(under construction)
“As a Curaçaoan, I feel it is my duty to do everything within my reach for this island, my beloved fatherland. With this sacred goal in mind, with this fervent desire, I use my pen to bundle all my ideas / to let them melt together in the crucible of idealism and then cast them into the desired form of Patriotism“
– Medardo de Marchena, Ignorancia o Educando un pueblo
In 1929, my great-grandfather Medardo de Marchena (June 19, 1899) wrote the pamphlet Educando o Ignorancia un pueblo. It was an indictment against the colonial rule on Curaçao, big capital, and the indoctrination and power of the Catholic Church on the island. He championed the Afro-Curaçaoan community and culture which, although slavery had already been abolished, was still being suppressed and kept in ignorance. This was not well-received. When World War II broke out, he lost his right to speak out. Due to the ‘state of siege,’ he was imprisoned for five years in the Guatemala internment camp on Bonaire by the intelligence service and colonial police. Silenced, he had to leave his family, business, and beloved island behind.
Inspired by his story, I am creating the cinematic audio play Bula Waya together with Curaçaoan actor and rapper Aldaïr Pieter and musician Michael Wanga. From our own search for answers in the past and present, we reconstruct the life of Medardo de Marchena. We also take to the stage to contribute to Medardo’s rehabilitation. His story gives the Curaçaoan society a lot of strength and shows the resilience of the people. Medardo’s story is still very much under-exposed. With Bula Waya, we want to change that to give the Curaçaoan community a new hero, and to make the Dutch public witness an under-exposed Dutch/Curaçaoan history.
In 2024, I developed a preliminary study in the O.Lab at the O. Festival in Rotterdam. In 2024, the Tula lecture was dedicated to Medardo de Marchena. I presented a short theatrical performance about Medardo de Marchena. NOS Journaal produced a segment about it.
News item NOS Journaal regarding the Tula lecture 2024 (From 8:53 minutes)
Currently, it is still unclear when Bula Waya (working title) will go on tour.
Medardo de Marchena Foundation
Together with Sylvia Waterloo, Aldaïr Pieters, Avantia Damberg, and Marielle Cappello, the Medardo de Marchena Foundation will be established in 2026. The foundation is committed to obtaining official recognition and rehabilitation for Medardo de Marchena. Rehabilitation and recognition on Curaçao and Bonaire are also important. Therefore, the board is based both in the Netherlands and in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Additionally, the foundation’s mission is to increase awareness of the work and life of Medardo de Marchena, including through media attention and educational programs.
Photos preliminary study O.Lab
