Throughout the South, storytelling is a particularly rich form of verbal folklore. Stories can be sacred or secular, serious or funny, long or short, and performed by children or adults. Storytellers can be found on front porches, the corner store, the family dinner table - anywhere people tend to gather. Storytelling is not restricted to one particular culture group. Native American, African American, and EuroAmerican narrative traditions have deep roots in the South. In addition, much of the traditional music in South Carolina has a powerful storytelling aspect. Blues music usually incorporates storytelling into the song structure, as does much of the gospel, country, and ballad music performed from the hills of the upstate to the marshes along the coast.
Content is provided by McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina.
For further information about any of the artists featured on Digital Traditions, send your questions and comments to hallagan@mailbox.sc.edu.
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Carolyn White telling a story at her general store on James Island, South Carolina. 1996.
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Carolyn White telling a story at her general store on James Island, South Carolina. 1996.
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Buford Mabry documented by Jack Doyle and his staff at the University of South Carolina Sumter's Center for Oral Narration.
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Buford Mabry documented by Jack Doyle and his staff at the University of South Carolina Sumter's Center for Oral Narration.
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Buford Mabry documented by Jack Doyle and his staff at the University of South Carolina Sumter's Center for Oral Narration.
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Buford Mabry documented by Jack Doyle and his staff at the University of South Carolina Sumter's Center for Oral Narration.
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Red discovers something is wrong with grandma. The Gullah voiceover for this folktale was recorded by Gullah artist Anita Singleton-Prather.
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Aunt Pearlie Sue tells the story of "The Bossy Elephant" using the Gullah Language.
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Aunt Pearlie Sue tells the story of "The Three Little Pigs" in English.
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Aunt Pearlie Sue tells the story of "The Three Little Pigs" using the Gullah Language.
