Page 3 - ATA FLIP 31 DEC 2016

A13
LOCAL Saturday 31 december 2016

Dande: A Beloved Part of Aruba’s New Year’s Tradition

Before the song finishes, the has become more mod-
group goes outside, where ern, whereas more instru-
the owner of the house usu- ments are being used, but
ally gives them something the words have also been
for their performance. changed. Some of the
newly introduced instru-
LYRICS OF DANDE: ments are guitar, maracas,
The singer sings the lead of mandolin, accordion or
the house, it used to only be marimba, but no electron-
men but now it can also be ic instruments. The current
a woman, then the wives/ generation is taking the
husbands and kids. The lyr- folklore of Aruba, which is
ics of Dande are sacred. Dande, but they need to
It is a message of God to try to maintain the original-
the house and family. They ity of this.
used to be lyrics that re-
quest a blessing of humil- GIVING OF MONEY:
ity, harvesting and a lot In the past, the Dande
more. But nowadays, since groups would finish playing
Dande has become more and would be invited inside
modern, the lyrics have the home, where the hom-
also changed. The rhythm eowner would offer them
of Dande is a smooth one, some local snacks. They
and not fast like other would also receive some
songs in other festivals. The ginger. But this slowly
lyrics are all about humility changed, and now the
and have no politics what- singer will sing to the person
soever involved in them. individually, giving them
blessings and the family will
A MODERNIZED DANDE: put some money in a hat to
ORANJESTAD – The tradition that initiated in 1890. The This meant that for almost Slowly but surely, Dande show their appreciation.
of Dande is a beloved part instruments that are used a week they would never
of Aruba’s New Year’s ritual are known as “wiri” and arrive home, but would be
– but what is Dande, and “tambor”. To complete the out performing. This was
where and how did it come group, 1 singer accompa- because in the past, the
about? The Aruba Today nies the instruments that houses used to be further
shares some notes on the are played. A machete has away from one another
history of Dande: been used in the past to and the group had to walk
give the Dande its rhythm, a lot. They would also trav-
HISTORY OF DANDE: which was also the way of el via donkey to reach their
The history of Dande has the “wiri”. After celebrat- destinations faster. As soon
been told many times, ing the opening of the New as they arrive, the door is
but the question is where Year, the Dande groups closed they start singing
did Dande come from. would head out to sing and and wait for the owner of
Dande is folklore of Aruba play until the 3 Kings’ Day. the house to invite them in.