Gombey

The Gombey is an iconic symbol of Bermuda, a cultural expression full of colorful and intricate masquerade, dance, and drumming. This folk tradition reflects the island's blend of African, Caribbean and British cultures with Indigenous influences. Dancers are usually men and perform in groups of 10 to 30 though in modern times women's groups have emerged. The traditions have been passed down orally from one generation to the next within families. The captains of each troupe determine the troupe's style and direction. Subtle but distinct differences emerged between troupes in beats, dances, costumes, headdresses, by which each troupe can each be recognized.

The Gombey is an iconic symbol of Bermuda, a cultural expression full of colorful and intricate masquerade, dance, and drumming. This folk tradition reflects the island's blend of African, Caribbean and British cultures with Indigenous influences. Dancers are usually men and perform in groups of 10 to 30 though in modern times women's groups have emerged. The traditions have been passed down orally from one generation to the next within families. The captains of each troupe determine the troupe's style and direction. Subtle but distinct differences emerged between troupes in beats, dances, costumes, headdresses, by which each troupe can each be recognized. ==History== Historically, the Gombeys were not viewed as a respectable art form by the island's ruling class and were banned by the slave masters. Enslaved people were allowed to dance only once a year and did so in masks in order to protest, without fear of retribution, the injustices done them by their slave masters. In an article from The Royal Gazette newspaper posted on January 10, 1831, a reward is being offered for the return of two slaves by the names of Ajax and Mentor who went off without a cause at Christmas, following that Idolatrous procession the Gumba. It is hoped that this late nuisance, the Gumba and other clamorous puppet shows of the Negroes, will meet the attention of all men of reflection that they be suppressed – as none but the worst or most ignorant Negroes follow such ridiculous shows." Henceforth Gombey tradition is at its liveliest during the Christmas season, customarily performed during Boxing Day, where the troupes would march the whole day around the island with crowds of followers. Additional performances take place on Easter, New Year's Day, Bermuda Day, and in modern times at football and cricket matches and other festivals and celebrations. ==Research and education== In February 2000, the Smithsonian Institution conducted training in folklife fieldwork for Bermuda-based researchers to prepare them to survey the cultural traditions of the island. Their fieldwork, conducted from April 2000 through March 2001, became the research basis for both the Folklife Festival, the development of the Bermuda Connections Cultural Resource Guide for Classrooms, and the development of a Bermuda Folklife Officer. Dr. Richard Kurin writes in the foreword that "[t]his education kit grows out of Bermuda's participation in the 2001 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. It is based on the important research that went into the Festival and the documentation that resulted from it." Included in this document is a chapter on Gombeys, Bands and Troubadours. Since 2010 the entire Bermuda Connections Resource Guide has been made available for download in the Folklife section of Bermuda's Department of Community and Cultural Affairs website. ==Literature== Susette Harriet Lloyd (who travelled to Bermuda with the Church of England's Archdeacon of Bermuda Aubrey Spencer aboard and remained in Bermuda for two years) published Sketches of Bermuda (a collection of letters she had written en route to, and during her stay in, Bermuda, and dedicated to Archdeacon Spencer) in 1835¹, immediately following the 1834 abolition of slavery in Bermuda and the remainder of the British Empire (Bermuda elected to end slavery immediately, becoming the first colony to do so, though all other British colonies except for Antigua availed themselves of an allowance made by the Imperial government enabling them to phase slavery out gradually), writing of Gombeys: One of the first major literary publications on the Gombeys was a book published in 1987 by Louise A. Jackson entitled The Bermuda Gombey: Bermuda's Unique Dance Heritage. It contains pictures and sketches of Gombeys, and outlines details of history, group roles, performance and costumes. Jackson subsequently also published another book, entitled Gombey Boy, and a short narrative film on VHS. More recently a children's book called Gombey Baby was written and illustrated by Bermudian J. K. Aspinall. ==Film== The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Bermuda, sponsored a feature-length documentary Behind the Mask: Bermuda Gombeys Past, Present, and Future (2008), this film captures and documents the ongoing history of the Bermuda Gombeys, highlighting their importance as one of Bermuda's oldest folklife traditions. It premiered at the Bermuda International Film Festival in March 2008. The documentary was directed by Bermudian filmmaker Adrian Kawaley-Lathan, and co-produced with Bermudian filmmaker Kalilah Robinson. ==See also== Culture of Bermuda Music of Bermuda Bermuda ==External links== Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Bermuda – official website of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Bermuda Connections: Online Resource Guide – free cultural resources on the community culture and history of Bermuda

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