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Friday 23 august 2024 locAl
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The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

(Oranjestad)—The most ture, but it acted as a me- on the side of the throne. It
popular character you may dium for relief during the was very hot that day, and
hear about in the Carib- harsh treatment to which it wasn’t long until Nanzi
bean is Anansi, known lo- they were subjected to. too fell asleep, right there
cally on Aruba as “Compa It wasn’t until the end of the on the king’s throne. He
Nanzi”. Local children grew nineteenth century that the was so deep in sleep and
up hearing the tales of the stories of Nanzi were written snoring so loud, that even
conniving spider, and his down in different languag- when the king found him in
legacy forms part of the es. However, not all stories his seat, Nanzi did not even
oral narrative tradition that are completely alike in ev- notice.
is common in Aruba. ery country, as is the risk of Shon Arei was flabbergast-
oral story telling. However, ed by the sight of Nanzi
Although the stories are one thing will always be on his throne, wearing his
most popular in the Ca- dominant in Compa Nan- crown. How disrespect-
ribbean, “Compa Nanzi” zi’s stories: his sneaky ways ful! “Soldiers, get him!” he
is not entirely unknown to get what he wants! commanded. Nanzi was
globally, especially not How Nanzi fooled the king sound asleep, but when
in the West African re- One day Nanzi was taking the soldiers picked him up,
gion. Brought to the “new a stroll near the castle of he jumped from fright. By
world” by enslaved Afri- Shon Arei, the king. He had then though, the soldier al-
cans from Ghana, the his- this sudden urge to walk in. ready had him in their hold.
torical thread of how Nanzi He didn’t think too much “Put him in a sack, stitch
was introduced on Aruba about it and committed to it up and throw him in the
follows the enslaved Af- what he had in mind. It was ocean!” the king said furi-
ricans in Curacao during a warm afternoon, and the ously. Two soldiers imme-
the colonial era, which saw castle personnel were tak- diately entered the cham-
the biggest population of ing their afternoon nap. ber, took the crown off side and went to enjoy the him, thinking it was Nanzi.
enslaved Africans in the Even the soldier guarding Nanzi’s head and pushed refreshments. Nanzi was still Shon Arei went strolling a
Dutch Caribbean. the castle door was fast him in a sack. trembling with fear in the while later. He thought to
The stories of Compa Nan- asleep, snoring so loud that Nanzi was terrified; it looks sack. himself: “This time Nanzi
zi were a sign of hope for his beard bounced up and like this time he won’t get What is that he hears? A could not get away with
freedom among the slaves, down on his chin. Nanzi just away with his schemes. herd of sheep walking by? his foolishness. He probably
who passed around differ- slipped past him, looked To get to the ocean, the “Compadre, listen here!” drowned in that sack ages
ent stories involving the fa- back for a moment then soldier walked a long dis- Nanzi screamed as loud as ago.” That is why, when he
mous spider through word walk right on in. tance, and where begin- he could. The sheep herd- saw Nanzi walk behind the
of mouth, due to not being Nanzi stumbled upon the ning to feel very thirsty. er got close to the sack. herd of sheep on the street,
able to express their native king’s quarters. With all his Luckily they passed by a “What is this?” he was flabbergasted
culture in the new world. excitement he sat in the pub, and decided to have “Man, there is something again. “Nanzi! Aren’t you
These stories were a way to king’s throne, and put on a nice cold beer. They set very beautiful in here that suppose to be at the bot-
not only preserve their cul- his crown that was hanging the sack with Nanzi in it out- you can see. It’s very rare tom of the ocean floor?”
and strange, but indeed, “I was, Your Majesty,” Nanzi
there is something so beau- replied. But you know what,
tiful in here that you’ve there is so many things to
never seen or will ever see,” see down there in the sack!
Nanzi told the herder. Like this herd of sheep. See-
The herder, very dumb, be- ing that they had no herd-
lieved Nanzi’s word. “Let er, I started walking behind
me see!” he said. them and gained their trust
“Well if you must insist,” pretty quickly. At the bot-
Nanzi said, “I’ll let you tom of the ocean there are
take a look, but only for a so many wonderful things,
quick second.” The herder like diamonds, and bags of
opened the sack, and Nan- gold. Chests of silver and
zi immediately jumped out. other precious stones,”
Before the herder could Nanzi told the king.
even take a look into the “What is that you say?” the
sack, Nanzi pushed him in king was intrigued. “I want
it, and the herder fell head to see it too!”
first in. The king immediately de-
Nanzi didn’t waste any manded to his soldiers
time, and closed off the to be put in a sack and
sack real tight. He then be placed in the ocean.
picked up the herder’s hat Naturally, Shon Arei died
and starting walking be- because of this. He was
hind the traveling sheep as never found again. Nanzi
if nothing happened. After followed the soldier back
a little while, the soldiers to the castle, where sat
headed back outside to once again on the late
continue their journey. As king’s thrown and put his
they picked up the sack, crown on. He took posses-
the poor herder started sion of all of Shon Arei’s be-
screaming to let him out, longings, and lived the rest
but the soldiers ignored of his life as king. q