Page 12 - AHATA

Monday 14 april 2025 locAl
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Meet our Aruban trailblazers:

Padu Lampe

(Oranjestad)—This week in which he was able to wit-
we remember one of ness first-hand, was the first
our most beloved Aru- radio broadcast on the is-
ban giant, Juan Chabaya land on March 20th, 1954.
Lampe—better known as Here, he was accompa-
Padu Lampe or Padu del nied by Antillean guitarist
Caribe. As one of the most Julian Coco and Hubert
important and renowned “Loi” Booi.
artists in the Aruban cultural In the art world, Padu was
sphere, Padu’s long career also a known painter. Dur-
led him to be honored to- ing his youth, he made
day as “the father of cul- several painting using his
ture.” unique style. In 1939, he
participated in an art ex-
On April 26th, 1920, Juan hibit in New York, where he
Chabaya Lampe “Padu won a bronze medal for his
Lampe/Padu del Caribe” painting “Typical View of
was born in Nassaustraat, Padu’s many merits and Aruba.”
Oranjestad. He grew up in friendly personality stood Padu remained a popular
a happy musical environ- out. It was said that he was artist within the Dutch Antil-
ment, and it is because of an excellent pianist with a les and the Caribbean as a
this that he developed a personal style and full of pianist, singer, author and
love for music. Starting from surprises. Secondly, though painter. Padu Lampe was
the age of 12, he was ag- the composer was not too a local artist who became
ile in the clarinet, mandolin familiar with music theory, renowned in Venezuela,
and cuatro. Henry Lampe, he showed innovations in Colombia, The U.S. and
his father, was also a well- his compositions. Lastly, The Netherlands too. In the
known pianist and musi- Padu was a promoter of 1950s, he sold no less than practice hypnosis in some special songs dedicated
cian. Creole music around the 50 thousand copies of his states. to the mothers of the is-
In a publication of the infor- world. long-playing albums (LPs). Over the course of his ca- land; his song “Sonrisa di un
mative seminar, “Observ- One of the most important Padu Lampe was a multi- reer, he received many baby” (“A baby’s Smile”)
er”, from august 1st, 1962, moments in Aruban history, faceted artist, inspired by accolades and awards in has been written in three
his interest in parapsychol- Aruba, Curacao, Venezu- different languages. Padu
ogy and supernatural phe- ela and the Netherlands. also wrote our national an-
nomenon. He wrote three Padu del Caribe passed them “Aruba Dushi Tera”,
books in Papiamento on away on November 29th, along with Mr. Rufo Wever.
the subject in 1986, which 2019, at the age of 99 years This song was approved by
was published by the Aru- old. Padu brought the Aru- the government of Aruba
ban National Printing Press ban culture around the and was named the offi-
with sponsorship provided world. His legacy will re- cial anthem of the island in
by the Prince Bernhard main ingrained in the Aru- 1976.
Funds Netherlands Antilles. ban cultural history, and Other songs that have
Besides that, Padu passed he will be known forever as been considered as being
his exam on “Society to Ad- one of the most influential almost a second anthem
vanced Ethical Hypnosis” trailblazers of our commu- for Arubans is the special
in 1964 in New Jersey. He nity. composition he wrote for
received a certificate as Padu will always be in his wife Daisy Croes called
a hypnotechnician, which Aruba’s heart, because “Abo so”. Daisy later
gave him the authority to he had composed various passed away in 1994. q

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