Page 24 - AHATA

Friday 18 July 2025 locAl
A10

Meet our Aruban trailblazers:

Padu Lampe

(Oranjestad)—This week we for music. Starting from the One of the most important
remember one of our most age of 12, he was agile in moments in Aruban history, in
beloved Aruban giant, Juan the clarinet, mandolin and which he was able to witness
Chabaya Lampe—better cuatro. Henry Lampe, his fa- first-hand, was the first radio
known as Padu Lampe or ther, was also a well-known broadcast on the island on
Padu del Caribe. As one of pianist and musician. March 20th, 1954. Here, he
the most important and re- In a publication of the infor- was accompanied by An-
nowned artists in the Aruban mative seminar, “Observer”, tillean guitarist Julian Coco
cultural sphere, Padu’s long from august 1st, 1962, Padu’s and Hubert “Loi” Booi.
career led him to be hon- many merits and friendly per- In the art world, Padu was
ored today as “the father of sonality stood out. It was said also a known painter. During
culture.” that he was an excellent pia- his youth, he made several by the Aruban National ingrained in the Aruban cul-
nist with a personal style and painting using his unique Printing Press with sponsor- tural history, and he will be
On April 26th, 1920, Juan full of surprises. Secondly, style. In 1939, he participat- ship provided by the Prince known forever as one of the
Chabaya Lampe “Padu though the composer was ed in an art exhibit in New Bernhard Funds Netherlands most influential trailblazers of
Lampe/Padu del Caribe” not too familiar with music York, where he won a bronze Antilles. our community.
was born in Nassaustraat, theory, he showed innova- medal for his painting “Typi- Padu will always be in Aruba’s
Oranjestad. He grew up in tions in his compositions. cal View of Aruba.” Besides that, Padu passed heart, because he had com-
a happy musical environ- Lastly, Padu was a promoter his exam on “Society to Ad- posed various special songs
ment, and it is because of of Creole music around the Padu remained a popular vanced Ethical Hypnosis” dedicated to the mothers of
this that he developed a love world. artist within the Dutch Antil- in 1964 in New Jersey. He the island; his song “Sonrisa di
les and the Caribbean as a received a certificate as un baby” (“A baby’s Smile”)
pianist, singer, author and a hypnotechnician, which has been written in three dif-
painter. Padu Lampe was gave him the authority to ferent languages. Padu also
a local artist who became practice hypnosis in some wrote our national anthem
renowned in Venezuela, states. “Aruba Dushi Tera”, along
Colombia, The U.S. and The Over the course of his career, with Mr. Rufo Wever. This
Netherlands too. In the 1950s, he received many acco- song was approved by the
he sold no less than 50 thou- lades and awards in Aruba, government of Aruba and
sand copies of his long-play- Curacao, Venezuela and was named the official an-
ing albums (LPs). the Netherlands. them of the island in 1976.
Padu Lampe was a multifac- Other songs that have been
eted artist, inspired by his in- Padu del Caribe passed considered as being almost a
terest in parapsychology and away on November 29th, second anthem for Arubans
supernatural phenomenon. 2019, at the age of 99 years is the special composition he
He wrote three books in Pa- old. Padu brought the Aru- wrote for his wife Daisy Croes
piamento on the subject in ban culture around the called “Abo so”. Daisy later
1986, which was published world. His legacy will remain passed away in 1994. q

Cas di Torto

dition.
The skeleton of the hous-
es is made up of round
wooden poles placed with
distances of 1.5 feet be-
tween them. Branches are
interwoven between them,
completing the structural
support. On this basis, loam
is applied, mixed with sand,
water and para grass. This is
then coated with aloe vera
juice, which gives the white
colour and helps to protect
against the weather.
On top of the poles piec-
ORANJESTAD - Cas di torto es of wood are fitted that
(also called cas di lodo or The technique probably serve as the base for the
cas di bara) is a traditional came over from the Ven- roof beams. Until 1815 the
building technique from ezuelan Paraguaná Pen- roofing usually consisted
Aruba. It refers to a type of insula in the 18th century. of corn (maize) stems, af-
houses made of mud with Existing houses date back terwards the nuclei of co-
rounded corners. These 150 years. Until 1925 many lumnar cacti were used. room. In the kitchen would lies would live in these hous-
houses were usually found houses on Aruba were built The floor is made of loam, be a wooden or metal bar- es; people would sleep on
around the plantations. The using this technique, after- mixed with cement or cow rel for storing water that mats on the floor.
few structures that still ex- wards it fell into disuse. In dung. was collected in small rain If you visit the Arikok Na-
ist are the oldest structures 2005 there were 62 cas di The houses were usually di- ponds. Around this barrel a tional Park you will be able
that are left standing in the torto houses left, of which vided into a kitchen, a living thick loam wall would be to see a very nice cas di
country. only four were in good con- room, a porch and a bed- erected. Often large fami- torto.q