Gullah Kinfolk to bring 'Circle Unbroken' to Hilton Head stage

Aunt Pearlie Sue and The Gullah Kinfolk will perform their original musical, "The Gullah Journey from Africa to America ... the Circle Unbroken," for one night Wednesday on Hilton Head Island.

Aunt Pearlie Sue is the creation of award-winning storyteller and singer Anita Singleton-Prather, a retired teacher and ordained minister. The character is based on Singleton-Prather's grandmother and has entertained audiences with Gullah-flavored folk tales for more than 20 years.

Singleton-Prather has performed at the Beaufort Gullah Festival, Penn Heritage Days Festival, the Woodlands Festival and at Spoleto USA. Her original movie, "My Man Done Wrong," has been a part of the film festival circuit. She appeared in the film "Forrest Gump" and on the Food Network Channel's "Christmas Across America," hosted by Rachel Ray.

Her one-woman show, "Tales from the Land of Gullah," has been broadcast nationwide on PBS.

The Gullah Kinfolk is composed of singers, musicians and storytellers who perform educational programs in the Gullah tradition.

"The Circle Unbroken" gives a chronicled look at the history of the Gullah culture, beginning with African kings and queens in their native land to the slave trade and beyond.

"Though we are recapping historical events, we choose to illuminate them not from the perspective of victims but as victors," Prather says. "We survived, but much more than that, this beautiful culture arose out of the ashes of slavery. And now, Gullah Kinfolk wants to be seen as ambassadors of love, empathy and compassion."

This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Gullah Kinfolk to bring 'Circle Unbroken' to Hilton Head stage."