Culture of Curacao

Although Curacao is the member of the Netherlands Antilles and has governmental ties with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, yet the 130,000 people of the island are more attached to African and Caribbean region culturally through language, music and dance.

The people of Curacao follow diverse religious beliefs. According to 2001 census, Roman Catholic is the most commonly practiced religion in the island. Almost 85% of the population is Roman Catholics. Some people also follow Islam and Hinduism. A small population follows Judaism as well. Jews are very few in the island but they had a significant impact on the history of Curacao and have the oldest active Jewish congregation in the Americas. Due to cultural affinity with the Africans, some inhabitants of the island also follow African religious beliefs and practices such as Voodoo, Santeria and Pentecostalism. 

‘Tambu’, an ancient form of music and dance practiced by the slaves in the earlier times, was passed on from one generation to another and is practiced with same vigor even today. Drumming is the key in Tambu and the slaves first used farm implements as drums. Later they made drums from small and hollow cargo cartons covered with dried goat skin. The music is accompanied by a form of dance called ‘Baila Ban’ (Dance the Drum). In this dance, the partners do not touch each other but move their hips and bodies rhythmically. The dance was banned by the slave masters and the Catholic Church, but has survived till present day. Today, Tambu is performed in cultural festivals during carnivals and at folklore performances. During the Annual Festival of Tambu, musicians from all over the island come to compete to have their song selected for the road march for carnival.

Several musical instruments used in Curacao have their origin in Africa. The ‘Bastel’ is a horn made from a cow’s horn. The ‘Benta’ is made from a twig of a locally found bush ‘karawara’ and is fastened at both the ends with strings to make it like a bow. The bow is placed in mouth and the strings are tapped to make sound. The ‘Chapi’ is played with a hoe and long metal rod like a nail. The ‘Karko’ is a conch shell that is drilled to be used as a horn.

The people of Curacao have also adopted the dances and music of European countries. The French Quadrille, Waltzes and Polkas have now seen in synchronization with African