Music & Instruments
The Bonaireans were quite resourceful in creating musical instruments. Of note was the Bari. It is a small rum barrel covered with a stretched sheepskin to create a drum. The Bari is used especially during the Simadan. Many other instruments were fashioned from broken or discarded tools. The “Chapi” was a small percussive instrument made from the metal end of a hoe and struck with a small metal bar. A plow blade was used to make an Agan. For Simadan, a hollowed out calabash floating in a tub of water was used to tap out a beat. Conch shells and cow horns were valued instruments. A dried donkey jaw with teeth intact was used as a shaker creating a unique vibrational sound. Today, local musician Gaby Mercera creates and sells traditional instruments.