Lecture
Organizers:
Date:
January 16, 2023
Time:
7:00 PM
Fee:
Free
Location:
Aula, University of Aruba
“Traditions, Symbols and Actors in Aruban Carnival”
Introduction
The University of Aruba’s Center for Lifelong Learning in collaboration with the Community, Research, Education and Development Project is organizing a Calypso, Steelpan and Carnival Heritage Project on Aruba and in the Caribbean Diaspora throughout January 2023. The overall aim of the project is to bring community awareness, appreciation and promote community engagement related to these popular and historically significant artforms on Aruba and the world. Calypso, Roadmarch, Soca, Steelpan and Carnival have played a significant role in the overall social, cultural, political, religious and economic development of Aruba in the 20th century. A series of engaging activities will be organized, free to the public, which include lectures by local and international experts, panel discussions, media engagement and performances.
Description
This lecture looks at the significance of symbols, actors and traditions in Aruba’s carnival. Through an anthropological lens, the lecturer looks at carnival events such as masquerade balls and street parades such as j’ouvert morning as spaces of freedom, resistance and pleasure. Some of the highlighted themes are, Prins and Pancho, government, Rey Momo, the calypsonian, the soca singer, rum, potty, paint and powder, trucks and trailers, nightgowns and curlers and more.
This lecture will be preceded by a presentation by Friedrich “Chibi” van der Hans, the founder and producer of the renowned Aruban carnival magazine Bacchanal. In his presentation he will highlight the importance of visual and textual documentation as well as give a preview of his up and coming book project on Aruban Carnival.
Dr. Gregory Richardson
Speakers
Dr. Gregory Richardson is an Aruban Cultural Anthropologist and educator at the Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (Aruba), a postdoc researcher at the Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal Land en Volkenkunde (Leiden), and an affiliate of the University of Aruba. He has published several works on Calypso Music in Aruba and the region including his latest book, Sweet Breakaway: An ethnographic study of Aruban Calypso Music and the Narratives of The One Happy Island. Other areas of research include, general Latin American and Caribbean studies, sociolinguistics, music, practitioner-based research and education. He is also the organizer of the yearly Calypso Heritage Week.
Event Location
The main campus of the University of Aruba is centrally located in downtown Oranjestad and houses a number of Centers and Offices that promote academic growth, education, and research.
Our events are usually held at the main campus of the University of Aruba or online.
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