Bro Anansi: Where it all began!

In the very beginning, there were no such thing as stories. They just did not exist in the world. This was not because no one knew of them, but because all the stories that ever existed were now in the possession of the Sky-God, Nyame. The Sky-God Nayme is also call Nyankonpon.

Anansi found the world without stories was simply just to mundane to bare any longer and, so, decided that he needed to get access to the Sky-God, Nyame’s stories.
(img)
Having made up his mind, Anansi set out. When he arrived, Anansi asked the Sky-God, Nyame if he would consider selling him the stories.

The Sky-God, Nyame scoffed at Anansi, as he sized him up from head to toe. Nyame was well aware that his stories were very valuable and had no intentions of parting with them.

He finally said to Anansi, “You! You cannot afford my stories!”

“I assure you that I can pay you, handsomely, for your stories, “ Anansi responded, oozing with confidence.

“Do you have any idea how many kingdoms have approached me and tried to buy my stories? Great kingdoms like Kokofu, Bekeai, and Asumengya have all tried to by my stories, and they could not afford to by them,” The Sky-God, Nyame told Anansi and then laughed in his face.

A silence ensued, as Anansi observed the Sky-God analyzing and observing him.

Anansi was right! Nyame was indeed contemplating him. The Sky-God looked at him and was certain that it was impossible that these great kingdoms were unable to afford his stories, and this unassuming, completely insignificant, individual would succeed where they had failed.

After a little while, Anansi assured the Sky-God once again that he was indeed able to afford to purchase his stories.

“Nyame, I am not worried about being able to afford your stories. I will prove it to you as soon as you name your price.

The Sky-God smiled to himself and thought this should be entertaining. I will set a high price, and it will be impossible for Anansi to accomplish.

Nyame after careful thought turned to Anansi and said, “Anansi, my price for the sale of all my stories lays in your ability to capture four of the most dangerous creatures in the world! I need you to capture Onini, the Python, the Mmoboro Hornets, Osebo the Leopard, and the Fairy Mmoatia.”

Without so much as a blink of concern, Anansi stood undaunted before the Sky-God.

With his brain already working in hyper speed, Anansi accepted Nyame’s offer.

“I promise to capture Onini, the Python, Mmoboro Hornets, Osebo the Leopard, and the Fairy Mmoatia. In fact, I will even capture my own mother, Ya Nsia, for extra measure,” Anansi informed the Sky-God.

Nyame laughed heartily and thank Anansi for putting him in such a good mood. The Sky-God was certain that Anansi could never accomplish these tasks.

Nonetheless, Nyame accepted Anansi’s offer and instructed him to begin his journey at once.

Anansi smiled wryly and excused himself.

Anansi’s first move was to inform his family about the Sky-God’s offer and his plan. Yes, his mother, Ya Nsia, was also there at this time.

Then, Anansi ask his wife, Aso, for advice, “Aso, I wish to capture the Onini the Python first. What do you suggest I do?”

Aso advised, “Cut a branch from a palm tree and gather some string creeper vines. When you have done this, take them to the river where Onini lives, dig a pit, cover it, then pretend to be arguing with me to draw the python’s attention.

Anansi set out to gather the palm tree branches and strings of creeper vines. When he had completed gathering his supplies, he headed to the nearby river where Onini lived. He dug his pit and carefully camouflaged it.

Photo Credit: David Clode

Implementing the final part of his plan, he approached the river. Anansi proceeded to have a debate with his wife, “How can she possibly know how long Onini’s body could be! How could she claim that Onini’s body was longer that the branch of a full-grown palm tree! Nonsense! Complete nonsense! Asa has no idea what she is saying. Complete nonsense!”

Onini was indeed nearby and hearing every word of Anansi’a private debate. Without a second thought, Onini approached the spider and asked, “What are you talking about?”

Anansi carefully explained to Onini the cause of his heated debate. Completely unaware of Anansi’s notorious trickery, Onini quickly agreed to help Anansi prove that he was longer than a palm tree branch.

Anansi had already prepared a trap for Onini. He walked over, quite nonchalantly, and, with strategic precision, gently placed a palm branch on top.

“Over there Onini. There’s a palm branch. Just stretch yourself out, full length, besides it,” Anansi instructed Onini.

Onini, ever so eager to prove that he was indeed much longer than the branch of a palm tree, headed over to where Anansi had pointed out.

As soon as he arrived, Onini fell in the trap; so fast that it took him a few seconds to realize what had happened to him.

Anansi jumped into action and trapped the Python with the creeper vines he had collected, proceeding to tie up Onini the python completely.

Without a moment to spare, Anansi headed straight to Nyame, the Sky-God. All the way to Nyame, Anansi mocked Onini relentlessly and told him all about his bargains with the Sky-God.

With his chest held high and beaming with triumph, Anansi arrived at the Sky-God and presented Onini to Nyame.

Surprised, Nyame studied Anansi and thought secretly, how lucky he must have been and reminded himself just how impossible it would be for Anansi to complete all his tasks.

“I see that you have captured Onini the Python! That is a feat indeed. But I remind you that you have other challenges that must be completed before you are considered successful,” Nyame said to Anansi, with a sly smile.

Anansi returned home and informed Aso of his accomplishment.

“I have decided that I would like to capture the Mmoboro Hornets next,” he told Aso.

“How do you think I should capture the Mmoboro Hornets, Aso?” Anansi asked.

Aso thought for a moment and said, “Find a gourd and fill it with water. After you have done this, carry the gourd along with you until you see the Hornets. When you see them, you know what to do.”

Anansi followed her advice and headed toward the bushes where the Hornets are known roam, in search of them.

Soon enough, the Spider noticed a swarm of Hornets loitering near some bushes. He crept up close to them and readied his gourd.

Anansi then sprinkled some of his water unto the Mmoboro Hornets, making sure to save some for himself. The Spider snuck a little away and then immediately doused himself with the remaining water he’d collected and proceeded to cut a leaf from a Banana tree nearby, covering his head with it.

Seeing Anansi nearby, the Mmoboro Hornets flew towards the spider in a fit.

Holding his banana leaf above his head and soaking wet, Anansi exclaimed, “It was raining, raining I said. Look at me! I’m wet too. Beware, this rain will get much worse and way more dangerous. If you want to protect yourself, you had better enter this gourd and ensure that you are not overwhelmed by this rain. As you can see, the banana leaf is not offering that much protection, even for me, not in this rain.”

The Mmoboro hornets bought Anansi’s suggestion and took him up on his offer. Each and every one of them flew into the gourd, while thanking Anansi for his kindness and helping them out. They were completely clueless of his scheme.
(img)
Once all of them had entered, Anansi stoppered the mouth of the gourd and taunted them for succumbing to his scheme.

He went on to explain to them his plan to trade them to the Sky-God for his stories and proceeded to take the Hornets to Nyame.

The Sky-God accepted the Hornets, but reminded Anansi that he still had other tasks left in spite of his successes so far, certain the Spider still could not complete his task. He bade the Spider to continue his search, and Anansi left for home.

Anansi soon returned to Aso afterward and informed her of his success, then plotted against Osebo the Leopard with her.

Aso told Anansi, “Dig a hole to catch Osebo and cover it…”

Cutting Aso, Anansi said, “Oh! I got! No need to go any further.” Anansi had caught on to her plan immediately and told her it was enough.

Then, he went to the place where Osebo normally could be found. When he had arrived, Anansi began to dig a deep pit in the ground, covered it with brushwood, and returned home.

Anansi knew it was only a matter of time before Osebo would eventually stumble into the pit, especially as night drew near.
(img)
Sure enough, Anansi returned to the pit the next morning and found Osebo trapped inside of it.

Anansi feigned sympathy and asked the Leopard, “Oh dear! You certainly have found yourself in a problem here. Have you been drinking again, Osebo? I have warned you over and over about the drinking, Osebo. Now, what am I suppose to do? I would love to help you, Osebo. I really would, but I am not foolish. You will most certainly eat me afterward I have rescued you.”

Osebo insisted, “Anansi, I give you my word that I will not eat you. For goodness sake, you would have rescued me when I cannot rescue myself. I will not eat you, Anansi.”

Anansi stood and stared at Osebo the Leopard as if deep in thought. Finally, he said, “Okay, I will help you, but remember you gave me your word.”

Anansi went along a ways and cut two long sticks with his knife for the Leopard to climb out of the hole with.

When he returned, he told Osebo to stretch his arms wide, secretly knowing this would leave the Leopard vulnerable.

Osebo, unaware that he was an active participant of yet another scheme by Anansi, attempted to scale the sticks, so that he could escape.

Just then, Anansi withdrew his knife and tossed it at Osebo. The hilt of the knife struck Osebo’s head, and the Leopard fell down into the pit.

Osebo was now unconscious. Satisfied that his scheme had worked, Anansi gathered some additional sticks and formed a ladder, descending to the bottom of the pit to collect Osebo and proceeded to tie his up like the Python.

Anansi then, just like his two previous captives, gloated just as he had before and told the Leopard about his bargain with Nyame, as he headed towards the Sky-God.

Anansi then presented Osebo to Nyame when he arrived, and Nyame accepted Anansi’s gift.

The Sky-God, however, was still not convinced that Anansi would succeed in completing his challenge, and reminded the Spider that he had yet to accomplish all of the tasks he was assigned.

The Spider returned home yet another time, deciding to capture Mmoatia the Fairy, After some thought, Anansi decided upon a plan and carved an Akua doll.

Next, the Spider gathered the sap out of a gum tree and covered it until the Akua doll thus became very sticky; but Anansi was not done.

He pounded some eto (mashed yams), collected by his wife Aso, and covered the Akua doll’s hand with it. Afterwards, the Spider then gathered a basin and placed some eto inside of it.

Once he’d filled the basin, Anansi then took some of his silk and tied a string around the Akua doll’s waist so that he could manipulate it.

Having completed his work of art, Anansi headed off to the land of fairies.
(img)
When he had arrived to the land of fairies, Anansi placed the doll in front of an odum tree, a place where Fairies often congregated, and sat the basin with the eto in front of it as bait.

Anansi then hid behind the odum tree and waited for one of the Mmoatia to appear.

Soon, one came, lured away from her sisters by the eto that the Spider had placed in front of the Akua doll. Enticed by the eto, Mmoatia asked the doll if she could have some of it.

Anansi then tugged the Akua doll’s waist and it nodded its head in response, which made Mmoatia excited. Mmoatia returned to her sisters and asked if they’d allow her to eat some, noting that she, completely unaware of Anansi’s trickery, had been offered some eto by the Akua doll.

Mmoatia’s sisters allowed her. So, the Fairy returned to the basin and devoured the eto.

When she had finished, Mmoatia thanked the Akua doll; but Anansi did not tug his string.

The Akua doll did not nod to acknowledge Mmoatia’s gratitude.

Slightly upset, Mmoatia told her sisters what had happened, and they advised her to slap the doll’s face as recompense.

Mmoatia agreed, returned, and slapped the Akua doll, but her hand became stuck!

Angered, the Fairy shouted out to her sisters and informed them of what had happened.

Yet another sister suggested that Mmoatia should slap the doll again, this time with her other hand.

The Fairy obliged and tried again, only for her remaining hand to become stuck on the gum that covered the Akua doll.

Mmoatia screamed and asked her sisters for help a final time, informing them that both her hands were now stuck.

Yet, another sister told Mmoatia to bludgeon the doll with the rest of her body, certain that Mmoatia would be successful this time in punishing the Akua doll.

However, the Fairy followed the advice of her sisters and only became entirely stuck to the gum that covered the doll Anansi had laid in front of the Odum tree.

Anansi then emerged from hiding and used the rest of the string he’d tied around his doll to bind Mmoatia with his silk string completely.

He then mocked Mmoatia also, just as he had done to the others he’d captured before her and told the Fairy of his scheme to offer her to the Sky-God as well.

However, Anansi still had another task he wished to complete before he returned to the Sky-God.

Finally, Anansi headed to his home to visit his mother, Ya Nsia, and reminded her of his agreement with the Sky-God to exchange her as part of the price for Nyame’s stories.

As strange as it may sound, Anansi’s mother complied with him; and the Spider then carried her, alongside Mmoatia, towards Nyame.

When Anansi arrived at the Sky-God, he presented both of them to Nyame to complete the bargain for the Sky-God’s stories.

Stunned, Nyame accepted both of them, thoroughly-impressed at the success of the Spider, and assembled a meeting within his kingdom.

The Sky-God summoned his elders, the Kontire and Akwam chiefs, the Adontem general of his army’s main body, the Gyase, the Oyoko, Ankobea, and finally Kyidom, who led his rear-guard.

Nyame then told them about the task Anansi had accomplished when none else, not even the greatest kingdoms, could afford his stories.

Nyame recounted each of the creatures Anansi had presented the Sky-God with, as well as his own mother Ya Nsia, and allowed his audience to see each of these gifts for themselves.

Nyame finally acknowledged Anansi’s talents and told the Spider he now had the Sky-God’s blessings.

The people rejoiced alongside Nyame as he then announced that his stories would no longer be known by his name or belong to him; from then on, the Sky-God’s stories would belong to Anansi, and all of them would be known as Spider stories for eternity.

So it is that every story, no matter the subject or theme, is called a Spider story.