What began as a group of young men expressing themselves has transformed into Bermuda’s newest Gombey troupe.

TJ Brangman, who has been involved in the Gombeys since he was 3 or 4, was inspired after watching his cousin, 13-year-old T’Nuri Darrell, and his friends dance through Boaz Island for tips.

Mr Brangman explained: “Some people were complaining that the children were just doing this to make money – they are doing it because they love to dance, they don’t have other guidance.

“I pulled my little cousin aside in June and asked him if he really wanted to do this and he said ‘yes’.”

Zulu Gombey Tribe was formed one month later and now comprises 14 dancers and six drummers who range in age from 4 to 22. Mr Brangman, 35, serves as troupe captain.

The group, named after the largest ethnic nation in South Africa, trains at Sandys Community Centre on Kitchener Road and is the first troupe based in the parish since K & K Gombeys, which dissolved almost 20 years ago.

Mr Brangman added: “We wanted to do something original and use African roots, because Gombeys come from African culture and we felt like Zulu Gombey Tribe was probably the best name.

“Because we are going with the Zulu tribe, we are trying to stick with Zulu symbols that mean things [for our costumes].”

The costumes will be ready later this year but the group paraded along Hook N Ladder Lane, Cambridge Road and Long Bay Lane wearing troupe T-shirts on Saturday.

Mr Brangman said: “That was our very first practice march. I wanted to see what I needed to work on, if anything, and these children surprised me ‒ they did absolutely well for the first time.

“We are looking to do it more often, because our main focus is getting the boys ready for Boxing Day, which is a big day for all Gombeys throughout the island.”

Troupe president Deidre Shakir said the organisation has a mission bigger than Gombeys.

She explained: “This is about making a social difference for our boys, teaching them responsibility and accountability, financial responsibility also, because they will be earning money dancing.

“They will be taught how to make, save, and what to do with this money.

“It’s a whole system of learning about life; this is where we need to start with the children.

“From the ground up, we want to build a better community and build strong young men that are going to add to our community in a positive way.”

Ms Shakir hopes to partner with others and provide academic and scholarship opportunities for troupe members.

She said: “This is just the start of where this is going to go in building a positive community.”

The troupe will perform at a Boaz Island community event on Sunday, which will begin at 4pm.

• Contact zulugombeytribe@gmail.com to learn more about the organisation.