The story answers the questions why men commit evil at night; why children play in moonlight; why disputes are settled during the day; and why Anansi is the Sky-God, Nyame’s, messenger.

Nyame, the Sky-God, sired three children, one was known Esum or Night; the other was known as Osrane or the Moon; and the third was known as Owia or the Sun.

Nyame raised his children well, until they were all three grown. After they were all grown up, Nyame sent them off on their own.

Each of the three children did well and were successful. They had each built their own village.

Although this was so, the Sky-God considered Owia his favorite child and really wanted to make him a chief.

One day, he harvested a yam known as ‘Kintinkyi’ in secret. Nyame decided that the son who guessed the correct name of it would become chief and receive his royal stool as proof.

Shortly after, the Sky-God blackened his royal stool, gathered his subjects and asked them if any of them could guess what his thoughts were.

They all stood silent. Anansi was there among his subjects and told Nyame that he, Anansi, knew. He informed the Sky-God that upon his return he would prove that he knew Nyame’s thoughts.

Hearing this, Nyame told Anansi to go and awaited his return.

Anansi headed out confidently; but, he truly had no idea about what Nyame’s thoughts could be. However, he secretly decided that he would learn.

Anansi set about busing himself gathering feathers from every bird known to man and covered and camouflaged himself with these feathers.

After doing this, Anansi flew above Nyame’s village, completely startling the villagers.

The Sky-God and the villagers did not recognize Anansi when they saw him, as he was well disguised.

While observing the strange bird, Nyame began to muse to himself softly that if Anansi were present he would be able to reveal the name of the bird.

This was because Anansi had claimed to know that the Sky-God wished his son, Owia, to receive his royal stool and that he would give whomever could guess his yam’s name the position of chief.

While the Sky-God was speaking secretively to himself, Anansi had positioned himself so he could overhear this conversation and did hear the Sky-God’s plan, flying away after he had heard what he needed to know.

Making sure not be observed by anyone, Anansi removed his disguise and headed to Esum’s village first.

When Anansi arrived at Esum’s village, he told the Sky-God’s son that his father wished to see him; not mentioning a word about Nyame’s secret plans.

Esum or Night gave Anansi some roasted corn to eat and thanked him for the message.

Next, Anansi headed to Osrane’s village. When he arrived, he inform Osrane or the Moon with exactly the same message from his father that was delivered to his brother, Esum.

Having successfully delivered the Sky-God’s message, Anansi headed out to the village that belonged to Owia, the Sun, and told the third son the same message delivered to his two other brothers.

You see, because Anansi was chosen by his father as his messenger, Owia decided he would treat Anansi the same way as he would treat his father, Nyame.

Because of this, Owia set out preparing the best sheep for Anansi to eat and thanked him for the message.

After hearing the message, Owis mentioned that he wished his father could see what he did so that he would know Owia’s true intent.

In return for his treatment, Anansi decided to tell Owia of his father’s secret intentions and then revealed the name of the yam he’d harvested.

Then, Anansi set about making a pair of drums that would sound the yam’s name. This way, Owia would remember the name of his father’s yam, which was ‘Kintinkyi’.

When this was done, both Anansi and Owia joined the other two sons of the Sky-God and headed to see Nyame.

Anansi brought all three before Nyame. Anansi announced to Nyame that brought his three sons to see him because he knew that Nyame wanted them to guess the correct name of his yam.

Astonished, the Sky-God then called an assembly of all his subjects together so that they could welcome Anansi and his sons.

Anansi informed the Sky-God that he had completed his mission. Nyame then turned to his three sons and repeated Anansi’s revelation of his intentions.

He told them that the son that could correctly guess the name of his yam will be granted position of chief and would receive the royal stool as a token of this promise.

Nyame then turned to Esum or Night, the oldest of the three, and told him that he would be allowed to guess first.

Esum thought to himself and, although he did not know, said the name of the yam was ‘Pona’. The villagers all booed him loudly.

Osrane, the Moon, who was the second-oldest, was given the next chance to guess. The Moon also found himself in the same position as Night and did not know the answer. He guessed anyway and said that the name of the yam was called ‘Asante’.

Once again, the villagers booed him loudly.

Now it was the turn of the Sky-God’s youngest son, Owia, the Sun, to guess the name of the yam.

Right on cue and just as he had promised, Anansi began to play the drums.

The sound from the drums did exactly what it was intended to do, and Owia remembered the true name of Nyame’s yam. Owia declared confidently that the name of the yam was ‘Kintinkyi’.

The assembled villagers cheered him on loudly.

The Sky-God then addressed his eldest son, Esum or Night and punished him. Nyame informed Esum that he had not paid attention to his father while he was being raised. As a result, his punishment would be that all evil things would be done during Esum’s time or at night.

Next, Nyame turned to Osrane, the Moon, and scolded him as well. The Sky-God informed his second son that he too had failed to listen while he was being raised. As a result, only children would frolic during his time.

Lastly, the Sky-God turned to his youngest son, Owia and lavished him with praises. When he was finished, he named Owia as chief and told him that any issue that needed to be settled would take place during his time.

Then the Sky-God gave Owia the rainbow to protect himself from his brothers if they ever developed a desire to harm Owia. Nyame then promised Owia that the rainbow would remind any of his subjects who saw it that danger would not befall them.

Finally, Nyame gave Anansi his blessing for knowing his inner-thoughts and announced to the assembly that, from that day on, Anansi would be known as his messenger.