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LOCAL Thursday 31 July 2025

Ever heard of the cah’i orgel?

A key instrument in Aruban folklore music

(Oranjestad)—The cah’i or- After that, Sprock made his few to have recognized
gel music box is an impor- own cah’i orgel “Josefina”, from the start that the cah’i
tant and unique instrument and successfully debuted orgel is an instrument that
that is used on the ABC is- it on the streets of Barqui- needs preserving.
lands in the Dutch Carib- simeto. Back in Curacao,
bean. This instrument is a he started his own cah’i As mentioned, the cah’i
staple in our folklore music, orgel business along with orgel is a music box. made
and its significance in the his brother Luis. In Aruba, it from mahogany wood, it
traditions of Aruba has and is said that the cah’i orgel contains a cylinder with a
continues to bring together was introduced by Rufo maximum of eight music
the old and young. Wever, who later in his ca- pieces. By rotating the lever
reer became one of the on the front side of the box,
The origin of the cah’i or- composers for the Aruban the cah’i orgel produces
gel is said to have come national anthem. music similar to that of a pi-
from Europe around 150 ano, and is accompanied
years ago. A cross breed Rufo Wever was a young often by someone else
between the barrel piano musician in 1937 when he playing the “wiri”, a percus-
and the organ, the most established his own cah’i sion instrument made out
popular stories said that the orgel business on the island. of steel and reminiscent
instrument came from ei- Before that he experiment- to the Spanish guiro. Back
ther England or Germany, ed with his uncle’s cah’i or- then, you would often also
but made its way to Italy gel, and he over the years find someone playing the such as the Aruban waltz, Source: “E Cilinder Magico
down to Venezuela, where he learned to build and re- triangle alongside the cah’i tumba, mazurka and more. entre Aruba y Curaçao” by
Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé, Herta
in 1881, Mr. Horatio Sprock pair the instrument. In fact, orgel and wiri. In Aruba, the Fun fact: another name for Parabirsing-Balentina and Ni-
(1866-1949) from Curacao he was incredibly skilled in cah’i orgel and wiri is used the cah’i orgel is the “tin- dia Rosaria-Wallé.
was first introduced to it. this, and he was one of the for traditional music genres, gilingi box.”q
Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our Picuda!

(Oranjestad)—If you’re obtain information from the Pecho blanco, Blekito, Ba- to be able to accelerate after fish by sports fishermen
ever planning on snorkel- public. nana, or Bleki. The names quickly when the prey gets or recreational fishermen
ing during your vacation vary according to size. close. because it puts up a good
on Aruba, you may spot Picuda, Sphyraena barra- fight once hooked. It can
fish that you can’t recog- cuda, Greater Barracuda Description In Aruba: be caught via trolling from
nize. One of these may be Well known is the Picuda on The Picuda is a long fish, Picuda can be found in our a boat, casting from shore
the “Picuda”, a very com- the island—Barracuda in with a round body like a waters around our island with a line or rod, or by jig-
mon fish that swims all year English. Its scientific name torpedo and silver in color throughout the year. Picu- ging, casting the lure (ar-
long in the waters of Aruba. is Sphyraena barracuda. It with shiny black stripes. da, in our waters, is edible tificial bait) and moving it
Here’s some information is a widely caught fish. It is Below, that is, the belly, is without any problem. Picu- with certain rod motions.q
about the beloved Picuda. found throughout the year whiter, while the top part da is also a highly sought-
in our waters, where it is a is darker. Its snout is very
Let’s talk about the names so-called “ambush preda- pointed, and the lower jaw
of fish. Do you know your tor” that stays still or floats is longer than the upper
fish? This is an informative in the water waiting for one. Its peduncle, where
article that illustrate some its prey to approach so it the body meets the tail,
fish and their names in Pa- can attack it with lightning is thick, while the tail also
piamento, which the De- speed. It is well known for forms a crescent but in this
partment of Agriculture, fishermen, especially for case one more “full” than
Livestock and Fisheries, its white flesh in fish soup. that of mullet or conefish.
known as “Santa Rosa”, In fishing culture, there are This reflects the hunting
wants to share and also many other names, such as style of the Picuda. It needs