The ring shout was still celebrated in this community even when it had stopped in others.
The McIntosh County Shouters have been demonstrating old slave shouts and singing slave songs all their lives. This age-old tradition was believed to have died out in the early 20th century. When it was discovered by outsiders that the members of the Bolden/Briar Patch community in coastal Georgia still practiced a custom that was begun by their ancestors, a performing group from the community was organized, calling themselves the McIntosh County Shouters. For over 30 years, ethnomusicologists, folklorists, historians, professors, Gullah Geechee experts, filmmakers, humanities and other professionals have interviewed this group to learn more about the history of the ring shout, Gullah Geechee, and traditions of coastal Georgia. The group travels to schools, festivals, churches, public and private events educating audiences young and old about the ring shout and the Gullah Geechee heritage.
It has been widely realized in the coasal communities of the Southeastern United States that the Gullah Geechee culture is dying. In an effort to keep the culture alive, the McIntosh County Shouters travel to schools around the country to educate students about Gullah Geechee culture and the ring shout.
The group travels to elementary, middle, and high schools as well as to universities. Scripts are customized to appeal to the audience's educational level. There is an interactive segment in the program for children up to high school where they are invited to participate in a ring shout. In addition to this always being a popular part of the presentation, the children will remember the experience for the rest of their lives. This is one way of keeping the culture alive with the youngest generation. Educating children is of paramount importance to this group.
Because of the downfall of the economy, arts and education programs in most schools have been decimated. If you would like to donate to this program, please click here to contact the group.
1980 |
People outside the Bolden/Briar Patch Community learned that the ring shout was still practiced in coastal Georgia. |
1981 |
The McIntosh County Shouters performed publicly for the first time at the Georgia Sea Islands Gullah Geechee Festival on St. Simons Island, GA |
1984 |
The McIntosh County Shouters: Slave Shout Songs from the Coast of Georgia was recorded at the Smtihsonian Folkways Recordings and produced and annotated by Art Rosenbaum. |
1993 |
Recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship. This award was received in Washington, D.C. |
1998 |
The book entitled, "Shout Because You're Free" — largely based on the McIntosh County Shouters — was written and published by Art Rosenbaum, folklorist and Professor at the University of Georgia. |
2002 |
Performed in HBO's documentary on slave narratives "Unchained Memories," Donna Brown Guillaume, Executive Producer. This documentary is aired on HBO annually during February. |
2008 |
Named Master Artists by the National Endowment for the Arts and awarded in New York City. |
2008 |
Names Founding Members/Producers of Distinction of the Georgia Made Georgia Grown program. |
2009 |
Featured on the 2009 Grammy™ award winning "Best Historical Album" entitled The Art of Field Recording—Volume I, recorded by Art Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum produced two albums this year and the album on which the McIntosh County Shouters was recorded received the Grammy™ that year for "Best Historical Album." |
2010 |
Honored by the NAACP for continued work in keeping the Gullah Geechee heritage alive. |
2010 |
Governor's Award in the Humanities |
2010 |
Performed at the Library of Congress and John F. Kennedy Center |
2012 |
Smithsonian New Harmonies Exhibit participants in Darien, GA |
Black History Month
Black History Month is undoubtedly the busiest month of the year for this group. If you'd like to schedule this group to participate in your Black History Month programming, please contact the group early to schedule a date.
In February 2012, the McIntosh County Shouters will be performing in the Atlanta area from February 6-10. Please check back for more information.
Merchandise
Click here if you'd like to order a copy of the album, The McIntosh County Shouters: Slave Shout Songs from the Coast of Georgia, produced, recorded, and anotated by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings with Art Rosenbaum in 1984. CDs are $20 plus $5 shipping. Please mail requests to 2126 GA HWY 99, Townsend, GA 31331.
Click here to order a copy of the book "Shout Because You're Free," by Art Rosenbaum. This book is largely based on the McIntosh County Shouters and also gives a detailed account of the ring shout's history in Africa as well as its influence on African American music styles through the years. Books are $30 plus $5 shipping. Please mail requests to 2126 GA HWY 99, Townsend, GA 31331.