Gombey performance in Bermuda, first developed as a street tradition bringing enslaved people of West African, Native American, and Caribbean heritage together to celebrate during the Christmas season, reflects both its deep historical roots as a symbol of creative resistance to colonial authority and its modern role as an emblem of the nation. The Warwick Gombey Troupe, founded by Irwin Trott in 1996, is one of five troupes in Bermuda today. Mr. Trott, both a master drummer and educator, is dedicated to representing the unique heritage of the island through Gombey performance, including its Native roots that trace back to the Wampanoag, Pequot, and Narragansett people of New England. The Warwick Gombey Troupe’s Pillow debut represented a kind of homecoming to the land of their ancestors.
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