Page 16 - AHATA

Tuesday 22 OcTOber 2024 locAl
A10

The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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

what he had in mind. It was “Put him in a sack, stitch The herder, very dumb, be-
a warm afternoon, and the it up and throw him in the lieved Nanzi’s word. “Let
castle personnel were tak- ocean!” the king said furi- me see!” he said.
ing their afternoon nap. ously. Two soldiers imme- “Well if you must insist,”
Even the soldier guarding diately entered the cham- Nanzi said, “I’ll let you
the castle door was fast ber, took the crown off take a look, but only for a
asleep, snoring so loud that Nanzi’s head and pushed quick second.” The herder
his beard bounced up and him in a sack. opened the sack, and Nan-
down on his chin. Nanzi just Nanzi was terrified; it looks zi immediately jumped out.