Allan Warner, a Gombey captain deeply rooted in the traditions and culture of a quintessentially Bermudian art form. has died at the age of 59.

“For him, it was all about keeping the heritage and the culture alive,” Mr Warner’s wife, Tracey, told The Royal Gazette.

“He didn’t want the younger generation to lose it.”

Beginning his career in 1959 at the age of 3, courtesy of his uncle Llewellyn “Termite” Warner, Mr Warner set about mastering every aspect of the Gombey: he emerged as a gifted dancer, created most of his first costume at the age of 9, and at 16 began drumming for Warner’s Gombeys, the troupe that he ultimately captained. Mr Warner championed the Gombey legacy, which blends African culture with American Indian, Caribbean and British elements.

“The spirit of the Gombey is the core of one’s soul,” he said in an interview for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, adding that “every costume in my group depicts some African in its greatness”.

In 1995, he became the first Gombey captain to receive the Queen’s Certificate of Honour, and his stature was acknowledged at last year’s Gombey Festival with special recognition from the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Under his leadership, Warner’s Gombeys represented the island worldwide, as well as touring establishments across Bermuda.

The troupe was dedicated to performing at charity events every year, entertaining crowds at seniors’ homes and government school fairs.

A stickler for the different rhythm patterns that connected with various dances, Mr Warner’s drumming was influenced by greats that included “Shorty” Maynard, Henry “Gropher” Wilson, Reginald “Way Way” Wainwright, Eugene “Pond Dog” Parsons, John “Pickles” Spence, Roy “Rocky” Hassell, Gerald “Beesie” Greene and Roy Young.

His influence was picked up by other drummers such as David “Tootsie” Darrell, Gary “Sully” Wellman, Jimmy “Furb” Furbert, Ken “Ting” Douglas, Ricky “Rick” Smith, and Granville “Sticks” Hughes.

Sylvan Richards, the Minister of Social Development and Sport, said yesterday that a giant had fallen whose “spirit, impact and legacy” would live on in hearts and minds.

A keen follower of Gombey culture who had worked with Mr Warner at a local exempt company, Mr Richards recalled a running joke of being asked when he planned to join the troupe, where a costume was said to be waiting for him.

He hailed Mr Warner as “a standard-bearer of preserving traditional Gombey culture”, and gave condolences on behalf of the Bermuda Government to his wife, his daughter, Algina, stepchildren Trakia and Rayshun, his special aunt, Janice Warner, and all other family and friends.

A legend in his field, Mr Warner gladly contributed to research on Gombey culture.

“Gombeys don’t stop,” he once said. “They just step aside and let somebody else come in.”