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local Thursday 9 OcTOber 2025
The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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