Page 12 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Wednesday 21 May 2025

The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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