Video Set #1: 2012 Annual Gombey Festival

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs hosted the annual Gombey Festival on on Saturday evening [Sept 22] at the Tennis Stadium, with the event designed to showcase one of the island’s most iconic traditions.

Local groups participating included the H & H Gombeys, Places New Generation Gombeys, Warner Gombeys, Warwick Gombeys, Roots Gombeys, Gombey Warriors; and there were also visiting stilt-walkers or “Mock-a-Jumbie” dancers from St. Kitts.

Bermuda’s Gombey tradition — marked by snare drum-driven rhythms, peacock-feathered headdresses and expressive dances — dates back to at least the mid-18th century. The island’s preeminent folk art, the word Gombey is thought to derive from the Bantu word for “rhythm” or an African type of drum.

Mock-a-Jumbie dancers from St. Kitts:

Places New Generation Gombeys:

Warwick Gombeys:

PHC Majorettes:

Drummers:

A second set of videos will be uploaded later on, and photos of the event are here.

#BermudianCulture #GombeyFestival #Gombeys

Category: All, News, Videos