Page 13 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Saturday 6 September 2025

The Aruban way of life; Creating community with Cas di Torto

(Oranjestad)—The Aruban nally, the walls got a coat
people understand that a of white plaster to seal ev-
happy life is spent in great erything in.
ambience with your loved
ones. Passed down from For roofing, corn stalks,
one generation to the oth- palm fonds and straws
er, building community has were used, allowing air Building community House. And everyone had fishing or slaughter farm ani-
been a key aspect in forg- to flow freely through the Building Torto houses was a role: The men oversaw the mals like goats, chicken or
ing our traditions and cus- house. This method of roof- often a community effort. building of the house, and sheep. Even the older kids
toms. The Cas di Torto (mud ing was known throughout Young couples who were the women were tasked had their tasks; the older
house) played a big role the ABC islands (Aruba, Cu- about to get married had with collecting wood and children of the family usu-
in cultivating community, racao, Bonaire), but the use to have their house built be- straws, cooking and taking ally helped with collecting
bridging families together of cornstalks in Aruba even- fore they could tie the knot care of the little ones. water and mixing the mud.
and forming close bonds tually got replaced with use and start their own fam-
with your neighbors— of mud and white plaster for ily. This is where the help of The couple’s family were The average duration of
something we highly value the roofs. The white plaster the community comes into primarily responsible for constructing a Cas di Torto
today. all around made the hous- play. feeding everyone who was 4 months.
es looks like cake, hence
helped build the house.
Cas di Torto: History and the name “Torto” (Spanish Neighbors, extended family Before construction, some- At the end of a long day of
construction for “cake”). and friends would all help in one usually had the task to work, everyone would gath-
The origin of the Cas di the construction of a Torto prepare the meal; going er around and enjoy a feast
Torto is said to date back of hearty food. This type of
to the early 19th century in help from friends and fam-
the Paraguana Peninsula in ily became a tradition and
Venezuela. Refugees who was called “paga lomba”:
sought sanctuary on Aruba You help me today; I’ll help
introduced this building you tomorrow.
method to the island.
Nowadays, traditional Cas
The uprights of the walls di Torto are rare, especially
were made with sturdy those that are still inhab-
and straight wayaca or ited. Houses that do exist
kwihi wood, or from thin probably date back more
mangrove struts. Then, the
wattle walls were weaved than a century.q
in using branches and twigs Picture credits: Aruba Na-
from the warero and sisal tional Library (BNA) and the
plant, daubed with a mix- Monumentbureau archive on
ture of grass and mud. Fi- Coleccion.aw