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VOTED THE #1 GULLAH TOUR IN CHARLESTON!

The Hidden Culture of the Gullah People 

Come See & Feel the Gullah people:

An amazingly colorful history with so much beauty but most importantly:

It's a history this world has Never Ever Heard before now. The Gullah are a very spiritual people. A special group of Black African Americans descending from before the Atlantic Slave Trade still living here in the Sea Islands of Charleston, SC today.

How DEEP do you REALLY want to go?

*WARNING* 

All we offer is the Truth

True Historical & Biblical Secrets of this great and "Holy City" of Charleston, SC. What does Gullah mean? The “TRUE” meaning of GULLAH is revealed on this tour. No other tour company talks about slavery nor do they talk about the Black African American Experience “like we do.” We teach on the true culture of an ancient people that is hiding right in the front of your eyes. The history everyone wants to know about but nobody wants to talk about. Charleston is the BEGINNING of the African American EXPERIENCE & history. The term "African American" is the newest of the many different “NICKNAMES” given to this peculiar nation of black people brought from Africa to America by way of “Slave Ships”. This history has never been told before now, as the Gullah people say: "Look Yah, Do yu hav da Ears ta Hear or da Eyes ta See?" 

King Charles and his lord proprietors knew all about "The secrets of the Gullah" just as the queen of England knows it today. The Revolution and the Confederacy still keep this part of history hidden; this truth is still kept silent yet the City speaks volumes through its Symbolisms. It is of the highest in the Templar and Masonic Orders of Secrecy. Charleston holds many secrets. Secret societies, secret alleyways and most importantly Charleston is the World's Top Destination because of it’s Secret History. 

Tour Guide: Godfrey Jacob Jefferson Khill is the only Charleston Native Gullah Geechee Licensed Certified tour operator in the WORLD. Raised in the Gullah culture, knowing their ancient secrets and customs, Godfrey keeps the true history of the Gullah culture alive.

Prepare to have your minds blown! This tour will change your historical perspective forever! History you thought you knew challenged, and history you may have not known revealed! At first it may be hard to see but once you see, you will NEVER NOT SEE.

We operate out of a Black Mercedes Benz 2500 Sprinter for the ultimate experience in the finest of comfort. No other tour company offers audio & visuals on a large flat screen TV to give you an up close and personal experience as we journey through the history of the mysterious Gullah Geechee.   

SITES TO SEE The Holy Bible Slave Auction Blocks Rare and Original Moses Bulrush Basket The Gullah’s famous Sweetgrass Roses & Customs  The Aiken Rhett museum house with large slave quarters intact Philip Simmons famous gates  The Garden of Eden Long staple cotton Carolina Gold Rice & Rice Mill The actual GATEWAY into the Holy City Old Exchange Building & Provost Dungeon Nations largest Auction Block of the 1700's Slave Barr-a-Coons  The Largest Slave Auction Block & Market in the Nation of the 1800’s Slave Hanging tree, Denmark Vessey & Gullah Jack Mother Emanuel Church (Charleston 9 shooting)

Charleston has many happy and fluffy tours giving an amazing perspective of the city's history. This tour is NOT that.

*No Refunds*

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Gullah geechee culture tours.

Charleston's #1 Gullah Geechee, Black History, Sea Island and Porgy & Bess Combination City & Island Tour

Explore Charleston's Black History & Gullah Geechee Culture

Explore Charleston’s ubiquitous African American History & Gullah Geechee Culture with Sites and Insights Tours, Inc., departing daily from the Charleston Visitor Center. Let’s travel through the streets of downtown Charleston, or venture off the Charleston peninsula to visit two of our nearby Sea Islands – James & Johns – or perhaps you’d enjoy the unique blend of taking in both downtown & the two Sea Islands. Whichever  tour  you select, you’ll see, hear & experience an inclusive look at one of America’s premier destinations with emphasis on area African American history & culture. Private tours, group tours and lectures are also available.

Tours Depart From Visitors Center located at 375 Meeting St, Charleston, SC Explore Our 5 Tour Options:

1 Hr. Charleston Black History, Gullah Geechee & Porgy & Bess Tour

Take to the streets of downtown Charleston with veteran certified tour guide, author, realtor, & lecturer, Al Miller aboard a plush, 25 passenger, air conditioned tour bus . This tour covers Black and Gullah historic sites and insights in downtown Charleston. See Sites and gain Insight on: Mother Emanuel AME Church, Denmark Vesey Slave Insurrection Plot, The East Side, Aiken-Rhett House, Gullah Geechee Culture, Free Blacks, Catfish Row, Porgy & Bess, Civil War, Slave Auction Sites, Philip Simmons Ironwork, The Battery, Old City Jail, Avery School and more. This tour stops at Mother Emanuel Church, Philip Simmons Statue, The Battery.

PLEASE CALL THE RESERVATION LINE at (843) 552-9995 FOR DAILY TOUR SCHEDULE OR CALL AL MILLER DIRECTLY AT (843) 696-8933

Adults: $20, Children: $15 (Ages 6-12)

2 Hr. Charleston Black History, Gullah Geechee & Porgy & Bess Tour

Take to the streets of downtown Charleston with veteran certified tour guide, author, realtor, & lecturer, Al Miller aboard a plush, 25 passenger, air conditioned tour bus . This tour covers most of downtown Charleston's Historic District (more than what is offered by most other tour companies). This tour includes all sites and insights from the 1-Hour tour plus: Site of the Hanging Tree, The West Side, Burke High School, Hampton Park, Wagener Terrace Neighborhood, Lowndes Grove Plantation House and much more.

Adult: $25, Children: $20 (Ages 6-12)

2.5 Hr. Charleston Black History, Gullah Geechee and Porgy & Bess , Sea Island Tour (City/ Island Tour)

Explore Gullah Geechee and Black History found in the city of Charleston and neighboring sea islands with veteran certified tour guide, author, realtor, & lecturer, Al Miller aboard a plush, 25 passenger,  air conditioned tour bus . This combination City/Island Tour offers a dual experience: a condensed tour of Charleston and James and Johns Islands, covering over 38 miles roundtrip.

This tour covers most of the City of Charleston and Island Sites listed except Wagener Terrace Neighborhood, Hampton Park, Lowndes Grove Plantation House and Seashore Farmers' Lodge.

Adults: $40, Children: $25 (Ages 6-12)

2 Hr. Sea Island Tour (James & Johns Island)

Explore the rich Gullah Geechee culture found on the sea islands with veteran certified tour guide, author, realtor, & lecturer, Al Miller aboard a plush, 25 passenger,  air conditioned tour bus . This tour covers approximately 38 miles round trip departing Visitor Center. See and hear about James and Johns Island History, Gullah Geechee Culture, Gullah Geechee communities, McLeod Plantation, Massachusetts 54th Regiment, Stono River Slave Rebellion, Seashore Farmers' Lodge, Porgy's Memorial at Burn Churchyard Cemetery (James Island Presbyterian Church), Angel Oak Tree and more.

Stops are made at Angel Oak Tree, Johns Island; James Island Presbyterian Church and Seashore Farmers' Lodge in Sol Legare, James Island, and much more.

2 Hr. Charleston Amen Church Tour

Take to the streets of downtown Charleston with veteran certified tour guide, author, realtor, & lecturer, Al Miller aboard a plush, 25 passenger,  air conditioned tour bus . See and Hear: Explore history & stories of Charleston's Black & White Houses of Worship from slavery to the present which declared Charleston as The Holy City. Your guide will entertain you with Hymns, Spirituals and Gospel. After this experience, who knows, you might say, "Amen!" Tour stops at some sites.

Adults: $25, Children: $20 (Ages 6-12)

Charleston's #1 Black History, Gullah Geechee, & Sea Island Tour

"I found Al's tour to be the most entertaining and informative tour I have ever taken. It was great to see the standard tourists spots like The Battery District and others, but I was most impressed in visiting areas of historical significance to the black community. Kudos to Al and his tour service!" Gastonia, NC

"I have taken Al's tour three times and it is hands down my favorite tour in Charleston. He not only provides you with a wealth of knowledge on so many of the hidden gems when it comes to Charleston's Black history...but provides you with an incredible inclusive history of Charleston and the sea Islands which you truly can not get anywhere else. I also love the fact that he offers a variety of tour options and is flexible. I highly recommend all of his tours but the City/Island tour is my absolute favorite. You will not be disappointed with your experience. Al is simply the best! " Atlanta, GA

"The tour was not only enlightening but entertaining as well. A performance was put on for our benefit while telling the history of Porgy and Bess." Nettles, NY

"Slave stories are told plainly on Charleston plantation tours. Al Miller doesn't shy away from exploding conventional Charleston historic wisdom if it leads to truths." The Charlotte Observer

"We enjoyed the tour and will recommend it to any of our friends." Chester, CT

PURCHASE A BOOK FROM BY AL MILLER

Sites and Insights Tours owner Al Miller shares over 34 years worth of thoughtful, zany, clever & mouth-dropping remarks that visitors have made while touring Charleston.

In his first book entitled, Tourists Can Say the Darndest Things! : Exploring Historic Charleston, South Carolina, veteran licensed tour guide Al Miller escorts you through sections of the Charleston peninsula such as the Eastside, The Battery, and the French Quarter; he introduces you to the area’s vibrant Gullah Geechee culture; and he shares reflections on his personal loss resulting from the 2015 tragedy at Mother Emanuel AME Church.

Humorous comments & candid observations made over the years by Miller’s sightseeing guests along with vintage & modern photos, historical documents, discussions of historical figures, events & landmark sites create a very unique view of a very fascinating city.

Future editions will cover other areas in and near Charleston spiked with more of those darndest things that tourists can say!

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Gullah Geechee People of South Carolina

The Gullah Geechee people of South Carolina have a rich heritage that’s associated with both their African roots and adopted European customs. Descended from enslaved African Americans that were brought to Charleston through the 1800s, Gullahs live predominantly in South Carolina, and the Geechee people generally live in Georgia and Florida.

Discover more about this rich heritage, including where to find examples of the Gullah in Charleston today.

Where Are the Gullah Geechee People From?

The Gullahs hailed from many different areas of Africa, including the Gold Coast, Congo, and Angola.

Angola may be the basis of the word Gullah; some believe that Gullah may be derived from the word Gola, which was an African tribe that lived in Sierra Leone. 

Yet, the largest groups of people came from the Rice Coast. Subgroups from this area of Africa included:

Nearly all the Gullahs in South Carolina integrated their ancestral traditions with Western culture. This includes language, religion, and food. They kept what they could (often what they were allowed) and adopted the traditions that were forced upon them in the new world. 

Enslaved African Americans

It’s important to remember how the Gullah Geechee people got to America. They were captured in Africa and brought to the New World on slave ships (surviving horrendous conditions at sea, malnutrition, disease, and abuse from their captors). 

They were sold to South Carolinians as well as other slave owners in the South. 

So many people can trace their roots back through the South Carolina slave trade that it’s estimated that 80% of African Americans have at least one ancestor who was brought to the U.S. through Charleston.

To find out more about the slave trade and Slavery History in Charleston , take our self-guided tour — or, book a private tour to understand more about this topic.

Gullah Geechee Culture

Most Gullah Geechee culture is a combination of African and European music, food, art, and religion. Many enslaved African Americans were forced to abandon their ancestral traditions in the South — though many were allowed to incorporate some traditions as long as they adopted newer, western ones in the process.

The enslaved were allowed to sing while working in the fields because the tunes kept the beat of the work at a steady pace. Some plantation owners outlawed certain styles of heavily rhythmic music (including the playing of drums) because they believed the enslaved might use it as a means of secret communication.

Call-and-response was popular in the fields; it’s still used today in gospel, R&B, and rock-and-roll styles of music (which all have roots in African spirituals). 

Basket weaving is one of the main handicrafts that the Gullahs in South Carolina are known for, and tourists flock to the historic market to purchase them. 

Gullah Geechee Language

Like many Creole languages, the Gullah Geechee language is a mixture of African and European languages. This particular creole is the only African creole in the U.S. and is the basis for much of the language in the South. 

The language is very lyrical, and speakers use a lot of euphemisms and figures of speech. 

An example of one such figure of speech might be, “My head left me,” or, “I forgot.” 

Oral storytelling was of major importance in the culture, as many enslaved African Americans were forbidden (by penalty of death) to learn to read or write. Much like Aesop’s fables, stories of the Gullahs used animals that acted like humans to tell tales of morality. 

Gullah Geechee in the American South is similar to other Creole languages, including:

• Barbadian Creole
• Belizean Creole
• Guyanese Creole
• Jamaican Patois

Culinary History and Cuisine

Food is an extremely important part of Gullah culture and history in South Carolina, and many dishes are rooted in African and European traditions — as well as the traditions of the Gullah people after they reached North America.

Gullah cuisine is based on using what’s available and what’s in season. It utilizes ingredients that were brought to the U.S. from Africa during the slave trade (including okra) and Native American cooking techniques. Fresh seafood, beans, rice, greens, and tomatoes are also staples of the local Gullah cuisine. 

Famous Gullah Geechee chefs, like BJ Dennis and Michael Twitty, are starting to bring this cuisine to a larger audience. 

Religious Practices

Like in most Gullah Geechee culture, religious practices are a melting pot of African and European traditions.

While gatherings of enslaved African Americans of three or more were illegal in most areas of the U.S., many still gathered in secret. African styles of music were used in prayer, and the Gullah Geechee people also incorporated Christian traditions that were forced upon them. 

While many of the tenets of old religions died out, some rituals and practices remained. 

Those who were polytheists began worshipping one god. Christian stories, hymns, and prayers were incorporated into religious practices. Yet, the Gullah people still maintained respect for their ancestors and incorporated their respect and love of nature into sermons and ceremonies. 

The Gullah People of South Carolina

There are plenty of Charleston attractions that celebrate the Gullah culture! If you want to know more about the history of slavery in Charleston, we recommend heading to the Old Slave Mart Museum and the Charleston Museum .

If you want to hear stories of enslaved African Americans who lived on plantations, we recommend visiting Boone Hall Plantation . In addition to the main house and grounds, this museum features a tour of the slave quarters and guides paint a more honest picture of slave life. 

Head to Hannibal’s Kitchen to enjoy some iconic southern cuisine. We recommend trying the crab rice and the okra soup!

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Charleston’s Hidden Alleyways and Passages

Charleston’s alleys occupy spaces that blur the line between public and private areas and offer remarkable insight into the city’s history.

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Charleston Private Walking Tours

Interested in booking a private tour with one of our talented guides? We are happy to accommodate private groups and can assist you in organizing a memorable event.

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• Gullah Language
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• Did you know that…
• Catfish Row
• Black Slave Owners
• Denmark Vesey’s
• Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
• Hexes, Fixes, Roots
• Jones Hotel
• Old Slave Mart
• Philip Simmons Blacksmith
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• The Patty Wagan
• The Underground Railroad
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Visit Denmark Vesey’s home, catfish Row, the Old Slave Mart, and the Market. Learn about the sweetgrass basket makers sewing their baskets, the Aiken-Rhett House slave quarters, black slave owners, and blacksmith Philip Simmons. Brown’s distinctive narration, combined with the detailed maps and vibrant descriptions in a native Gullah, make this a do my homework unique and enjoyable way to experience the Holy City

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A New Yorker's Journey to South Carolina to Retrace Her Gullah Roots

"Gullah people are still here—still thriving, still preserving the land, despite attempts of removal and growing gentrification around them."

My cultural identity has always been somewhat of a mystery. Like many African Americans, I have taken ancestry tests and even a trip to the continent in hopes of finding my origin story. My mother and her mother did not know anything about their African roots, either—only that their ancestors arrived in the Lowcountry marshlands of South Carolina .

Preparing dinner in our Harlem kitchen, my mother would have me sit by her so I could learn recipes passed down to her from my aunts and grandmother, to connect us to our Gullah roots back in South Carolina. My earliest food memory is my mother making a pot of white rice. It was the first thing she demonstrated to me in the kitchen, something she felt every Southern woman should know. Making rice was her way of teaching me about growing up the daughter of working-class people from South Carolina because she didn't know much else about our culture outside of Harlem. While she didn't live in the South herself, her mom and sisters had immersed her in Gullah traditions. It happened in the kitchen.

"[Rice] was our first introduction to cooking," said Sara Green, who owns the Gullah Grub in St. Helena with her husband, Bill. " That's a major milestone in your growth and development for that family."

Rice is a central part of Gullah and Southern cuisine. The crop brought in more revenue for the Southern colonies than any other import, and it was mostly farmed and planted by enslaved women. The sophisticated farming technique, wrapped in centuries of tradition, is what ultimately made the enslaved people from Sierra Leone so valuable to plantation owners. It was a skill that allowed them to cultivate rice in the deep water and marshlands to sell for lofty profit.

After the Civil War, the enslaved Africans living in South Carolina were among the first group freed. Many were awaiting liberation from Union troops still making their way across the Confederate South. They pushed towards the marshlands: inhabitable, harsh terrain that was thought to be worthless. With their hands, they brought greenery and new life. They planted vegetables and fruits and taught their children to take care of the land with the same loving tenderness.

Today, those lands looked a lot different. Upon my arrival in town of Beaufort, I was met with colonial-inspired homes reminiscent of its Antebellum roots. I arrived in South Carolina as a native New Yorker and descendent from the people of the Great Migration, who had journeyed north for a better life. But I always found myself looking in the other direction. When I travel, I see Black people from other countries who are afforded the privilege of knowing their origins. I went to South Carolina to learn more about where my parents came from, things that couldn't be told through percentages and saliva swabs.

Within those stories of migration to major cities across the country, some families brought the possessions they could carry with them, both tangible and intangible memories from a life they were leaving behind. These families still held onto small traditions, like their food, to preserve their cultural identity.

Over several days, I traveled through the Lowcountry to the colonial town of Beaufort and Bluffton, where I met with chef BJ Dennis and others of the Gullah community. At the Lowcountry Café, where he now serves as culinary director, we talked about his memories of Charleston farmers hauling watermelon and other harvested goods to places like Harlem, where they could visit their relatives and sell on the street. It reminded me of another food memory: countless summers of waiting for the stands of fresh yellow watermelon that came every season from down south.

"It was a way to keep [them] connected to something that may have been traumatic for someone else who migrated, but for some, [there was] a grounding that was still there," he said.

From Bluffton, I continued on to Sea Islands, where much of Gullah culture is centered. On Daufuskie Island, where juneberries grow sparsely amongst green shrubs and trees, the contrast between wealthy and poor is blinding. Hiding away from the pristine grounds of wealthy patrons are the Gullah people who still nurture their land and plant seeds that birth fresh vegetation. The island is surrounded by oak trees that hold the history of the souls that have crossed its path.

It is there I met with Sallie-Ann Robinson, an accomplished chef and cookbook author who shares Gullah stories through recipes. The chef spends her days between private catering, writing cookbooks, and giving tours to visitors to teach them about the culture she works hard to keep alive.

"Our parents were storytellers and hard workers. Today we are book writers," she said. I could hear in Sallie-Ann's laugh the same familiarity of hundreds of birthdays and backdoor barbecues spent with my family. As I watched fans from the tour bus eagerly approach her to sign their cookbooks, she reminded me that this isn't a dying culture. Sallie-Ann and others like her are continuing the work of their ancestors and preserving their African heritage in the food they make.

Back on Hilton Head Island, I ate other foods that transported me to childhood, like Lowcountry boils with fresh shrimps and snow crabs marinated in spices to farm-raised meats. Everything reminded me of my mother, of the things she taught me. The detail in the food preparation, the connections to African foods brought by their lost ancestors—all represented the Gullah's resistance to leaving their culture behind.

My family and the people I met during my trip to Beaufort and the Sea Islands also taught me that Gullah is more than those who survived; it is about preserving the heritage that slavery tried to erase.

"They should know that Gullah culture is built on trust, and it is built on love," said Bill Green. "Gullah culture is love and kindness."

The Gullah community has survived numerous attempts of erasure. While many Americans are only just learning about this resilient group of people, it is important to remember that they aren't just lost faces hidden from history books; they are the same people living there today.

"We still here," said Dennis. "It's not vanishing, dying people. You know, it's a culture that's here. Even through gentrification, we still here. We are still living and breathing, you know. Just understand that those who never left still love those who [did] and we still one people …We need each other ."

Gullah people are still here—still thriving, still preserving the land, despite attempts of removal and growing gentrification around them. They are still here, tending to the land and sharing their stories to keep the Gullah culture alive. I will teach my son and daughter all the Southern traditions my mom introduced to me—through food and with love.

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Chief Godfrey KHill's Bio

Godfrey KHill Gullah Jack is not just any tour guide, but a living legend and cultural ambassador for Charleston, Edisto Island, and East Africa Tanzania. A powerful storyteller, intuitive healer, and master of the craft, with over forty years of experience in providing transformative experiences for his guests.

Godfrey’s dynamic background as a Full-Blooded Barbenyah Indigo Yeshi Gullah Geechee Tour Guide and his vast knowledge of African and Indigenous cultures sets him apart from any other tour guide in Charleston, or anywhere else. He is a Proponent of Holistic Healing and Well-Being, and his approach is to live in constant Physical and Spiritual Healing Energy, which has enabled him to be fully healthy and fully present in his work.

Godfrey is deeply connected and rooted in his heritage, and he has traveled extensively throughout Africa, which has given him a unique perspective on the African Diaspora and the vibrant culture of the Gullah Geechee people. He has also Mastered the Knowledge of African Heritage and Culture of Tanzania, which is evident in the authentic experiences he provides to his guests.

As a Living Cultural High Priest, Godfrey has become a fascinating symbol of Cultural Preservation and is a revered name in the tourism industry. His tours are extraordinary, and he provides his guests with a transformative experience that enriches them mentally, physically, and spiritually. He is an advocate for the Preservation of the Indigenous Indigo Native American Indian Guallah GeeChi culture, and he works tirelessly to educate and inform his guests about their history, culture, and traditions.

In the world of tourism, Godfrey KHill Gullah Jack is a true visionary and trailblazer, and his tours are an unforgettable journey that transcend expectations. A celebrated figure in the industry, Godfrey is peerless, with his unique style and approach standing head and shoulders above the rest. When it comes to experiencing the historical city of Charleston, Edisto Island, and East Africa Tanzania, there is no better guide to take you on a journey of discovery and transformation than Godfrey KHill Gullah Jack.