Momo Apologizes To Bumpa’s Mother For Dancer’s Tragic Death

Last week renowned Jamaican dancer Roxanne ‘Bumpa’ Evans lost her life after performing a routine with her Gladiator Dance partner Momo, while vying for a JA$3500 first prize.

The tragic loss of life has since triggered debates about what Dancehall dancing has become and just how dangerous it is. According to reports Bumpa died after breaking her neck during the routine known as the ‘Chuck Tru Dance’.

Her dance partner recently reached out to her cohort’s mother to apologize for the incident. Bumpa’s mother, Olive Clennon told the Star about Momo’s apology.

“(She) tell mi seh she sorry an that she neva mean fi jump pon Roxanne, an that she intend fi jump ova har but she fell pon har. Mi listen wha she sey but a still don’t known what to do, because Roxanne done dead already, and seet deh now, she dead lef har two pickney dem.”

The concerned mother also revealed that she pleaded with her daughter to find a new line of work.

“But she neva listen to mi, and seet deh now, a dancing kill har. She love fi dance, a pure dance she dance. When she a cook and even wen she a wash, she a dance.”

She also described how the events of the night in question unfolded and disclosed that Bumpa’s neck had been broken in three places.

“We rush to the hospital same time, but when we reach, she caa talk to nobody, all she could do is shake har head and the doctor dem tell mi seh har neck bruck inna three place. Honestly, mi neva know seh she woulda dead because the doctor dem did a seh she need some piece a iron inna har neck. Dem tell mi fi go pay some money and by the time mi pay the money, dem a rush har to Falmouth Hospital, so we follow dem to the hospital. Thursday we up deh and get the shocking news from a doctor seh she dead, none a wi couldn’t believe it,” she continued.

Clennon wants her daughter’s life to be used as a cautionary tale to other dancers out there who may have the same ambitions as Bumpa.

“It don’t mek sense fi know seh a simple dance can cause yuh life, and dem need fi stop the head top and flick over dance wha dem a do,” she said.