How to Bluff Your Way into Saba, Statia and Bonaire

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A crash course in the new Dutch municipalities! A few months still to go and our country obtains three Caribbean islands: Saba, St Eustatius and Bonaire. Be prepared and be informed on the language, literature and history of these tropical islands, by the writers and musicians who have been flown in especially for Winternachten.

The highest point in the Netherlands will no longer be in Limburg, but on Saba. Dutch nature conservationists will have to worry about coral reefs. But language and culture will also change. Will Papiamentu and Antillean English qualify for the same status as Frisian? That remains to be seen. In any case it can do no harm when the Dutch citizens learn a few words of Papiamentu and Antillean English and get some basic knowledge about the history and culture of the new Dutch municipalities. That chance is given to the audience during this Winternachten programme.

A light-footed programme with a crash course in new languages in the Netherlands, an introduction to literature, the folktales and the history and an introduction to the musical traditions of the three islands. Writers and musicians from Saba, Statia and Bonaire will provide the audience with everything it has to know about language and culture of the new Netherlands.

Gilbert Wawoe (former member of the Council of State) was closely involved in the transition process of the three islands. He tells about the at times odd administrative and legal problems accompanying this unique political change. Can you apply Dutch law to (sub)tropical islands just like that? Wycliffe Smith, a writer from Saba, provides the audience with an image of the culture and history of Saba and Statia. Writer and journalist Bòi Antoin, sympathetic to the fate of the island he was born, Bonaire, tells tales about the history and culture of Bonaire. Musician Victor Sams (from Statia) performs with the base player Jeffrey Sams, and with the inseparable steelpan duo Cornel Brown and Leroy James, all from Statia. The programme is in Dutch, and is hosted by actress Paulette Smit and Ruben Severina.

Information

Date and time Saturday 16 January 2010 from 14:00 to 16:50 hrs
Location Theater aan het Spui - kleine zaal

Line-up

Bòi Antoin

(Bonaire, 1955) Franklin Domenico ('Bòi') Antoin sympathises with the fate of his native island of Bonaire. His love for this island has transformed into a deep interest in the history, the preservation of culture and the protection of nature and the environment of Bonaire. Since 1978 Boi Antoin has worked as a journalist and writer and since 1991 he has published regularly on the history and culture of Bonaire. In the field of nature conservation he is a very committed man. As a journalist he delivers an important contribution to the work of nature conservation groups, by regularly giving positive attention to their work.
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Wycliffe Smith

(Saba, 1948) is a teacher, poet, musician and one of the connoisseurs of the literature of the Windward Islands, on which he wrote several books and articles. He debuted in 1976 with the poetry book A Voice from Windward. In his poetic work Smith describes the beauty of the Windward Islands, but also criticizes political and social wrongs. In addition, he deals with universal themes like death and fear. Smith, who studied in the Netherlands in the 1970s to become a teacher, likes to perform in front of an audience, ranging from school children to students. He likes to talk about his passion for Windward literature as well as recite his own poetry. His lectures are peppered with text fragments which he not only recites but sings as well, accompanying himself on the guitar. In the nineties he was administrator (Gezaghebber) of the island of Saba for some years.
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Gilbert Wawoe

(Curaçao, 1937) from 1994-2007 served as the Antillean representative on the Dutch Council of State. A chemical engineer, he held various top positions with Shell, but became particularly known for his dedication towards Antillean interests in the Netherlands and as an advisor to the Antillean government. He occupied a host of additional offices, including that of chair of the National Bureau to Combat Racial Discrimination and membership of the recommending committee for a national monument to commemorate slavery.
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Ruben Severina

(Curaçao, 1956) For years was the face of the Antillean community in the Netherlands. He came to the country in 1989 to study and wanted to return afterwards. However, he stayed because of his young family and found a new mission: taking care of the interests of Arubans and Antilleans in the Netherlands. With the Splika foundation he dedicated himself to the promotion of Papiamentu, the language that he also teaches. Subsequently he chaired MAAPP (Movimentu Antiano i Arubano pa Partisipashon Politiko), the platform for the social participation of Antilleans and Arubans in the Netherlands. When he resigned on 1 March 2009 he received the MAAPP award Mi ta yuda, a new medal which will be awarded on Severina's birthday to people who have dedicated themselves to the Antillean and Aruban communities. For some time Severina served on the town council for the Dutch Labour Party in the town of Zoetermeer and now chairs HAAB (The Hague Antillean Aruban Board).
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Sams

(St Eustasius, 1955) is a singer, composer, percussionist and ngoni player. At first he played and sang only in reggae bands but in the 1980s he fell under the spell of djembé music. To improve his technique he travelled to Africa regularly to practise with the great masters of djembé music. During one of his first travels he heard the sound of the ngoni, and he learned to play this instrument as well. The ngoni is one of the oldest string instruments of Africa, made of a gourd, a piece of wood and fishing line. Sams subsequently founded his own ngoni band and concentrated on African music. In the meantime he has returned to his old love, reggae. Sams performs regularly at home and abroad with Sams Reggae band and Sams N’goni band. He also gives djembé workshops at schools.
During Winternachten 2009, on Saturday afternoon, he will perform together with his brother, the base player, and with the inseparable steelpan duo Cornel Brown and Leroy James, all from Statia.
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Paulette Smit

(Curaçao, 12 February 1957) is an actress and playwright. She played among others in the tv series Medisch Centrum West and Goede tijden, slechte tijden. She played many roles with Cosmic theatre where she has been artistic leader of the Hollandse Nieuwe playwright festival since 2004. There she wrote among others the plays 'Koorts' (Fever) and 'Catwalk' and co-authored the theatre soaps 'Disco King' and 'Crawler King'. In addition, she likes to dedicate herself to the multicultural society. Her merits in this field were rewarded in 2006 when she received royal honours. Paulette Smit is on the board of the Werkgroep Caraïbische Letteren of the Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde in Leyden.
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