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BOOKISH PLAZA eZINE nr.49 MARCH 2016
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Yesterday the book launch of Quito Nicolaas’s Papiamento novel Sombra di recuerdo [Shadow of Memories] was a success.
A double celebration on that day. It was a celebration of a decade that the Papiamento language became an oficial language on the island of Aruba. But also a celebration of the tenth book in the oeuvre of this Aruban writer.
An entertaining evening with speakers on the history and the struggles the Papiamento language went through to get recognized.
An analysis of the message Quito Nicolaas conveys in his work. A sneak peek of the novel Sombra di recuerdo. Readings of the new novel. And music of words all around.
Angelo Tromp of the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba in The Hague opened the event ‘Nos Idioma, Nos Cultura’ giving an introduction on the meaning of May 21rst for the Papiamento language. This day is also the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 2002.
Collection of old books in the Papiamento language. A treasure of words.
Linguïst Henry Habibe giving an insight on the struggles of the Papiamento language through history and reciting some of the powerful poems of poets defending the language on a literary level.
Cultural Anthropologist dr. Francio Guadeloupe gave an insight how to interpret the work by the author Quito Nicolaas.
‘As a “changing same”(a repeating question, but every time on just in a slightly other way) is presented to us then we’ll sing along and begin to dance. Class and ethnicity than do far less to it. Nos ta baila. We jammin. If like dancing the oldest form of thinking is — a pattern with renewal, losing your habitual sense of self to find yourself and the World renewed and transformed — then let’s think like a dancer.
Only in this way can we understand Quito Nicolaas.
The work of Quito Nicolaas — Bos pa Planta, Atardi di Antaño, Gerede Twijfels, Verborgen Leegte— I interpret as a literary tune. It is a changing same. If he does it in prose or poetry form, his oeuvre is an invitation to reflect on the question: what do we share? What do we share as citizens of the Kingdom of The Netherlands? What we continue to share even if we call ourselves Aruban, Antillian or Dutch? What do we share despite the fact that we’re born dark brown, light brown or have a pinkish skin color?’
Read his introduction further on in the next post.
The young talented poet Natusha Croes of HALA in Holland (a poet collective of Aruban students in The Netherlands) read a fragment of the book. A section where the friends were nearly on the brink of unvailing part of a secret, but silence stood in their way.
Quito Nicolaas talked about the setting of the book in a village of San Nicolas in the 70s and gave some spicy insights of the book that shook the audience awake.
Next the novel Sombra di recuerdo was presented to the Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba in The Hague Edwin Abath, who received it with much proudness and satisfaction. It’s the third book during his term that is presented to him by the author. For sure a productive writer.
A succesful ending of a delightful literary evening.
BookIsh Publishers is proud to announce that her published writer Quito Nicolaas wrote the dictation for ‘E Gran Dictado di Papiamento’ to take place coming Saturday on the island of Aruba.
Papiamento is the maternal language of the community living on the Caribbean island. The aim is to stimulate the correct use of the language and to cherish the cultural heritage. People can participate and test out if they dominate the language and there are of course prices to give away.
The dictation is organized in celebration of February the 21st, the International Mother Language Day. It’s a double celebration, for 2013 is also the Year of Papiamento.
Quito Nicolaas is an avid writer of the Papiamento language and has written lots of books in his mother tongue. The last one ‘Bos pa Planta’ [Constructing Voices] was published by BookIsh Publishers. Currently we’re preparing new work soon to come out. His books and other language books are available @ BookIsh Plaza
Aruban poet/writer Quito Nicolaas donates a set of his books to school libraries in Curaçao and Bonaire (Dutch Caribbean).
Last June teachers of the secondary schools MIL and the Radulphus College in Curaçao were very pleased to receive a set of books by the author, like the novel Verborgen Leegte [Hidden Emptiness] and Bos pa Planta [Constructing Voices], among others. The set consists mostly of poetry books, a novel and short stories. They are written in different languages and the native tongue Papiamento.
proud teachers of MIL showing the books
The idea according to Nicolaas is to stimulate reading of local authors amongst the youth, to discuss them in literary classes and maybe read it for their exams. The schools were very pleased with this gesture by the author.
the RC teachers also rejoiced
At the beginning of the year he donated also a set of books to the OSB in Bonaire.
Last week Jacky Bernabela of the SKAL Seccion, Kultura, Arte y Literatura of the Dept. of Culture [Culture, Art & Literature section] presented some books of Aruban born poet/writer Quito Nicolaas, whose family is descended from the island of Bonaire, to Joost Latier, teacher at the secondary school Komunidat di Skol Charles Beukenboom. The books are a present for the school library. The school is very pleased with this gesture of the author. Now the youth of Bonaire will get to know books like Destino [Destiny], Atardi di Antaño [Evenings of Yesteryear], Alameda short stories & the latest by the author Bos pa Planta [Constructing Voices].
These books are available @ BookIsh Plaza
BookIsh Publishers is very delighted to announce that the president of the Dutch Parliament – Mrs. Gerdie Verbeet – quoted one of the poems from the volume Bos pa Planta [Constructing Voices] by Quito Nicolaas during her speech last Wednesday October 25th during the Aruban Parliament meeting at the occasion of the celebration of 25 years Status Aparte of Aruba.
The author is very honoured after hearing of this.
Bos pa Planta [Constructing Voices] is a poetry book written in Papiamento, with a translation into Dutch and English. Papiamento/u is the language spoken on the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao.
The book is available at BookIsh Plaza
BookIsh Publishers is delighted to announce that two poems by poet/writer Quito Nicolaas were published in Chinese and English in The World Poets Quarterly, vol. 57, february 2010 of China. The two poems are Ignorance II and Sand Sculpture.
Poetry books by the author like Gerede Twijfels/Reasonable Doubt (in Dutch & English) and his latest Bos pa Planta [Constructing Voices] (in Papiamento, English & Dutch) are available at BookIsh Plaza
The Aruban Writer living in the Netherlands Quito Nicolaas launched on Tuesday 15 March 2011 in Aruba his latest poetry book Bos pa Planta. At this occasion Wim Rutgers spoke about 25 years status aparte, 25 years of Aruban literature in his lecture: A Sense of Belonging? Migration was the main topic.
Read the article HERE AD 21 march 2011
Writer/poet Quito Nicolaas got interviewed spontaneously on his latest poetry book Bos pa Planta when visiting the activities at the Historical Museum in Fort Zoutman. The interview was taken by colleague writer Desiree Correa.
Fort Zoutman
ambiance in the courtyard of Fort Zoutman
Desiree interviewing the writer
the public relaxing
The writer speaking about Bos pa Planta
The fair ‘Feria Dushi Tera’ last thursday 17 March was at the occasion of 35 years Himno y Bandera (National Anthem and the Flag) and 25 years Status Aparte of Aruba. Aruba is the first island in the constellation of the Netherlands Antilles to have gained in 1986 it’s own semi-independent status in the Dutch Kingdom. Each year this fact is being celebrated on 18 March.
The fair was buzzing with people from all over the island. It was a great night with all kinds of goods in the colors of the beautiful flag of Aruba, delightful music, nationalistic speeches, typical dishes and the festivity was closed by wonderful fireworks. Bookish Publishers had it’s own stand nr. 29 and people could meet&greet the writer Quito Nicolaas. So we got family and friends coming by, but also people interested in literature and reading. The only party pooper was the rain that spoiled part of the evening. Here is a photo impression of the night.
waiting for people to come by
the first copy sold for the night
the book already put away from the rain
men are also interested in poetry
posing with FB friend & family
here with friends from Curaçao
old time friends also interested in Bos pa Planta
poetry lover glad with book in hand, the Aruban flag swaying on the table
posing with his tokayo (person with the same name) & a very dear old friend
coming from the same hometown of San Nicolas
posing with two dear FB friends
interested in all the books by the author
old time friends also interested in the new work
posing with a dear friend & journalist (r)
view on the mainstage before the rainstorm hit
Last wednesday Quito Nicolaas was again signing his books at De Wit & Van Dorp Bookstores. Book lovers came by to meet&greet the author and get their copy. The greeting of the shop-assistants were as always very cordially.
reader posing with the writer
writer with Bos pa Planta
posing with the renown linguist Joyce Pereira
Both Bos pa Planta & Verborgen leegte are available @ De Wit & Van Dorp Bookstores, Avenida Milo Croes in Dakota.
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