The songs and stories of the South Carolina Sea Islands will come to West Michigan in a multicultural sensation known as the Gullah Kinfolk, performing at Grand Valley State University on May 12.
Headlining the group is Anita Singleton-Prather, best known for her beloved television character, "Aunt Pearlie-Sue," on PBS. A performance by Prather and the Gullah Kinfolk, characterized by rib-tickling folktales and soul-stirring songs, takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12, at the DeVos Center's Loosemore Auditorium, 401 W. Fulton St. in downtown Grand Rapids. The performance is open to the public free of charge.
A pre-concert performance by The Voices of GVSU will begin at 7 p.m. The Voices is Grand Valley's non-denominational gospel choir, under the direction of Cassonya Carter Pugh
Due to limited seating, persons planning to attend the concerts are asked to RSVP by calling (616) 331-2180.
The Gullah performance is a featured event of Midwest World Fest, a nonprofit program dedicated to bringing world arts to America's heartland with the goal of fostering appreciation for other cultures. As part of their visit, Prather and the Gullah Kinfolk will give workshops and a concert on May 11 in a Grand Rapids high school.
Gullah is the native dialect and culture of the Sea Islands of South Carolina. Prather, a native of the Sea Islands of Beaufort, S.C., is a Gullah researcher, translator, historian, actress, and storyteller. Ten years ago, in an effort to preserve the Gullah history and dialect, she founded the Gullah Kinfolk, a musical performance group made up primarily of her own family members. The dynamic gospel group performs songs including mesmerizing slave spirituals from their Sea Island ancestors, and features stories by Aunt Pearlie-Sue, a character based on Prather's grandmother. Prather's first recorded story, "The Chicken Dinner Money," was ranked No. 2 in 1998 on the Top 40s Radio Gospel Chart.
As a storyteller and singer, Prather has performed before such renowned persons as former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Maya Angelou, and Marian Wright Edelman. She has also showcased her talents at various arts festivals, including Spoleto, USA, the largest festival in the United States, and appeared in the Hollywood film Forrest Gump and on the ABC television program Good Morning America. In addition to her participation in educational documentaries, Prather's one-woman show, "Tales from the Land of Gullah," has been broadcast on PBS. Prather holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in education from the University of South Carolina.
