Creators of 'Gullah Gullah Island' on telling, preserving SC stories

Natalie and Ron Daise are storytellers.

Or, as they'd describe it, Natalie is a storyteller and Ron is a kind of keeper of stories, collecting and documenting. 

Together, they have been gathering, interpreting and sharing stories in South Carolina for decades.

The couple is best known for "Gullah Gullah Island," a children's television series that aired on Nickelodeon from 1994 to 1998. Their storytelling extended well after that show ended. It's never stopped, really, and the ways they tell stories have continued to evolve, even during the pandemic. 

Co-host Gavin McIntyre and I spoke with them about why they tell stories, what they see as their role in their communities now and the serendipitous way their TV show came to be.

They also shared how they’ve seen perceptions of the term “Gullah” change and why it's so important to them to show that Gullah culture and language is not only still alive but is constantly evolving. 

Listen now for more.

This is the first installment of SC Voices, an occasional Understand SC series that will feature conversational interviews with South Carolinians sharing their stories.

Who would you like to hear from next? Email [email protected] with your ideas. 

Check out our special podcast series, 12 Black Leaders to Know. 

Music used in today's episode includes "Oh, Cello" by Bright Seed and "The No Leave Beat" by Billy Fountain.