A new book in Papiamento, written by local author Edgar Ras, takes the reader two centuries back in time. This literary work highlights the figure of Willem Rasmijn, a young boy who tended sheep and discovered the first piece of gold in Aruba, giving this innocent child a face, a voice, and the recognition that history had long neglected.
The spark for researching and writing this book originated from a childhood memory of the author. Edgar Ras recalls that while in the 5th grade of primary school, there was a brief mention of Willem Rasmijn’s name in the history textbook “Nos Patria.” That detail stayed with him and served as the foundation to begin researching and bringing to life this character, who is today considered the prototype of a true Aruban hero.
The narrative transports the reader to pre-industrial Aruba: an innocent, calm, and simple island where the young boy walked barefoot searching for grass for his sheep. The discovery of the gold nugget changed the course of the island, bringing merchants and triggering the intervention of the Dutch government.
The book stands out for its ability to convey deep emotion and empathy for the protagonist. The reader feels the child’s pain as he walks through the wilderness with bleeding feet and experiences the anguish of a humble family living in a period of poverty.
Sustaining a high-level literary structure, the author leaves an open ending comparable to the famous work No One Writes to the Colonel by Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Márquez. The book raises questions about what happened to the third generation of this young boy—whether he married, had children, or what became of his life after the gold rush that altered Aruba’s history.
This work is not merely a reading book, but a highly valuable educational resource for primary and secondary schools in Aruba. It can be utilized in a multidisciplinary context across the following subjects:
Papiamento & Literature: To analyze narrative style, the use of authentic language, and comparisons with international literature.
History: To understand the impact of the gold discovery and how it paved the way for the island’s economic development.
Geography & Geology: To study Aruban soil and the extraction of precious minerals.
Archaeology & Mathematics: To understand the value of wealth and fiscal aspects during the early stages of the local economy.
Originally written in Aruban Papiamento, this book represents a gem of authentic local literature. The author plans to develop spin-offs and translations into other languages (starting with Dutch), allowing the story of Willem Rasmijn and Aruban identity to become known not only within the Caribbean region, but also internationally. This was explained by linguist and historian Mirto Lacle.