Gullah, also sometimes referred to as Geechee, is a culture that is deeply embedded in the history of South Carolina and is well known for their traditional basket weaving practices. Basketweaving can commonly be seen on the coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia.
The baskets are traditionally made with bulrush, a marshgrass that thrives in sandy soil often found in southeastern coastal regions like the Lowcountry. Most baskets start from the bottom, where a knot is formed in the center. From there, the grass is repeatedly knotted, coiled, and wrapped to create the finished product. Traditionally, baskets were used as rice fanners to carry and produce rice on plantations and farms. Many enslaved Africans carried over the tradition to the Americas, but then adapted it to aid in their labor work.
Today, there are still many individuals who carry on the tradition of basket weaving to connect with their heritage.
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