Anansi Masters in Curaçao

Painting by Lorraine Rosalia

Riffort Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino in collaboration with Mon Art Gallery and Kas di Kultura is currently exhibiting a selection of paintings from 'Anansi Masters'. Curaçao artists include Wendell Tielman, Lorraine Rosalia, Joan van Leeuwen, Merly Trappenberg, Nataly Pas and Morgaine Parris, as well as students of the Adriana Academy. The clever spider packs a moral punch and made its way to three different continents (Europe, Africa, Americas) over the past few centuries. Jean Hellwig's Anansi Masters aims to connect these continents through their Anansi (or Kweku Ananse or Kompa Nanzi, Ananansa, even Aunt Nancy) stories. His website includes recordings of over 50 Kompa Nanzi stories - in Twi, Papiamentu and Dutch - keeping this oral tradition alive in our digital age.

Forgot the plot of your favorite story? You'll find it on www.anansimasters.net

Anansi Masters on Curaçao

by Jean Hellwig

Anansi Masters Curaçao: IT WAS A BIG SUCCES!!! Nineteen storytellers showed up, professionals and non-professionals, young and old, male and female. We started at 7.30pm with a minute of silence to commemorate the passing of three important Curaçao writers/artists: Irene van Grieken, Nydia Ecury and Erich Zielinski. Then Rendel Rosalia and his musicians opened with a beautiful welcoming song and a special Nanzi song. Kompa Nanzi himself showed up to greet the children who were present and even inspired three kids to tell their stories. Sixteen adults gave their versions of a Nanzi story, some with their own musical accompaniment. Ròi Colastica presented the evening with flair and humour for an audience of two hundred and fifty spectators. He interviewed Mirto Laclé, who has always been pushing to bring Anansi Masters to Curaçao and Aruba, and he asked me about my motivations to run the Anansi Masters project. The Brionplein Café treated the public with a specially designed snack: a deepfried funchi-stoba ball (Nanzi ball?). At 11.30pm the evening ended with another great performance of Rendel Rosalia and his crew. It was an unforgettable evening!!! Thanks to everyone who made this possible.

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