CELEBRATING THE CAHA DI ORGEL AT BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL ARUBA

Last Thursday, the National Library of Aruba (Biblioteca Nacional Aruba) hosted a culturally significant event: the public screening of the documentary “Historia y preservacion di caha di orgel di Aruba”.

Presented by Ivan Quandus, who has become a key figure in safeguarding this unique musical heritage, the evening was more than just a film screening—it was a celebration of Aruban identity.

The event kicked off with a lively, festive atmosphere. Before the film rolled, attendees were treated to the authentic sounds of the caha di orgel playing in the background allowing the audience to reconnect with the melodies that have entertained Aruban weddings, parties, and holidays for generations.

By presenting this event to the general public, the National Library and Ivan Quandus provided a space for both the older generation to reminisce and the younger generation to discover a craft that is uniquely Aruban. The evening concluded with a sense of collective pride, reinforcing the idea that while technology changes, the “soul” of Aruban music found within the gears and pins of the caha di orgel must be protected.

It was a night where history wasn’t just read about in books, but heard and felt through the hand-cranked melodies of the island’s most iconic instrument.