Goombay

This weekend we went to a bed and breakfast near Ashville, NC. We had no plans whatsoever for Saturday, so I grabbed an Ashville paper Saturday morning and read this article:

The 24th annual Goombay! festival continues today on The Block, the city’s historically African-American commercial district, at corner of Eagle and Market streets downtown.

A celebration of African and Caribbean culture, the festival brings a special groove and many thousands of people back to The Block each year at this time...

Since 1982, the YMI Cultural Center has sponsored Goombay!, whose presenters also include Asheville Parks and Recreation and the N.C. Arts Council. The festival features a variety of musical entertainment, family activities, Caribbean delicacies and Third World crafts...

“The festival has something for everyone,” said King, who helps coordinate volunteers with Patricia Griffin. “It’s a festive time and a happy time for everyone.”

African-inspired wares, along with the food and music, there’s the allure of Goombay!

Many goods come from nations like Ethiopia and Nigeria, though some of the paintings and jewelry, the clothing and products come from those who tap into the African heritage here.

Abdou Diop of West Africa travels the country with the leather belts and personalized buckles made of brass and other metals. Next to him, booths flash with huge and colorful earrings made from shells and beads, the bigger the better.

But like any festival, there is a big market for fashion. Booths featuring knock-off designer handbags, sunglasses, hats and wallets dot the streets. Shades sell for less than $10 and handbags go for about $40.

“That’s cool,” said one man as he viewed the jazz-inspired woven art from Baton Rouge, La., artists.

A crowd gathers around Molly Tessema of Ethiopia, who carves from a giant coconut filled with pure shea butter, a natural and healing moisturizer that originates from an African tree.

As the festival came to life, longtime vendor Otis “Mr. Gene” Keaton was behind the counter in his familiar blue lunch wagon on Eagle Street, cooking up his first sizzling batch of fried Alaskan whitefish. “We’ll cook 1,200 pounds” of fish he said with a smile.

Around the corner on Market Street, Gene Ellison was keeping a close eye on his two Goombay! booths, just in front of his Ritz restaurant and club. “We’ll do 200 racks of baby-back ribs,” he said. “And I’ve got another 100 just in case. We’ll do 400 pounds of goat, 400 pounds of oxtails.”

That article and my previous post pretty much sum up the Goombay Festival

The word "Goombay" emerged during slavery days in Bermuda and refers to both music and rhythm that were brought from Africa and the West Indies. The original dancers used a goat skin-covered drum that was called "Gombey" meaning rhythm. The Goombay dancers wear colorful costumes and high headdresses topped with feathers. Often times, grotesque masks help to enhance the free and exotic movements.

The Ashville "Goombay!" festival had Steel Drums, African-America Dancers, local Gospel Groups, and the bass player from Cameo and Midnight Star.

I had some fried Catfish and Cyndy had a grilled chicken Kabob.

Admission was free and Beer was cheap.

***Be warned*** If you are very conservative, and/or scared of black people, Goombay may not be for you. Ashville either.

(One booth had "George Bush Does Not Care About Black People.", Kane West t-shirts for sale. I also saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that said, "Same __it, Different ___hole" and had a picture of George Bush side-by-side with Hitler.)