Page 9 - AHATA

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local Wednesday 30 July 2025

The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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