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local Wednesday 19 november 2025
The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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