Page 23 - AHATA

Thursday 25 sepTember 2025 locAl
A10

The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

(Oranjestad)—The most pop- right on in. ond.” The herder opened the
ular character you may hear sack, and Nanzi immediately
about in the Caribbean is An- Nanzi stumbled upon the jumped out. Before the herd-
ansi, known locally on Aruba king’s quarters. With all his ex- er could even take a look
as “Compa Nanzi”. Local citement he sat in the king’s into the sack, Nanzi pushed
children grew up hearing the throne, and put on his crown him in it, and the herder fell
tales of the conniving spider, that was hanging on the side head first in.
and his legacy forms part of of the throne. It was very hot
the oral narrative tradition that day, and it wasn’t long Nanzi didn’t waste any time,
that is common in Aruba. until Nanzi too fell asleep, right and closed off the sack real
there on the king’s throne. He tight. He then picked up the
Although the stories are most was so deep in sleep and herder’s hat and starting
popular in the Caribbean, snoring so loud, that even walking behind the travel-
“Compa Nanzi” is not entirely when the king found him in ing sheep as if nothing hap-
unknown globally, especially his seat, Nanzi did not even pened. After a little while, the
not in the West African re- notice. soldiers headed back outside
gion. Brought to the “new to continue their journey. As
world” by enslaved Africans Shon Arei was flabbergasted they picked up the sack, the
from Ghana, the historical by the sight of Nanzi on his poor herder started scream-
thread of how Nanzi was in- throne, wearing his crown. ing to let him out, but the sol-
troduced on Aruba follows How disrespectful! “Soldiers, diers ignored him, thinking it
the enslaved Africans in Cu- get him!” he commanded. was Nanzi.
racao during the colonial Nanzi was sound asleep, but
era, which saw the biggest when the soldiers picked him Shon Arei went strolling a
population of enslaved Afri- up, he jumped from fright. By while later. He thought to him-
cans in the Dutch Caribbean. then though, the soldier al- self: “This time Nanzi could not
ready had him in their hold. get away with his foolishness.
The stories of Compa Nanzi He probably drowned in that
were a sign of hope for free- “Put him in a sack, stitch it up sack ages ago.” That is why,
dom among the slaves, who and throw him in the ocean!” when he saw Nanzi walk be-
passed around different sto- the king said furiously. Two hind the herd of sheep on the
ries involving the famous spi- soldiers immediately entered street, he was flabbergasted
der through word of mouth, the chamber, took the crown again. “Nanzi! Aren’t you
due to not being able to off Nanzi’s head and pushed suppose to be at the bottom
express their native culture him in a sack. of the ocean floor?”
in the new world. These sto-
ries were a way to not only Nanzi was terrified; it looks “I was, Your Majesty,” Nanzi
preserve their culture, but it like this time he won’t get replied. But you know what,
acted as a medium for relief away with his schemes. To there is so many things to
during the harsh treatment to get to the ocean, the soldier see down there in the sack!
which they were subjected walked a long distance, and Like this herd of sheep. See-
to. where beginning to feel very ing that they had no herd-
thirsty. Luckily they passed er, 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 pre-
country, as is the risk of oral sack. cious stones,” Nanzi told the
story telling. However, one 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 de-
How Nanzi fooled the king got close to the sack. “What manded to his soldiers to be
One day Nanzi was taking a is this?” put in a sack and be placed
stroll near the castle of Shon in the ocean. Naturally, Shon
Arei, the king. He had this sud- “Man, there is something very Arei died because of this.
den urge to walk in. He didn’t beautiful in here that you can He was never found again.
think too much about it and see. It’s very rare and strange, Nanzi followed the soldier
committed to what he had but indeed, there is some- back to the castle, where sat
in mind. It was a warm after- thing so beautiful in here that once again on the late king’s
noon, and the castle person- you’ve never seen or will ever thrown and put his crown
nel were taking their after- see,” Nanzi told the herder. on. He took possession of all
noon nap. Even the soldier of Shon Arei’s belongings,
guarding the castle door was The herder, very dumb, be- and lived the rest of his life as
fast asleep, snoring so loud lieved Nanzi’s word. “Let me king.q
that his beard bounced up see!” he said.
and down on his chin. Nanzi “Well if you must insist,” Nanzi Story and pictures are from “Kon
just slipped past him, looked said, “I’ll let you take a look, Nanzi a Nek Shon Arei (i otro
back for a moment then walk but only for a quick sec- kuentanan antiano di e araña
sabi)” by Nilda Pinto.