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local Tuesday 27 augusT 2024
The legend of the Kibrahacha tree

(Oranjestad)—The Kibrahacha is One day Aterima, who lived west they saw that it was covered head
a famous tree known locally for its of the hill Sero Warawara, woke up to toe in thorns, with only a few
bright, yellow flowers that blooms one day to find her father sleeping closed flowers at the very top. Ku-
for just three days. Scientifically in his hammock, suffering a bout of dawecha, experienced veteran in
known as Tabebuia billbergii, and terrible fever. Her mother was very all things Aruban flora and fauna,
in English as the Yellow Poui, this worried, and as was the custom in told Aretima to start plucking the
tree is native to the Caribbean is- the olden days, asked Aterima to thorns of the tree to climb to the
lands of Aruba, Bonaire and Cura- go fetch Kudawecha, who was a top where the flowers are. Aretima,
cao, and is considered among lo- epistemophile, to come see his fa- just as determined to save her fa-
cals as one of the most spectacu- ther. ther, didn’t hesitate to start.
lar trees on the island. But did you
also know that the beautiful yellow Aterima wasted to time and went To her surprise, every time she
flowers have a story behind them? to go fetch Kudawecha. Upon plucked a thorn of the tree, a
telling Kudawecha that her father bright, yellow flower bloomed in
The Kibrahacha is said to have ex- was sick, he immediately accom- its place. The thorns were hard
tremely hard wood—so hard that panied Aretima back to her hut, to pluck out, but Aretima contin-
it can break an axe. In fact, that’s where he encountered her father ued plucking with enthusiasm and father’s fever left his body imme-
what its name means in Papia- in a bad state. Not willing to waste wonder at the unfolding sight be- diately, and he opened eyes and
mento: “kibra” (break) “hacha” any time, he told Aretima that the fore her. Not too long after she was sprung up feeling new.
(axe). The flowers bloom around only thing that can cure her father is able to fill her entire satchel with
April and May, but this only last for a home-made potion made out of the yellow flowers. Kudawecha, The next morning, they all visited
about three days, as the flowers the Kibrahacha flower. At the time satisfied to see Aretima so happy the same Kibrahacha tree that
start to fall off and the tree starts the Kibrahacha was not yet in her and encouraged to help her fa- saved the life of Aretima’s father
growing its green leaves. The Kibra- blooming season, but the stubborn ther, took her back to her hut. and they saw another miracle.
hacha is especially particular, as Kudawecha was determined to The tree was covered again in the
it’s the only one among its neigh- bring back Aretima’s father back Upon arriving back at the hut, same bright, yellow flowers, with
boring trees to starts blooming first. to health, and so off they went to Aretima’s mother quickly made a not a thorn in sight. And as the leg-
the nearest Kibrahacha tree. tea out of the flowers and gave it end goes, from that day on, the
The legend of the Kibrahacha to her sick husband. Miraculously, Kibrahacha tree no longer pro-
Written by Hubert (Lio Booi) When they arrived at the tree, after just one sip of the tea, the duced any more thorns. q

Meet our Aruban trailblazers:

Padu Lampe

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