Page 11 - aruba-today-20230330

a11
local Thursday 30 March 2023
Imelda Rustveld and Gabriel Ras recognized as cultural giants

sician; two cultural giants
that have made significant
contributions to our music
culture.

Mrs. Imelda Rustveld
The first person recognized
for her outstanding contri-
bution is Mrs. Norma Imelda
Rustveld, better known as
just Imelda. Mrs. Rustveld
is married to Julio Quan-
dus and has five children.
She is known in the music
world on the island, espe-
cially as a popular Maria-
chi singer. She had partici- different parts of the coun-
pated in several Ranchera try, as well as in Belgium Let’s keep supporting
Festivals, both in Aruba and Germany. what’s ours
and Curacao. As a child, Minister Maduro gives her
Imelda also sang in various In 1980, Gabriel returned to thanks to the UTR founda-
holiday groups. In 2011, she Aruba and played in the tion for their beautiful ini-
founded her own group band called “Vibracion tiative in preserving and
called “Aguinaldo Flor di 74”, and had participated promoting Aruba’s music
Pasco,” in which she was a in various festivals. Gabri- culture. The minister also
choir singer and manager. el also played in a house extends an invitation to the
We Arubans know Imelda’s band at the Bushiri Hotel public to further support
version of the song called as well as other renowned what is ours. Our traditional
“Caballito Blanco,” which hotels on the island for sev- music is ours alone, and
is still played often around eral years. Gabriel has also now that UTR and UNOCA
Christmas time. played in other bands, in- is bringing this to neighbor-
cluding “To Remember” hoods, let’s take advan-
Mr. Gabriel Ras and “Reflexion Band.” His tage and give our support
(Oranjestad)—The first “Fi- er generations. The goal is The second honoree is Mr. siblings also played in vari- with our presence.q
esta Tipico di Bario” (“Typi- to have a “Fiesta Tipico” Gabriel Ras. Mr. Ras was ous bands.
cal Party of the Neighbor- event every month in one born in a musical family.
hood”) was organized at of the many neighborhood His siblings all play various
the Neighborhood Center centers on the island so we musical instruments, and
Brazil by the Typical Aruban can allow our traditional at 12 years old, he learned
Union Foundation (UTR). This music to resonate within to play the cuarta. At 17,
was a beautiful iniciative each neighborhood. This he founded the band “The
by the leaders of the Typi- will be possible with the Young Adventure.” At that
cal of Aruba group in or- help of UNOCA, which has time, this band was ex-
der to promote traditional made funding available tremely popular, and was
music at the neighborhood to cover the costs of this often booked to play at
centers around the island. cultural event. During the parties and events. After
Fiesta Tipico event in the that, they started playing
Culture is meant to be ex- Brazil neighborhood, the in different hotels. In 1977,
perienced, and events like minister of Culture, Xiomara Gabriel left the island to go
this is ideal for maintain- Maduro, has given recog- live in The Netherlands. It is
ing our folklore alive so we nition to two artists—one a here that he also played in
can pass this on to young- singer and the other a mu- different musical groups in