Page 23 - AHATA

A10
Wednesday 6 august 2025

Maishi Rabo: a story of crops, culture, and resilience

Episode CCCX V-315 ghum bicolor—they share attacked them. Even when
The narrative of Etnia Nati- many botanical, agricultur- the plants survived, they
va — which means “Native al, and cultural similarities. sometimes developed an
Ethnicity” — underscores Sorghum, locally known internal 昀氀uid caused by
the importance of reclaim- as maishi rabo, belongs to 昀氀uctuations in humidity. This
ing Aruba’s cultural iden- the same grass family as 昀氀uid, known as maba, dam-
tity and heritage. Through maize. In their early stages aged the plant but could
this platform, it offers an of growth, plants like sugar- often be washed away by
authentic Indigenous per- cane, maize, and sorghum natural forces such as rain-
spective, educates the look so similar that they can fall, wind, or sun.
public, and inspires readers easily be mistaken for one Despite these challenges,
to adopt an island caretak- another by the untrained Aruban farmers developed
er mindset. eye. relatively advanced culti-
This visual similarity even vation techniques. In pros-
In this episode, it explores in昀氀uenced language. In perous years, they could
how a crop like corn — the English-speaking Carib- produce two full harvests.
originally domesticated in bean, maize was referred Alongside corn, they also
the Americas — has had to as “large milho” and grew beans, squash, pea-
a profound impact on ag- sorghum as “small milho.” nuts, cassava, and sweet
riculture, global food secu- In Papiamento, they are potatoes. Fruits such as
rity, and cultural traditions introduced to the Old unpredictable, a corn-like still known as maishi grandi guava, soursop, and man-
World. Its high yield and plant known as sorghum
across the world. (big corn) and maishi rabo goes were cultivated as
adaptability to diverse cli- (Sorghum bicolor) was in- (tail corn). well—crops that re昀氀ect the
mates allowed it to thrive troduced. Its cultivation
Sorghum cultivation be- enduring legacy of Native
One of the most transfor- in Africa, Southern Europe, gradually expanded, as came a traditional agri- American agricultural tra-
and Asia, where it quickly farming persisted despite
mative outcomes of the cultural practice in Aruba. ditions.
Columbian Exchange, became a staple food. Be- the challenges farmers Farmers grew it on two Today, the global diet re-
yond its agricultural value, faced in successfully grow-
which began after Christo- types of plots: rich clay soil mains deeply rooted in the
pher Columbus’s voyages, corn also had a lasting ing other crops such as to- and nutrient-poor sandy crop exchanges between
cultural impact, becoming bacco, cotton, peanuts,
was the global transfer of soil. These were alternated the New and Old Worlds.
cash crops. This exchange the foundation of tradition- and cashews. strategically to reduce the The spread of these plants
al dishes—such as our fun-
radically reshaped global risks posed by unpredict- transformed agriculture
cuisine, economies, and chi, a dense polenta-like able rainfall. When heavy and shaped the cultures,
staple. Sorghum and maize are
patterns of population rains damaged crops on economies, and livelihoods
growth. During the 19th century, as closely related cereal the clay-rich plots, the san- of millions. The legacy of
Aruba’s population grew grains. While they are differ-
Originally from Mesoamer- dy 昀椀elds often yielded bet- the Columbian Exchange
ica, corn became one of and periods of regular rain- ent species—maize is Zea ter results—and vice versa. lives on in every bite. Imag-
the most signi昀椀cant crops fall became increasingly mays and sorghum is Sor- Over time, Aruban farmers ine a pizza without toma-
experimented with various toes, a piña colada without
imported varieties of sor- pineapple, or a chocolate
ghum, including Jerusalem chip cookie without choc-
corn and mild yellow corn. olate or vanilla.
Eventually, a variety na- If our ancestral stories
tive to China proved the stirred something within
most resilient. It gradually you, it’s time to unlock the
replaced native corn on hidden soul of the island.
many cunucos (small agri- Discover Etnia Nativa —
cultural plots), as it required Aruba’s best-kept cultural
less water and labor. This secret. Just steps from the
variety, nicknamed maishi high-rise hotels, yet worlds
di shete (“corn of seven”), away, this private sanctu-
earned its name because ary welcomes only the truly
it could be harvested just curious.
seven weeks after sowing. Step into a living museum
Priests were responsible — a sacred space where
for distributing the seeds, history, art, and identity
but cultivation remained a converge, not for the mass-
risky endeavor for even the es, but for the mindful trav-
most experienced Aruban eler.
farmers. Droughts could kill Book your visit via Whats
crops before they matured, App +297 592 2702 or etni-
and pests like beetles, anativa03@gmail.com.q
worms, and ants frequently