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Thursday 13 March 2025 locAl
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The stories of “Compa Nanzi”

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