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Monday 25 SepteMber 2023 locAl
A10
Aruba’s cultural and literary development: Then and now
(Oranjestad)—The Aruban general incentive for politi-
culture has seen many sub- cal independence during
stantial developments over the mid-century, a cultural
the course of a century. identity on the island be- states in his article Historia fore. This was in response works in Spanish, English
With the introduction of the gan to take form and have
Lago Refinery at the turn of since developed through
the 20th century, followed international and local in- tory of Aruba: Cultural Life), tural and literary growth to the interaction between
by the breakout of the Sec- fluences.
ond World War and the
In the pre-industrial era of trace of a cultural climate
the 19th century, much for the cultural-literary sec-
could not be said about a tor on the island. Primary
cultural identity on the is- education was introduced
land. Still being a part of a on the island in the mid-
Dutch colonial territory at 19th century, followed by
the time, as well as not hav- secondary and higher edu-
ing political or economic cation around the late 30’s
autonomy (Curacao was and 40’s. It wasn’t until the such as “Nos Tera”’ (“Our
the center of commerce, 1950s, with the introduction Land”) started to pay more
cultural life, and politi- of the E.R.N.A agreement attention to the Aruban
cal management of the in 1951 and the signing of culture and worked to form
Netherland Antilles at the the Statute in 1954, which a cultural consciousness
time), the small population allowed more space for within the community. The
of Aruba consisted mostly and control over the eco- 1960s also saw the rise of lo-
of farmers and fishermen, nomic and cultural devel- cal authors and artists, who
tending to their crops and opment of Aruba, that the were more comfortable in
their cattle, or going out literary life on the island be- producing works in our na-
to fish to provide for their gan to grow substantially tive tongue, Papiamento,
family. As Quito Nicolaas compared to decades be- but who also produced
di Literatura Arubiano: E to local institutions estab- and Dutch. This new phe-
Bida Cultural (Literary His- lished in the 1940s for cul- nomenon was in response
“during the pre-industrial on the island, but that did economic growth, individ-
period, there were no sig- not yet capture the atten- ual prosperity, cultural life
nificant economic activity tion of the general public. and literary expression.
that could have created The 1950 brought with it a
a cultural ambience, with boom of literary produc- The 21st century
only one way to generate tion on the island, like those Nowadays, international in-
profit at the time for the sub of V.S. Piternella, as well fluence on our culture is still
existence of Aruban fami- as migrant authors José prevalent, especially those
lies.” Ramón Vicioso y Rings Wil- from Latin America, the
liam Rufus, who have also United States and The Neth-
It wasn’t until the intro- contributed to the literary erlands. Nevertheless, there
duction of the Lago Refin- development on the island. also exists a strong cultural
ery in San Nicolas in 1928, The literary movement was identity and traditions that
that the island saw a small further promoted by local are exclusive to the Aruban
boom in cultural manifes- broadcasters Voz di Aruba culture, often manifesting
tations and entertainment, and Radio Kelkboom, with during traditional celebra-
as farmers left the ‘cunucu’ their regular broadcast of tions, like Dia di San Juan/
(country) life to work in the literary works. Dera Gai (St. John’s Day),
refinery, which resulted in The 50s and 60s also saw Dia di Himno y Bandera
Aruba acquiring a different the influence of interna- (National Hymn and Flag
economic pilar. Before this, tional cultures, especially Day), Camping during Eas-
entertainment and cultural that of the United States. ter and much more. With
manifestations were mostly During this time, because the surge of social media
experienced by local par- of international influences in the last decade, artistic
ishes and the island’s elite, as well as the continued voices, especially those of
who often partook in cul- prosperity of the oil refinery, the younger generation,
tural and entertaining ac- cultural traditions in Aruba has become even more
tivities around the island, began to really take form prevalent and easily ac-
like going to the movie the- and become widespread, cessible to the community
ater or coming together to as different worldly and lo- of Aruba through online
share poetry on Sundays cal concepts were intro- platforms such as Face-
after church. duced in the Aruban soci- book, Instagram and Tik-
ety. With the establishment Tok.
Literary life of local television broad-
Throughout the 19th cen- cast station Tele-Aruba in Source: Historia di Literatura
tury and up until the 1940s, 1963, and with time and Arubiano: E Bida Cultural by
J.R. “Quito” Nicolaas
there were also not much possibilities, local programs