Honoring the Ancestors. Preserving History. Led by Community.
For over a decade, the Anson Street African Burial Ground Project Team has led the way in uncovering, honoring, and preserving Charleston’s African-descendant burial grounds. From DNA research to community ceremonies, exhibitions and memorial design, our work blends storytelling, science and spirituality to ensure the Ancestors are never forgotten. We are Charleston’s trusted resource for the respectful research, interpretation, and protection of these sacred sites.
Our Impact at a Glance
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10+ Years of community-driven research and preservation
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36 Ancestors respectfully reinterred with ceremony
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Published Groundbreaking DNA Research reconnecting Charleston to Africa and the Diaspora
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5,000+ People Engaged through education, art, and public events
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Permanent Memorial built with community hands and soil
What We Do
We started as the Gullah Society, Inc. in 2013, as a multidisciplinary team of researchers and educators led by Dr. Ade Ofunniyin. Through historical, anthropological, archaeological, genetic, and genealogical research we continue to work with communities to share, preserve and protect African descendant burial grounds.
Research
We conduct research into modern and ancient DNA to learn about ancestry and kinship, as well as health and disease. We also research the histories of individual families and African-descendant burial grounds throughout the Lowcountry. We develop new approaches to share archaeological and historical research.
Community Outreach & Education Programs
We work with all ages, from grade-school to college, adults and seniors. Learning never stops and we are here to produce publications and provide resources to learn about African descendant lives.
Exhibitions
Our research and community engagement activities contribute to exhibitions that broaden our audience, to share our findings and encourage important conversations related to African-descendant lives, racial justice and equity.
The Anson Street African Burial Ground project began in 2013 when the Ancestors woke and demanded that we share their truths. In 2017, Dr. Ade Ofunniyin, Joanna Gilmore, Raquel Fleskes, Theodore Schurr, and La'Sheia Oubré, took up the Ancestors charge and worked with community to learn more about their lives, honor and memorialize them.
The thirty-six Ancestors were named during a traditional Yoruba Naming Ceremony in April 2019. Their names are; Babatunde, Lima, Mbangi, Zimbu, Tima, Isi, Welela, Pita, Wuta, Fumu, Banza, Ulume, Amina, Ola, Yawo, Leke, Omo, Ori, Coosaw, Lisa, Rere, Risu, Pele, Juba, Kwabena, Ganda, Kiana, Kuto, Kidzera, Jode, Talata, Ajana, Anika, Nina, Nana, and Daba.
Make a Difference
Join us in making a lasting impact by contributing to the construction and maintenance of the Anson Street African Burials Memorial! Together, we can ensure this important site is preserved for generations to come. A dedicated fund has been established at the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, making your contributions not only meaningful but also tax-deductible. Be a part of this vital mission and help honor our shared history!
News and Events
No events at the moment
Contact the ASABG team
The best way to contact ASABG Team Leaders is to email us at asabgproject[at]gmail.com. We will then direct your message to the appropriate person and we will get back in touch with you. Thanks, once again, for your support! We are here to serve you.
