In one of the day’s most sombre moments, the King was shown a small display at the National Museum of Bermuda that traces its history as part of the trade, and includes an image of shackled men on board a slave ship, as well as neck irons used by slave traders.
He then watched a Gombey dance performance – the tradition was restricted during slavery, with people only being allowed to perform it on Christmas and New Year’s, according to Irwin Trott, spokesman for the Bermudan Gombey dance troops.
After meeting the King, Trott said: “I told him that it’s a combination of cultures, African, Caribbean, West Indian, Native American and, of course, Great Britain.”
“Even though they were stripped of their identity, names were taken, their language was taken, deep in their heart they maintained their culture, and so it still flourished throughout the Caribbean.”
