Come’yuh n Laa’n: A Gullah Geechee Festival
About
My Role
Website development and marketing
Keywords
UX/UI, Marketing, & Branding
Research
Come’yuh n Laa’n is a phrase that means “Come here and Learn” in Gullah Geechee. The revivalists have adapted this saying to welcome newcomers to delve into the vibrant dialect and culture of the Gullah Geechee.
Going further than the preservation of language and aiming for the teaching and memorization of dialect and culture. I’ve created a fictional festival grounded in the reality of the Gullah Geechee culture and language.
COME’YUH ": COME/ COME HERE
N : AND
LAAN : LEARN
“Come’yuh” is a push for someone to “come here.” Typically used towards visitors.
And becomes shortened to “n” for pronunciation purposes. And as you may have guessed, “Laan” means “Learn.”
Case Study
Imaged sourced from The Library of Congress
The Gullah Geechee are a group of African Americans who descendants were slaves in West and Central Africa. They live across the east coast, specifically on the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. They have maintained a distinct culture, language, and way of life that reflect their African heritage, blending it with elements from their new surroundings.
What sparked this project was my interest in their culture and more specifically their dialect. Growing up in North Carolina, I learned a lot about them. However, their unique dialect was always glazed over.
I began a deep dive into linguistics and how the Gullah Geechee dialect formulated and continues to stay in tact by its native speakers. But as more natives become pushed out from Gullah due to gentrification, the possibility of their dialect dwindling continues to grow.
COME’YUH N LAA’N
Branding
Lets talk maps
W.E.B Du Bois— notable Gullah Geechee researcher utilized playful colors to visualize data. Creating distinction.
The chosen colors not only signify the districts but their unique history and cultural exhibitions. Haint Blue pays homage to the southern belief of warding off evil spirits.
