Preserving a fragile part of the South’s heritage in song through
the generations has been a labor of love for the Georgia Sea Island Singers.
Currently featuring Frankie Sullivan Quimby, the group will continue the
rich African-American performance traditions forged among former slaves
on the islands off the coast of Georgia during performances held at Southeast
Georgia Health System Brunswick and Camden campuses.
The program will take place on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m. in the Linda
S. Pinson Conference Center on the Brunswick Campus, 2415 Parkwood Drive.
The program will also be presented on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. in the
Activities Room at the Senior Care Center-St. Marys, 805 Dilworth St.
Through songs, dances and stories, the Georgia Sea Island Singers describe
the world of their slave ancestors. Like their forebearers for whom musical
instruments were forbidden, the group sings a capella or with only the
accompaniment of rhythm instruments such as the tambourine and the djembe.
The Georgia Sea Island Singers travel the world sharing the Gullah culture
with audiences from presidents to pre-schoolers and have carried their
songs, games and storytelling to virtually every state in the country.
The group’s performance history includes prestigious engagements
such as the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics,
the Inauguration of President Jimmy Carter and the 2004 G-8 Conference.
They have performed in Africa, Spain, France, Germany, Nova Scotia, and Canada.
The Black History Month celebrations and art exhibit are free and open
to the public. To learn more about other events offered by the Health
System, visit sghs.com and click on News & Events.