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local Thursday 13 July 2023
Aruba’s cultural and literary development: Then and now

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