The island’s first-ever inhabitants were groups of Arawack natives called Caiquetios that migrated from South America and settled down in Aruba some 2,000 years ago. Remnants of that former civilization are still found around the island, besides customs and traditions handed down from generation to generation.Aruba didn’t go through black colonization and its population is a combination of natives, Spaniards and European people. Many a tradition and cultural elements they still cherish today, as music, food, folklore and dancing are strongly influenced by ethnical diversity. They predominantly worship Catholicism; other religious cults stand out, though. The native tongue is a Creole-origin dialect called Papiamento made up of Dutch, Spanish, English, French, Portuguese and other languages. Papiamento is a unique tongue and is spoken on the Dutch-owned Caribbean islands. It was first considered a local dialect and did a slow burn until its official recognition in 1995. Three years later, the government decided to start teaching Papiamento in schools. This easy-to-learn dialect has a written form and there’re several publications in it. Most of the inhabitants speak both English and Spanish fluently. The population’s education is guaranteed since the government earmarks an annual budget for this branch.As far as arts are concerned, techniques of traditional craftsmanship have been preserved. Metal works made out of disposed tin cans and basketry made from banana and coconut leaves, as well as the making of hand-painted clay vases stand out. Leather, amber and wood are also raw materials for craftsmen. Aruba won its independence from the Netherlands Antilles back in 1986, though the island nation is still attached to the Netherlands Kingdom. The country has increased growth in recent years, chiefly in tourism. This situation has made a splash in the nation’s social, economic and cultural life.
