KUMBAYA

Thanks to research and lobbying by residents of a coastal community descended from slaves, the origins and meaning of “Kumbaya” have been recognized in Congress, raising hopes that a fading culture might get a boost. - John Eligon, New York TimesDescendants of African slaves trace the origins of Kumbaya The origins of the song Kumbaya - sung by millions in churches, on protest lines and around campfires - has been traced by the descendants of African slaves. In the US, Congress has recognized the Gullah Geechee, whose ancestors were brought as slaves from West Africa, as the probable creators of the famous folk song. A recording of the song in 1926, which was sung in the Gullah creole language, was presented as evidence of the song's origin. Dr. Griffin Lotson - the Gullah historian who started the research - explains how important the recognition is. -Karen Chan, BBC World NewsFor a long time, the dominant story of the song Kumbaya was that it was brought to the United States by a missionary. But what Griffin Lotson heard in the recording was a dialect he knew very well. It originates from the group Gullah Geechee - descendants of slaves from Central and West Africa who over time in America developed their own culture, including their own language. Griffin Lotson belongs to Gullah Geechee herself and works for an organization that works for the ethnic group's cultural heritage - Mina Benaissa, Sweden Swedish National RadioMany thanks to Sweden's National Radio and our Commission Vice-Chair Griffin Lotson for sharing with European audiences the powerful story of the Gullah Geechee origins of "Kumbaya." I am always thrilled when the important cultural contributions of the Gullah Geechee people are recognized globally. -Attorney Heather Hodges, Executive Director, Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Commission, USA