Landhuis Knip, August 16, 2025 – Approximately 200 people gathered at Museo Tula, Landhuis Knip, to witness and participate in Flame of Liberty 2025, a historic and cultural commemoration organized by Fundashon Museo Tula (FMT). The event marks the symbolic “day 16” that led to Tula’s heroic uprising against slavery in 1795.
Some arrived by car, while others came together in four buses provided by FMT, boarding at the SVB parking lot in Otrobanda. The journey itself reflected the collective spirit of Curaçao’s people coming together to honor their past and ignite their future.
Ritual, Music, and Fire
The evening began with the Kachuleros di Futuro, a newly trained ensemble of horn players, who announced the ritual with the powerful sound of steer horns. These instruments, professionally crafted by Curaçao’s cultural specialists—just like the island’s traditional drums—embody ancestral skill and memory. With patience and dedication, the group mastered not only the technique of blowing the horns but also the ritual rhythm and timing passed down through generations, learning how to let the sound call the people together and guide the ceremony.
The official opening took place at 10:30 PM, with a heartfelt Bon bini by Mr. Elfried Koot, treasurer of FMT, who spoke on behalf of president Shurbey Alberto (absent due to health reasons). He was supported by Ingelor, who served as master of ceremony and guide throughout the night.
At 10:40 PM, the Teatro group of FMT presented the work “Tula, e preis di libertad”, immersing the audience in Curaçao’s history of struggle. At 10:55 PM, Ingelor explained the sacred ground of Knip, reminding all of the site’s role in the uprising.
At 11:00 PM, the ritual deepened with a symbolic remembrance of Tula’s 29 lashes and the thousands who resisted enslavement. Immediately after, Elia Inesia sang a lament song, inviting the public to join in, blending personal voice with collective grief and resilience.
The rhythm then shifted with Rien Muller’s Dan Waka at 11:15 PM, followed by the dramatic ringing of nine machetes (chapi) in “Chapinan ta zona bel” at 11:20 PM, and his invocation “Forsa Ansestral” at 11:25 PM, summoning the ancestral force still present in Curaçao’s fight for dignity.
At 11:30 PM, the core ritual arrived: the Ceremonia Vlam di Libertat, led by anthropologist Richenel Anzano and his ritual assistant Rose Sling. Participants were invited to write their personal pains, hopes, and wishes on slips of paper, which were cast into the fire. As the Flame rose, sparks danced into the night sky, transforming memory into light and renewal.
At 12:10 AM, Jeanne proclaimed the Declaration of Liberty, a resounding affirmation of Curaçao’s right to equality and justice. At 12:20 AM, Ingelor delivered final words of gratitude and despedida.
The night then gave way to a powerful musical celebration that fused tambú, song, rap, and rhythm. The stage came alive with Pincho i su Grupo, joined by Rien Muller (singer, rapper, tambu drummer, and machete player), Elia Inesia (tambú singer), and the versatile Calviany Eleonora (poet, singer, drummer, and horn blower).
Adding to the rich soundscape were:
• Daniela Pengel – choir
• Michael Sprott – choir
• Argenis Hooi – bari (traditional drum)
• Euchen Angela – chapi
• Bart – chapi
• Pincho – singer and lead of Pincho i su Grupo
Together, these musicians transformed the courtyard of Knip into a living circle of rhythm and voice, carrying the people into song and dance until 12:45 AM.
The atmosphere was both dramatic and uplifting—an experience of shared identity, healing, and resilience.
One participant expressed it simply:
“When I saw the fire rise, I felt as if Tula himself was sending a signal. Our pain, our hopes, and our desire for a better Curaçao were rising together with the flames.”
Art, Music, and Collective Force
What made the evening truly remarkable was not only the fire itself, but also the professional endeavor of artists, musicians, and volunteers who put their skills at the service of Curaçao’s history and culture. By recreating the spirit of the past, they reminded the community of the ongoing fight for equality, recognition, justice, and the urgent need to end racism, discrimination, and modern neo-colonial moves on the island.
Behind the scenes, a well-coordinated human force of volunteers and organizers worked with great precision and enthusiasm to ensure a seamless and enlightening night—from logistics and transport, to sound, lighting, and the careful preparation of the fire. Their invisible dedication made the visible flame shine brighter.
As one observer noted:
“The fire was the center, but it was the people—the drummers, the singers, the organizers, the volunteers—that kept the flame alive in all of us.”
Opening Words
Quoting from Mr. Elfried Koot’s opening remarks:
“What does the Flame of Liberty stand for?
Its purpose is to achieve a Curaçao that belongs to all of us,
a Curaçao that protects the human rights of all of us,
a Curaçao that builds an economic foundation so that all of us can live independently without the need to beg.
The Flame of Curaçao must unite us as children of this land, uniting us to achieve the very best for Curaçao.”
Koot emphasized that the Flame of Liberty is more than a ceremony—it is a call to unity, dignity, and independence, echoing Tula’s humanist vision.
He expressed gratitude to the organizing committee, including Lucia Beck, Jefka Alberto, Vernon Chatlein, and Sheedia Jansen, as well as artists, volunteers, and supporters. Special thanks went to Aqualectra for lighting support, SVB for making the parking area available, and all community members who contributed to making this commemoration possible.
More Than Memory
The flames of the Flame of Liberty are not only a remembrance of Tula’s fight but also a renewal of Curaçao’s collective responsibility to protect human rights, nurture independence, and strengthen identity.
As the night went on, the fire stood tall in the courtyard of Knip, its figures and forms reminding many that freedom is not a gift but a fight to be carried on.
Here the words of the night’s chronicler find their place:
“Fire does not burn the past, nor is it merely a vision of what has been—
it is a promise of the future.
It illuminates what we must overcome.
It does not stay silent—
it reminds us of who we are and who we can become.”
(Quote by Tico Vos)
These images, captured during the ceremony, are not only documentation — they are witnesses. Each flame, each spark, each shadow on the faces of the people carries memory and prophecy.
We invite you, the reader, to take time to look at these photographs, to trace the figures in the fire, and to reflect on what the Flame of Liberty awakens in you.
Because fire does not remain silent.
It remembers — and it calls.
“Let us stand tall and never give up the struggle!”
By Tico Vos – Nos Ke Sa
