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local Wednesday 26 July 2023
Aruba’s cultural and literary development: Then and now

(Oranjestad)—The Aruban television broadcast sta-
culture has seen many sub- tion Tele-Aruba in 1963,
stantial developments over and with time and possibili-
the course of a century. ties, local programs such as
With the introduction of the “Nos Tera”’ (“Our Land”)
Lago Refinery at the turn of started to pay more atten-
the 20th century, followed tion to the Aruban culture
by the breakout of the Sec- and worked to form a cul-
ond World War and the tural consciousness in the
general incentive for politi- community. The 1960s also
cal independence during saw the rise of local authors
the mid-century, a cultural and artists, who were more
identity on the island be- comfortable in producing
gan to take form and have works in our native tongue,
since developed through Papiamento, but who also
international and local in- produced works in Span-
fluences. ish, English and Dutch This
new phenomenon was in
In the pre-industrial era of response to the interac-
the 19th century, much tion between economic
could not be said about growth, individual prosper-
a cultural identity on the to local institutions estab- ity, cultural life and literary
island. Still being a part of lished in the 1940s for cul- expression.
a Dutch colonial territory tural and literary growth
at the same, as well as not on the island, but that did The 21st century
having political or econom- not yet capture the atten- Nowadays, international in-
ic autonomy (Curacao was tion of the general public. fluence on our culture is still
the center of commerce, The 1950 brought with it a prevalent, especially those
cultural life, and politi- boom of literary produc- from Latin America, the
cal management of the tion on the island, like those United States and The Neth-
Netherland Antilles at the of V.S. Piternella, as well erlands. Nevertheless, there
time), the small population as migrant authors José also exists a strong cultural
of Aruba consisted mostly Ramón Vicioso y Rings Wil- identity and traditions that
of farmers and fishermen, liam Rufus, who have also are exclusive to the Aruban
tending to their crops and contributed to the literary culture, often manifesting
their cattle, or going out development on the island. during traditional celebra-
to fish to provide for their as farmers left the ‘cunucu’ trace of a cultural climate The literary movement was tions, like Dia di San Juan/
family. As Quito Nicolaas (country) life to work in the for the cultural-literary sec- further promoted by local Dera Gai (St. John’s Day),
states in his article Historia refinery, which resulted in tor on the island. Primary broadcasters Voz di Aruba Dia di Himno y Bandera
di Literatura Arubiano: E Aruba acquiring a different education was introduced and Radio Kelkboom, with (National Hymn and Flag
Bida Cultural (Literary His- economic pilar. Before this, on the island mid-19th their regular broadcast of Day), Camping during Eas-
tory of Aruba: Cultural Life), entertainment and cultural century, followed by sec- literary works. ter and much more. With
“during the pre-industrial manifestations were mostly ondary and higher educa- The 50s and 60s also saw the surge of social media
period, there were no sig- experiences by local par- tion around the late 30’s the influence of interna- in the last decade, artistic
nificant economic activity ishes and the island’s elite, and 40’s. It wasn’t until the tional cultures, especially voices, especially those of
that could have created who often partook in cul- 1950s, with the introduction that of the United States. the younger generation,
a cultural ambience, with tural and entertaining ac- of the E.R.N.A agreement During this time, because of has become even more
only one way to generate tivities around the island, in 1951 and the signing of international influences as prevalent and easily ac-
profit at the time for the sub like going to the movie the- the Statute in 1954, which well as the continued pros- cessible to the community
existence of Aruban fami- ater or coming together to allowed more space for perity of the oil refinery, cul- of Aruba through online
lies.” share poetry on Sundays and control over the eco- tural traditions in Aruba be- platforms such as Face-
It wasn’t until the intro- after church. nomic and cultural devel- gan to really take form and book, Instagram and TikTok.
duction of the Lago Refin- opment of Aruba, that the become widespread, as
ery in San Nicolas in 1928, Literary life literary life on the island be- different worldly and local Source: Historia di Literatura
that the island saw a small Throughout the 19th cen- gan to grow substantially concepts were introduced Arubiano: E Bida Cultural by
boom in cultural manifes- tury and up until the 1940s, compared to decades be- in the Aruban society. With J.R. “Quito” Nicolaas
tations and entertainment, there were also not much fore. This was in response the establishment of local