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LOCAL Saturday 11 May 2024

The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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