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local Wednesday 25 september 2024
The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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