sapelo.
The seine technique continues to be passed down from generation to generation on Sapelo.
Gathering the Bounty of the Sea
An array of seafood is gathered in the beach seine net. It is customary for all hands who helped to be offered a share.
A Local Tradition - Smoked Mullet
A long time tradition is smoking mullet over live oak. For years considered the best way to preserve and keep fish, and it is still considered an excellent method used in preserving seafood; but many days smoked mullet is a welcomed regular at the dinner table straight from the grill; no preserving, just eating!
Cultural Day
The rich culture of the Geechee and Gullah is celebrated and shared with family and friends the second Saturday in October each year. It is a great opportunity to hear and see the culture come alive.
Shouting
A cultural tradition from slavery times, traditional shouters perform at Cultural Day and other Geechee/Gullah cultural celebrations.
Getting Basket Stuff
Making sweet grass baskets is a long tradition dating back to the early slaves on Sapelo. They brought with them from West Africa the skills and knowledge of basket making for storage, carrying things, harvesting and processing rice to name a few.
Sapelo is unique, because all of the materials needed to make sweet grass baskets is right outside and easy to gather.
Yvonne is gathering natural materials to strip and dry, and use to make baskets.
Sapelo is unique, because all of the materials needed to make sweet grass baskets is right outside and easy to gather.
Yvonne is gathering natural materials to strip and dry, and use to make baskets.
Purple Grass
The purple Muller grass, which grows near the ocean dunes, is also used in basket making.
Once the grass is dried, you see very little of the purple color.
Once the grass is dried, you see very little of the purple color.
The Making of the Basket
The skilled hands of the basket maker. Generation after generation has passed on the skill of making beautiful baskets. Both men and women are basket makers. Today baskets are made and sold on the island.
Local basket makers have authored a book about their love of basket making.
Local basket makers have authored a book about their love of basket making.
Weaving the Net
The skill and technique of making seine nets was brought over to Sapelo by the West African. The special tools used in making the nets are also crafted by the net maker.
On Sapelo, Stanley Walker continues to make nets and demonstrates the technique as part of educational exhibits.
He was taught to make seine nets by the generation before him and he too continues to pass down this technique to the next generation; keeping this West African and Sapelo cultural connection alive.
On Sapelo, Stanley Walker continues to make nets and demonstrates the technique as part of educational exhibits.
He was taught to make seine nets by the generation before him and he too continues to pass down this technique to the next generation; keeping this West African and Sapelo cultural connection alive.
Sapelo Oysters
Roasting oysters and eating them right off the grill occurs regularly during oyster season. Yummy with or without hot sauce.
Behavior Cemetery
Behavior cemetery is located in what was once a slave settlement and continued as an African-American community post slavery. The Behavior community was moved to the Hog Hammock community during the mid-1900's.
The Church in Hog Hammock
St. Luke Baptist Church built in the late 1880's. Come and join us for church on the first and second Sunday. Everyone is welcomed.
The Car Ride
Oh what fun to grow up on Sapelo. A playground all around you and a unique opportunity to live and learn the unique traditions your ancestors have passed down for generations.
JJ and Markest take a break from playing to sit on their granddad's car waiting for him and a ride over to the ferry dock.
JJ and Markest take a break from playing to sit on their granddad's car waiting for him and a ride over to the ferry dock.