Aside from the Maskarada, Bonaire is known for playing the bar\u00ed during the year-end period. Bar\u00ed (barrel)) is a musical instrument (drum), music genre and dance form. In all neighborhoods, with the exception of Playa, the bar\u00ed was played. In Rincon, Nort di Sali\u00f1a, Antri\u00f2l and Nikiboko as well as in Tera K\u00f2r\u00e1, there were special places where these parties were organized, far from the sight of the police authorities and the priest. The music of the bar\u00ed could already be heard from October, to grow to a high point in the end of the year period. Especially on the eve of Christmas, and on New Year’s Eve, the music of bar\u00ed could be heard the most. The place that was definitely considered the center for playing bar\u00ed, used to be Piedra Pretu, near the place where the Evangelical Church (Evangelical alliance) was later built. <\/p>\n
It was at Piedra Pretu that residents of Rincon, both men and women, gathered to make music, sing and dance. Others stood in the dark at a distance to watch this popular event, fearing their presence could damage their reputation in society. The priests regarded playing the bar\u00ed as diabolical, and found it in no way acceptable in their parish. Originally, apart from the bar\u00ed (the barrel as a musical instrument) itself, other musical instruments as wiri, triangle and chapi (hoe) were used. <\/p>\n
Later, other musical instruments were added. The bar\u00ed (the barrel) itself came from abroad, it contained certain products. Tanned sheep leather was stretched on the barrel, this was better than the goat leather. Sheep leather is more flexible. The leather was processed with the pulp of the watapana fruit, then the roots of the pal’i kui and nails were used to attach the leather to the bar\u00ed. Having a dig at people was one of the basic elements during the party of the bar\u00ed. For example, if a young woman, especially if she was from a good background, became pregnant, it was sung about while playing the bar\u00ed. In addition to playing the bar\u00ed, people also drummed with their hands on a table. Instead of using the bar\u00ed to make music, the table was used. It was just a way to prevent the police from acting. Playing the bar\u00ed was forbidden, but not drumming on a table! The drumming on a table is also called “the dance of the young ladies” because civilized people, including the decent young women, could go to it without damaging their reputation. In the Mexico neighborhood, east of Antri\u00f2l, they played a lot on tables, in order to give a more civilized and legally accepted character to this activity.<\/p>\n