Fundacion Lanta Papiamento (FLP) recently organized a special cultural evening called “Papiamento den Hofi” at Arubiana-Caribiana on Bachstraat in Oranjestad. The celebration was dedicated to highlighting the significance of Papiamento as Aruba’s official language and honoring the years of struggle required to establish and protect it.
The evening’s program included various artistic and educational segments such as poetry, dance, readings, photography, and history presentations. Additionally, the event showcased presentations of new books by different local authors. FLP members Shahayra Croes and Carlos Croes presented the night as masters of ceremonies, with Rubia Bernabela of the Foundation Corector di Papiamento also taking part.
One of the significant moments of the night was a reading by Dr. Joyce Pereira, who discussed the history and origin of Papiamento. The organization also showed video fragments created in the past, featuring contributions from well-known figures including Ramon Todd Dandare, Elliënne Riatiga, Evelyn Ruiz-Croes, and Lyonel Dirksz.
During the encounter, participants recalled that in 2003, the Parliament of Aruba officially recognized Papiamento. There was an emphasis on the fact that despite attempts by colonizers to impose Dutch, Papiamento survived to become a powerful symbol of cultural identity. FLP received recognition for its continuous work to promote and defend the language, with participants expressing the hope that Papiamento will eventually be fully integrated into the educational system of Aruba.
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