Page 7 - HOH

Saturday 1 February 2025 locAl
A10

The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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