The International Gullah Geechee and Africa Diaspora Conference concluded with a Community Day event in downtown Conway, featuring free exhibits, speeches, vendors, and activities.
This year’s theme, “Reconstruction Through the Lens of Gullah Geechee and Communities Within African Diaspora,” brought together participants for workshops and interactive events.
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Coastal Carolina University’s Charles Joyner Institute for Gullah and African Diaspora Studies hosted the annual conference.
Zenobia Harper, the institute’s director, emphasized the significance of community gatherings.
“Anytime the community can come together around anything, especially around a celebration, it’s a wonderful thing,” Harper said.
The day included a workshop on indigo in the South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry, an interactive installation exploring music within the Afro-Puerto Rican identity, and a discussion on the power of tambourine in Gullah Geechee worship.
Artist Dorneisha Batson showcased her unique approach to art by transforming discarded materials into creative pieces.
“Creating the piece that I did was just amazing and being able to meet the people and going along with the art I already create,” Batson said.
Food was also a highlight, with Donnie Greene of Donnie’s Catering serving fried chicken, fried pork chops, and blue crabs.
Greene, who has participated in the event for four years, said he enjoys the opportunity to share his culinary creations.
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“It gives me the chance to show the community where I’m from and some good food,” Greene said. “You know I don’t really have this opportunity all the time, so when I get it, I embrace it.”
The conference’s academic sessions took place on Thursday and Friday at Coastal Carolina University’s campus, culminating in Saturday’s community celebration.
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