For the culture: Gombeys dance in annual Boxing Day tradition
St George’s reverberated with drums as Place’s New Generation Gombeys performed throughout the East End, finishing at King’s Square in one of the island’s cherished traditions.
It was one of many performances throughout Bermuda as troupes took to the streets to mark Boxing Day.
At the West End, another Gombey troupe proudly celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Warwick Gombeys called on seniors at Lefroy House in Sandys as part of their annual Boxing Day sweep.
Irwin Trott, the leader of Warwick Gombeys, said the children in his troupe had been training all year for Boxing Day and were “eager” to perform.
He added: “It’s all about the Bermudians. It’s all about our people and giving them something that they long for all year.
“Sometimes they don’t get to see the Gombeys often throughout the year.
“This is one year where they can rest assured that they’re going to be in the streets bringing our culture to the people.”
Mr Trott said that Boxing Day was the “pinnacle of Gombey holidays” because it allowed troupes to get in touch with the community.
Mr Trott explained that, although the troupe performed year-round, this was the one day where they could “take the commercialisation and entertainment out of it and go to the streets”.
He added: “Normally throughout the year you’re playing at hotels, you’re playing at weddings, you’re playing at birthday parties and all that and you’re doing specific performances.
“This year is about going in the streets. We take the culture to the streets and to the people.”
The troupe started off by dancing through the seniors home before moving to the lawn and performing for 15 minutes.
Residents, nurses and other spectators collected around the front of the home to watch the vibrant display.
Mr Trott said that the troupe would perform around Somerset and looked forward to showing the neighbourhoods “the power of the drums”.
One nurse said it was a high point of the year for residents.
“It’s traditional for us,” she explained. “Almost everyone here is Bermudian, so they like seeing them.
“They do outings every so often, but they look forward to this every year.”
Several Gombey troupes have visited the rest home every Boxing Day.
The nurse explained: “You can tell by the looks on their faces that they really enjoy having the Gombeys over.”
She added: “I have a toddler, so I’m looking forward to involving him.”
Kevin Minors, 33, was one of the Warwick Gombeys’ oldest dancers — but on Boxing Day, he was there as a supporter.
Dr Minors said: “I was one of the original dancers for Warwick Gombeys when they first started.
“Me being here is just kind of paying respects for the troupe that helped raise me and just giving back.”
He added: “I’m in my supporter era right now, but I might be coming back out dancing soon.”
Dr Minors, from Sandys, who danced with the troupe for many years, turns out for the Gombeys every year.
“It’s like a family tradition,” he said. “My uncle and aunt are part of the co-founders, so we come out and hang out as much as we can.”
Dr Minors added that it was “really satisfying” to see that “the culture lives on” in the younger generation of dancers.
He said: “It keeps growing and keeps evolving. It’s not stagnant, so it really warms my heart to see it keep going.
“We’ve got to keep supporting it — if it’s not dancing, it can be drumming. If it’s not drumming, it’s helping behind the scenes making the hats and making the costumes.”
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