Page 4 - AHATA

a8 local
Thursday 28 augusT 2025

Ever heard of the cah’i orgel? A key instrument in Aruban folklore music

(Oranjestad)— The cah’i or- streets of Barquisimeto. Back mahogany wood, it contains
gel music box is an important in Curacao, he started his a cylinder with a maximum of
and unique instrument that own cah’i orgel business eight music pieces. By rotat-
is used on the ABC islands along with his brother Luis. ing the lever on the front side
in the Dutch Caribbean. This In Aruba, it is said that the of the box, the cah’i orgel
instrument is a staple in our cah’i orgel was introduced produces music similar to
folklore music, and its sig- by Rufo Wever, who later in that of a piano, and is ac-
nificance in the traditions of his career became one of companied often by some-
Aruba has and continues to the composers for the Aru- one else playing the “wiri”, a
bring together the old and ban national anthem. percussion instrument made
young. out of steel and reminiscent
Rufo Wever was a young to the Spanish guiro. Back
The origin of the cah’i orgel musician in 1937 when he then, you would often also
is said to have come from established his own cah’i find someone playing the
Europe around 150 years orgel business on the island. triangle alongside the cah’i
ago. A cross breed between Before that he experimented orgel and wiri. In Aruba, the
the barrel piano and the or- with his uncle’s cah’i orgel, cah’i orgel and wiri is used
gan, the most popular sto- and he over the years he for traditional music genres,
ries said that the instrument learned to build and repair such as the Aruban waltz,
came from either England the instrument. In fact, he tumba, mazurka and more.
or Germany, but made its was incredibly skilled in this,
way to Italy down to Ven- and he was one of the few Fun fact: another name for
ezuela, where in 1881, Mr. to have recognized from the the cah’i orgel is the “tin-
Horatio Sprock (1866-1949) start that the cah’i orgel is gilingi box.”q
from Curacao was first in- an instrument that needs
troduced to it. After that, preserving. Source: “E Cilinder Magico
Sprock made his own cah’i entre Aruba y Curaçao” by
Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé, Herta
orgel “Josefina”, and suc- As mentioned, the cah’i or- Parabirsing-Balentina and Ni-
cessfully debuted it on the gel is a music box. made from dia Rosaria-Wallé.

Place names in San Nicolas and their origins

(Oranjestad)–If you’re ever taking in the area. Matter of fact, there happened. the origin of the name San Nicolas
a tour of Aruba, San Nicolas would are still underground shafts and In 1829, Pieter Lampe was a planter has so far two different accounts.
definitely be on your itinerary. passages deep in Sero Colorado and the person responsible for In the literal sense, “San Nicolas”
From relaxing on the white, sandy from the time of phosphate mining. governing this remote area. As the translates to “Saint Nicolas”,
beaches of Baby and Roger’s In 1958, the refinery at the time, story goes, Pieter was well known leading many to believe that this
Beach, to exploring the prehistoric Lago, adopted this name for the and beloved for his kindness and district was named after a Spanish
caves of Quadirikiri and Fontein, residential section of its employees. good treatment of his employees, saint. Though one account does
you are taking in a full view of what and was therefore also called support this with the theory that the
San Nicolas has to offer. But did Vader Piet Vader Piet (Father Piet). However, district was named after the saint
you know that you are also passing Another well visited area, Vader he was tragically murdered—some by Spanish colonizers, the other
through areas whose names have Piet is located in the Arikok speculate at the hands of a slave. account is much less divine, but
historical origins? Here are a few National Park. Recognizable sites For his work and good heart, the does refer to an influential figure in
place names in San Nicolas and within this area includes the Wind area was named after him. the area.
their origin story. Mills and the Quadirikiri Cave. The
origin of this name is part historical San Nicolas Nicolaas van der Biest was a
Sero Colorado and speculation, as there are slight Of course we can’t forget San successful landowner during the
On your way to Baby or Roger’s deviations from what actually Nicolas itself. Much like Vader Piet, time of the phosphate boom in
Beach, you’ll pass by the famous late 19th century Aruba. Back
Red Anchor at what was once the then, landowners (most, if not all
entrance to the Colony residential of them men) were referred to as
community and be greeted with “Shon” by their subordinates. So,
red soiled hills by the coast. This is the district was originally named
Sero Colorado. Named after the after Shon Nicolaas. Over time, the
30-meter, deep red, limestone name evolved into what is now
hill, “Sero Colorado” translates San Nicolas.q
to “Colored Hill”. Sero Colorado
has deep historical ties with the Source: “Aruba: Short History” by Dr. J.
once-thriving phosphate industry Hartog.