Gullah has Arabic loanwords?

I have stated that I want to include some discussion of linguistics in this blog and her is the first of such discussions: a look at the Arabic influence on Gullah

Gullah or Geeche is a creole language spoken by around 250,000 African Americans in the offshore islands in South Carolina and Georgia. Famous Americans with Gullah roots include Michelle Obama, Jim Brown, and Joe Frazier. In 2005, the Gullah community completed at 20 year work on a translation of the Bible.

A 1949 research article by Professor Lorenzeo Dow Turner recorded several words with Arabic roots and many more from Western African languages like Wolof and Bambara. Here is a list of some Arabic words in classical Gullah.

Sali: "To pray" from the Arabic Salat
Saraka: a traditional offering from the Arabic Sadaka
Anebi: "Prophet" From the Arabic Nabi for prophet
Alama: The Arabic word for "A sign" is exactly the same: علامة
Araba: "Wednesday" from the Arabic word for the number four
Alansaro: From the Arabic Al Asr "the three o'clock prayer time."
Al-Kama: "Wheat or grain" Al Kama is the Arabic word for Wheat: القمح
Alura:  The Arabic word for needle is "لسع"  Something completely different
 so I'm not sure what the origin could be for this word.

However, the language has change signifigantly since 1949.  Many of these Arabic words have disappeared. For example, Gullah speakers have borrowed the English word "God" and no longer use "Ala" from Arabic as Lorenzo reported. A review of the 2005 Gullah Bible will clearly show this transition.

 Gullah also have many words which have been loaned into American English such as "juju" for an evil thig or witchcraft. I recall in High School a friend referring to a Snapple I was drinking as "Bad juju." Other examples include "jukebox" which has roots in a Wolof word. Mojo is another word in English of possible Gullah origin.

Gullah may also be the origin of the English verb "to tote" as in "to carry" according to this  Los Angeles Times article. Though others hold the verb "to tote" may also be of Swahili origins, another language heavily influenced by Arabic. Interestingly Swahili like classical Gullah uses the word "Nabi" for prophet as well. Though the two languages have no common lineage.