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LOCAL Friday 2 august 2024

The legend of the Kibrahacha tree

The Kibrahacha is said to have ex- Kudawecha that her father was sick, yellow flower bloomed in its place.
tremely hard wood—so hard that he immediately accompanied Areti- The thorns were hard to pluck out,
it can break an axe. In fact, that’s ma back to her hut, where he en- but Aretima continued plucking with
what its name means in Papiamento: countered her father in a bad state. enthusiasm and wonder at the un-
“kibra” (break) “hacha” (axe). The Not willing to waste any time, he told folding sight before her. Not too long
flowers bloom around April and May, Aretima that the only thing that can after she was able to fill her entire
but this only last for about three days, cure her father is a home-made po- satchel with the yellow flowers. Ku-
as the flowers start to fall off and the tion made out of the Kibrahacha dawecha, satisfied to see Aretima
tree starts growing its green leaves. flower. At the time the Kibrahacha so happy and encouraged to help
The Kibrahacha is especially particu- was not yet in her blooming season, her father, took her back to her hut.
lar, as it’s the only one among its but the stubborn Kudawecha was
neighboring trees to starts bloom- determined to bring back Aretima’s Upon arriving back at the hut,
ing first. father back to health, and so off they Aretima’s mother quickly made a
went to the nearest Kibrahacha tree. tea out of the flowers and gave it to
The legend of the Kibrahacha her sick husband. Miraculously, after
Written by Hubert (Lio Booi) When they arrived at the tree, they just one sip of the tea, the father’s
(Oranjestad)—The Kibrahacha is saw that it was covered head to fever left his body immediately, and
a famous tree known locally for its One day Aterima, who lived west toe in thorns, with only a few closed he opened eyes and sprung up feel-
bright, yellow flowers that blooms for of the hill Sero Warawara, woke up flowers at the very top. Kudawecha, ing new.
just three days. Scientifically known one day to find her father sleeping experienced veteran in all things Aru-
as Tabebuia billbergii, and in Eng- in his hammock, suffering a bout of ban flora and fauna, told Aretima to The next morning, they all visited the
lish as the Yellow Poui, this tree is terrible fever. Her mother was very start plucking the thorns of the tree same Kibrahacha tree that saved
native to the Caribbean islands of worried, and as was the custom in to climb to the top where the flow- the life of Aretima’s father and they
Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, and the olden days, asked Aterima to go ers are. Aretima, just as determined saw another miracle. The tree was
is considered among locals as one fetch Kudawecha, who was a epis- to save her father, didn’t hesitate covered again in the same bright,
of the most spectacular trees on the temophile, to come see his father. to start. yellow flowers, with not a thorn in
island. But did you also know that sight. And as the legend goes, from
the beautiful yellow flowers have a Aterima wasted to time and went to To her surprise, every time she that day on, the Kibrahacha tree no
story behind them? go fetch Kudawecha. Upon telling plucked a thorn of the tree, a bright, longer produced any more thorns.q

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