The Botanical Gardens were abuzz yesterday as hundreds of residents came out to witness the Gombey Festival of 2025.

The Paget park was busy as food vendors converged for young and old around the main show ring and bleachers for the annual cultural showcase.

The Bermuda Donquili group, which specialises in African drumming and dancing, set the tone ahead of the Gombey performances with dance moves backed by rhythmic drumming.

After cameo performance from singer Fire Wayne, the whistles and beats from the Place’s New Generation Gombeys captured the attention of the crowd.

The group put on a captivating display of dance and drumming before the SMS Gombeys danced their way into the ring.

Tinée Furbert, the acting culture minister, said: “The Gombeys have become synonymous with Bermuda’s culture, our most enduring symbol of identity.”

She said “record numbers” attended the event last year and she anticipated the crowd to grow last night.

Andre Parsons, of Place’s New Generation Gombeys, said approximately 12 dancers and five drummers represented the troupe this year.

Mr Parsons, the lead drummer of the group, said: “Today is a very special event, we definitely appreciate the work that is put in for this event for the Gombeys.

“The Gombey Festival has been successful for the last five to ten years and it has been a tremendous opportunity to keep the tradition alive.”

He said youths of the band were taking the spots of their seniors this year at the festival, to keep the tradition evolving.

Harley Place, co-captain of Warwick Gombeys, said it has been a “good year for Gombeys”.

He added: “We have been dancing quite a bit, everybody here has had their share of work to do over the year.

“Coming to this meeting place now for the festival, it should be pretty good. Everybody is here to do their best.”

Mr Place, who leads the group with Kahni Place, said 16 dancers were on hand to take part in the event. He admitted that a shift in the event’s date from Saturday impacted the numbers.

“It’s going to hurt you a little bit as to who can and cannot make it.”

Yesterday, Ms Furbert hailed the Bermuda Gombey Council’s efforts in the organisation of a troupe which represented the island at Carifesta VX in Barbados in the summer.

“May the spirit of togetherness continue,” she said.

At the start of the event, Kent Henry, a drummer who is considered a steward and mentor of drumming, was honoured for his contributions to the art form.

Ed Christopher, the event’s host, said Mr Henry kept a tradition alive for many who followed in his footsteps.