Food, music and dance
Indian, African, Asian and European influences have made Bonaire the beautiful ethnic melting pot it is today, with a culture rooted in religious festivals, traditions, harvest and holidays.
The northwestern Rincon Village is the oldest village on the island, a settlement founded by the Spanish centuries ago. Nestled in a valley, out of sight of raiders and pirates but surrounded by hills offering breathtaking views of both the east and west coasts of the Caribbean Sea, a surprise attack by foreign naval forces seemed impossible here. Nevertheless, the Dutch took possession of the island, and African slaves were brought to the island to work on crops and scrape out salt pans. In the period that followed - in the "Time of Confusion" - the island was occupied by various countries and individuals before falling back into Dutch hands in 1816. The result of this long and eventful history is a local population with a diverse culture bursting with ancient traditions and celebrations. Celebrations where people come together to eat, make music and dance.
Dia di Rincon
As varied as the ethnic backgrounds are the Bonairean music and dance. To rhythms reminiscent of African drumbeats, the Simadan is danced after a successful corn harvest. The Bari is another harvest dance, one with strong European influences like the Waltz, Mazurka, Polka and the local 'Baile di Sinta'. The swinging Rumba, Carioca and Merengue came to Bonaire from the northern Caribbean islands, while Latin America contributed the Danza and the Joropo.
For a very special cultural festivity, plan your trip to the cultural center of the island around the Dia di Rincon, an annual event that takes place on April 30. Not only Bonaireans gather for this special celebration in Rincon; people from all the Antillean islands come over that day for the beautiful costumes, folkloric parades, food stalls with kriyo, rhum and dance. Where the world can't find you...
