Anansi the Clever Spider
Anansi the spider is the hero of the Ashanti people’s folk tales in West Africa — a clever, mischievous spider who “owns” so many stories that in the Ashanti language “spider stories” is simply the word for stories. Carried across the Atlantic with the slave trade, Anansi’s tales reached the Caribbean and the Americas, making him one of the most famous trickster figures in Black culture worldwide.
In the West African forest lives Anansi, a small spider with a very clever mind. This season, food is scarce, and his tummy rumbles.
Deep in the forest, Anansi finds a strange rock covered in soft green moss. He says aloud, "Isn't this a strange moss-covered rock?"
When Anansi wakes up, a big grin spreads across his face. Anyone who says those magic words by the rock falls asleep!
Anansi invites Elephant to see his wonderful rock. Elephant says the magic words and snores loudly, so Anansi carries off his basket of mangoes.
Next Anansi tricks Lion and takes his sweet yams, then he tricks Monkey and takes his yellow bananas. His pile of food grows and grows.
Anansi feels so clever, with all that food piled high. But then he has a naughty idea: he decides to trick his own little son, Kofi.
But little Kofi is clever too, and he keeps Anansi talking and talking until Anansi himself says the magic words. Then BONK, Anansi is the one who naps!
One by one, the animals wake up and take their food back. Anansi feels sorry, and he learns that cleverness should help others, not trick them.
