In the island of Rake & Scrape, the drama of the music is best brought to life by Bohog and the Rooters – a champion band from Cat Island. Crystal Smith vigorously scrapes away as she bends her saw, alternating between different musical tones. Cedelle Hunter beats at the goatskin drum as if fueled by a primordial fire.
She keeps rhythm with the 68 year old Pompey “Bohog” Johnson, who belts out a smooth set of lyrics, as he maneuvers his accordion song. The songs read like old time stories: “I’m going away gal looking for some work, say a little prayer gal you will be alright…”
Cat Island is the home of Rake & Scrape. Every summer, musicians of all ages, from across the island and the wider Bahamas, converge on the Rake & Scrape Festival grounds for a musical show down.
Veterans like Bohog are doing their part to keep the rich musical tradition alive. His band is breaking many barriers, bringing young blood…and women…to the art form.
“I started about two years ago with Bohog and the Rooters,” said Crystal, who moved to Cat Island five years ago. “We went away to Paris for a week and were able to expose the Bahamian culture of Rake & Scrape. It was a new experience for me, a good experience. Bohog brought me into the music. He said you have to learn something and I decided to go for it,” said Cedelle.
Both women are in their twenties. They represent a fresh ocean breeze to the male dominated art from. Not only do they play professionally, but they are actively encouraging younger people to learn the tradition.
“I encourage younger folks as much as I can. I tell them that our main culture of Rake & Scrape is dying out. Pompey is one of the few masters we have left, so we have to learn it to carry it on,” said Cedelle.
Pompey’s involvement with Rake & Scrape began in 1956, when he picked up a discarded accordion that a family friend had left with his father.
“Within a few weeks my sister and I began playing and then I branched out. I taught a lot of people,” said Pompey. “My involvement now is mainly with the young people in Arthur’s Town and New Bight.”
Pompey recalls learning to play the accordion and concertina from elders in the community, such as Pa Davis, who had picked up the skills while working on the Panama Canal.
“They told me that the concertina and accordion were a part of the Spanish culture. They got involved with it and brought it home,” said Pompey.
In the early days, Rake & Scrape bands also used the banjo, tambourine and washtub base. While some elders still possess skills on these instruments, they have largely fallen out of use.
“It had to be a very bad tub because we used to patch our tubs with soap. We used the number three and number two tubs. Before they began using saws they used to use the wooden scrub boards that they made themselves,” said Pompey. Alworth Rolle, President of the Cat Island Rake & Scrape Festival Committee, said the people of Cat Island are very much committed to keeping the tradition alive.
“We try to get the older ones to impart the knowledge to the younger ones. Every year we try to get more young ones, so the tradition will not be lost. Because once they get to grade twelve they go to college or go off to Nassau and they never return,” said Mr Rolle.
Source: Ministry of Tourism
