Spider’s Bargain with God
Kwaku Anansc, the spider, went to Sky God Nana Nyamee and asked
whether he could buy the stories told about Him so they would be told
about Ananse instead. Nana Nyamce said, “Yes, provided you bring me
the following things in payment.”
Ananse said, “I am willing. Just name them.”
Nana Nyamee said, “Bring me a live leopard, a pot full of live bees, and
a live python.” Ananse was afraid, but nevertheless he agreed to provide
them. He went home and sat down and thought and thought.
At last he took a needle and thread, and set out toward the forest whcrc
the leopard lived. Whcn he got to the stream whcrc Leopard got his water,
he sat down, took out the needle and thread, and sewed his eyelids together. He waited. When he heard the footsteps of Leopard coming to
fetch water, he began to sing to himself: “Hmm. Nana Nyamec is wonderful. He sewed my eyes and took me to his palace. Then I began to sec
wonderful things, and I have been singing of them ever since. Beautiful
women, palaces, rich and delicious food, and a wonderful life.”
Leopard came up to him and asked Ananse, “What were you singing
about?”
He replied, “Hmm. Nana Nyamce is wonderful. He sewed my eyes and
took me to his palace. Then I began to sec wonderful things, and I have
been singing of them ever since. Beautiful women, palaces, rich and delicious food, and a wonderful life.”
Leopard said, “Eh, Anansc, what is it, arc you dreaming?” “No,” said
Ananse, “there is a beautiful woman here.”
Leopard said, “Please Ananse, sew my eyes shut, too, and lead me to Nana Nyamec so that I, too, may sec all the wonderful things.”
“No, I know you, Leopard, when you see her and all those other beautiful creatures you will kill them and cat them up.”
“No, No, No,” Leopard growled. “I shall not. Rather, I shall thank
you.”
Ananse took his needle and thread and sewed Leopard’s eyes and led
him to Nana Nyamee’s palace. He said, “Nana Nyamee, here is the first
installment. Keep it.”
Next day Manse took an earthenware pot and went to a place where he knew there were honey becs. As he came near the place he sang, “Oh bees!
Oh bees!”
The bees said, “Anansc, what is all this murmuring about?”
Manse replied, “I have had an argument with Nana Nyamcc. He says
all of you together won’t fill this pot, but I say you will, and so I came to
find out.”
They said, “Oho, that is easy,” and they flew into the pot, buzz, buzz,
buzz., until the pot was full, and every bee had flown into it. Then Anansc
quickly sealed the pot and carried it off to Nana Nyamcc as his second
installment.
For two days he could not think how to get the third—a live python.
But at last he hit on a plan. He went to the forest and cut a long stick, a
stick as long as a tree. He carried this off to the forest, singing to himself,
“I am right, he is wrong! He is wrong, I am right.”
When Python saw him he said, “Anansc, what arc you grumbling
about?”
He answered, “How lucky I am to meet you here. I have had a long and
bitter argument with Nana Nyamce. I have known you for a long time,
and I know your measurements both when you arc coiled, and when you
arc fully stretched out. Nana Nyamcc thinks very little of you. He thinks
you arc only a little longer than the green mamba, and no longer than the
cobra. I strongly disagree with him, and to prove my point I brought this
pole to measure you.”
Python was very angry, and he began stretching himself out to his
greatest length along the stick.
And Manse said, “You are moving! You arc moving! Let me tic you to
the stick so I can get the measurement exactly right.”
And Python agreed. As Manse tied Python up he sang a little song, and
when he had Python securely fastened to the stick, Manse carried him off to Nana Nyamcc.
Nana Nyamcc was very pleased with Manse and forthwith beat the
gong throughout the world that all stories should be told about Anansc.
That is how Manse became the leading figure in all Manse stories.
The Lion and
the Jackal
Many years ago… Jackal was trotting through a narrow, rocky pass in the
mountain. He was sniffing the ground trying to find
something juicy to eat when he saw movement ahead of
him in the pass. Jackal stopped in his tracks. The mighty Lion was coming
straight toward him. Realising that there was no way to
escape, Jackal became very frightened.
He’d played so many tricks on the king of the animals in the
past – he was sure that Lion would take this opportunity to get
his revenge. Suddenly Jackal thought of a plan.
‘Help! Help!’ cried Jackal. He cowered down on the cliff path,
looking above at the rocks.
Lion stopped in surprise. ‘Help!’ Jackal howled. ‘There is no time to lose! See those huge
rocks above us? They are about to fall and we shall both be
crushed to death! Oh, mighty Lion, please do something! Save
us!’ And Jackal cowered with his paws over his head. Lion looked up, most alarmed. Before he even had a chance to
think, Jackal persuaded Lion to put his strong shoulder against
the rock and heave. ‘Oh, thank you, great king!’ yelped Jackal. ‘I will quickly fetch
that log over there to hold the rock, and we will both be
saved!’ and with that he bounded out of sight. So Lion was left all alone to struggle under the weight of the
rock in the hot sunshine. We will never know how long he
stayed before he realised that this was another trick, but the
clever jackal had once again escaped from the mighty lion!
“Ananse and the Pot of Wisdom”
- The Origin of Wisdom
In a time when people lacked basic knowledge—such as how to farm, weave cloth, or make tools—the sky god Nyame possessed all the wisdom in the world, safely stored in a clay pot.Storybooks CanadaAfrican Storybook - Gifted to Ananse
Nyame decided to gift this pot to Ananse, the clever spider. When Ananse looked inside it, his curiosity was piqued by the endless knowledge it held.Storybooks CanadaConnected Communities - Greed and the Tree Climb
Wanting to keep all the wisdom for himself, Ananse decided to hide the pot at the top of a tall tree. He attached it to his stomach with a long thread and began climbing—but it was awkward and difficult.Storybooks CanadaMythopia - A Child’s Advice
Observing his struggle, Ananse’s young son suggested tying the pot to his back instead—a far more efficient method.Storybooks CanadaMythopia - Jealousy and Loss
Angrily realizing his son had figured out something he, the wisest being, hadn’t, Ananse threw the pot down out of frustration.Storybooks CanadaMythopia - Wisdom Scattered to All
The pot shattered, scattering wisdom across the land. Thus, wisdom became accessible to everyone—farming, weaving, tool-making, and other skills spread broadly.Storybooks CanadaMythopia - Cultural and Moral Reflection
The tale serves as a classic trickster story—alluding to Ananse’s blend of cunning and folly. It teaches vital lessons:- Wisdom is not meant to be hoarded—but shared.
- Sometimes the simplest insight can come from the most unexpected place.
Wikipedia+1
- Nyame entrusts all wisdom to Ananse in a clay pot.
- Ananse greedily attempts to hide it atop a tree.
- His son offers a practical idea, prompting Ananse’s jealousy.
- In anger, Ananse breaks the pot, dispersing wisdom to all.
How the Chipmunk got its stripes
A long time ago, the Chipmunk looked no different from the Squirrel – he had no stripes. This story tells how he got the distinguishing stripes that we know today.
In the deep jungle where all the animals lived, a season of very heavy rains had caused the forest to grow so thick that it was difficult for the animals to move around the jungle paths. They held a meeting to discuss solutions and decided that every animal that moves on the ground would contribute money to pay for the clearing of the jungle paths. Birds who flew in the sky were exempt from this tax.
The Chipmunk who was tiny in size but disproportionately huge in stubbornness said to the other animals, ?I will pay no tax even if it means I never walk on the ground again?. So he took to the trees and hopped and jumped from branch to branch without touching the ground. ?He?s sure to come down sooner or later? said one of the other animals, ?then he will have to pay the tax.? At this, the animals dispersed and went about their business.
Days passed and the Chipmunk had still not touched the ground. All the other animals, even the famously cunning Tortoise had paid their taxes, but the Chipmunk still would not come down. Some began to feel sorry for him. ?Perhaps he has no money, for why else would he suffer and confine himself to a lifetime of hopping on trees??. They said ?It is painful to see one of us land animals reduced to such a lifestyle? and they set up a collection fund to help the Chipmunk. They placed a gourd under an Iroko tree where any animal who wished to help the Chipmunk could put some cowries (for that was the currency at the time) until there was enough to pay his tax.
A bird told the Chipmunk about this and the Chipmunk was thoroughly amused. ?You mean they have nothing better to do with their money than to pay my tax?? he asked. When night fell, he secretly made his way to the Iroko tree under which the collection gourd lay, climbed down the tree and made away with the gourd.
The following morning when this nasty deed was discovered, the animals were rightly upset. They tried to catch the Chipmunk but none could as the Chipmunk was hopping from tree to tree faster than anyone could catch him. The animals decided to banish the Chipmunk from the jungle for he had misused their trust and kindness.
Now banished from his former home, the Chipmunk went to live amongst people.
Later on, during one of the several meetings that the animals hold in the jungle, somebody asked if anyone knew what the Chipmunk did with the stolen money and it was said ?He never put it to any good use but bought new stripes instead?. All shook their heads in pity.
Afiong the Proud Princess
A long time ago, there lived a wealthy and affluent king in a far away kingdom. He had a very beautiful daughter of marriageable age, named Afiong. All the young men in the country wanted to marry her, but she refused all offers of marriage. Most of the rich old men asked for her hand in marriage, but she called them old and ugly. Afiong was very proud and vain.
In spite of repeated entreaties from her parents, she refused to marry any man from her land. She vowed to marry a rich prince from a far away kingdom. Her prince would be the best-looking man in the entire world. He would be strong and perfect in every way, and capable of loving her properly. So Afiong the princess continued to disobey her parents, at which they were very much grieved.
On his arrival, the handsome prince was introduced by Afiong to her parents. The prince immediately asked their consent to marry their daughter. At first they refused, as they did not wish her to marry a stranger, but at last they agreed. He lived with Afiong for two days in her parents’ house, and then said he wished to take his wife back to his country, which was far off. To this the princess readily agreed, as he was such a fine man, but her parents tried to persuade her not to go. However, being very headstrong, she made up her mind to go, and they started off together. It was a sad day for the king and the queen.
After walking for several days, Afiong and her husband crossed the border between the spirit land and the human land. Immediately they set foot in the spirit land, strange things began to happen. First of all one man came to the prince and demanded his legs, then another his head, and the next his body, and so on, until in a few minutes the prince was left with an nothing but a skull.
The princess became terrified. She could not understand what had happened to her handsome prince. The prince then laughed at the princess and confessed that the princess was now seeing him in his natural state. He had borrowed all his body parts from the other spirits so he would look human when he went to ask for her hand in marriage. In fact, his entire body consisted of only a human skull.
Returning home, other villagers ask Shindo about the mysterious children. She denies seeing them, but sees the chores done and the meal prepared—and cannot explain it. The princess wanted to return home, but the skull would not allow this, and ordered her to go with him. When they arrived at the skull’s house they found his mother, who was a very old woman quite incapable of doing any work. She could only creep about. Afiong tried her best to help her, and cooked her food, and brought water and firewood for the old woman. The old creature was very grateful for these attentions, and soon became quite fond of Afiong. One day the old woman felt very sorry for Afiong, and decided to help her. She promised to send her back to her country as soon as possible, providing that she promised that in the future she would obey her parents. This Afiong readily consented to do. Then the old woman sent for the spider, who was a very clever hairdresser, and made him dress Afiong’s hair in the latest fashion. She also presented her with anklets and other things on account of her kindness. She then used her supernatural power to call the breeze to gently carry Afiong to her father’s kingdom. Soon afterwards, the breeze deposited Afiong outside her home, and left her there. When the king and the queen saw their daughter they were very glad, as they had for some months given her up as lost. There was feasting and dancing throughout the kingdom for eight days and nights. Afterwards, the king passed a law that parents should never allow their daughters to marry strangers who came from a far country. Then the prince from a neighbouring village came to ask for Afiong’s hand in marriage and she willingly consented, and lived with him for many years, and had many children.
The Calabash Kids (A Tale From TANZANIA)
Once there was a woman named Shindo, who lived in a village at the foot of a mountain. Her husband had died, and she had no children, so she was very lonely. And she was always tired too, for she had no one to help with the chores.
All on her own, she cleaned the hut and yard, tended the chickens, washed her clothes in the river, carried water, cut firewood, and cooked her solitary meals.
At the end of each day, Shindo looked up to heaven.
“Great Almighty!” she would pray. “My work is too hard. Send me help!”
One day, Shindo was weeding her small field by the river, where she grew vegetables and bananas and gourds. Suddenly, a noble chieftain appeared beside her.
“I am a messenger from the Great Almighty,” he told the astonished woman, and he handed her some gourd seeds. “Plant these carefully. They are the answer to your prayers.”
Then the chieftain vanished.
Shindo wondered, “What help could I get from a handful of seeds?” Still, she planted and tended them as carefully as she could.
She was amazed at how quickly they grew. In just a week, long vines trailed over the ground, and ripe gourds hung from them.
Shindo brought the gourds home, sliced off the tops, and scooped out the pulp. Then she laid the gourds on the roof of her hut to dry. When they hardened, she could sell them at the market as calabashes, to be made into bowls and jugs.
One fine gourd Shindo set by the cook fire. This one she wanted to use herself, and she hoped it would dry faster.
The next morning, Shindo went off again to tend her field. But meanwhile, back in the hut, the gourds began to change. They sprouted heads, then arms, then legs.
Soon, they were not gourds at all. They were children!
One boy lay by the fire, where Shindo had put the fine gourd. The other children called to him from the roof.
Kitete helped his brothers and sisters down from the roof. Then the children ran through the hut and yard, singing and playing.
All joined in but Kitete. Drying by the fire had made the boy slow-witted. So he just sat there, smiling widely.
After a while, the other children started on the chores. They quickly cleaned the hut and yard, fed the chickens, washed the clothes, carried water, cut firewood, and cooked a meal for Shindo to eat when she returned.
When the work was done, Kitete helped the others climb back on the roof. Then they all turned again into gourds.
That afternoon, as Shindo returned home, the other women of the village called to her.
“Who were those children in your yard today?” they asked. “Where did they come from? Why were they doing your chores?”
“What children? Are you all making fun of me?” said Shindo, angrily. But when she reached her hut, she was astounded. The work was done, and even her meal was ready! She could not imagine who had helped her. The next morning, Shindo pretended to leave, but she hid beside the door of the hut and peeked in. And so she saw the gourds turn into children, and heard the ones on the rooftop call out,
“Ki-te-te, come help us!
We’ll work for our mother.
Come help us, Ki-te-te,
Our favorite brother!”
As the children rushed out the door, they nearly ran into Shindo. She was too astonished to speak, and so were the children. But after a moment, they went on with their playing, and then with their chores.
When they were done, they started to climb back to the rooftop.
“No, no!” cried Shindo. “You must not change back into gourds! You will be the children I never had, and I will love you and care for you.” So Shindo kept the children as her own. She was no longer lonely. And the children were so helpful, she soon became rich, with many fields of vegetables and bananas, and flocks of sheep and goats. That is, all were helpful but Kitete, who stayed by the fire with his simple-minded smile.
Most of the time, Shindo didn’t mind. In fact, Kitete was really her favorite, because he was like a sweet baby. But sometimes, when she was tired or unhappy about something else, she would get annoyed at him.
“Why can’t you be smart like your brothers and sisters, and work as hard as they do?” Kitete would only grin back at her. One day, Shindo was out in the yard, cutting vegetables for a stew. As she carried the pot from the bright sunlight into the hut, she tripped over Kitete. She fell, and the clay pot shattered. Vegetables and water streamed everywhere.
“Haven’t I told you to stay out of my way? But what can I expect? You’re not a real child at all. You’re nothing but a calabash!” The very next moment, she gave a scream. Kitete was no longer there, and in his place was a gourd.
“What have I done?” cried Shindo, as the children crowded into the hut. “I didn’t mean what I said! You’re not a calabash, you’re my own darling son. Oh, children, please do something!” The children looked at each other. Then over each other they climbed, scampering up to the rooftop. When the last child had been helped up by Shindo, they called out one last time,
“Ki-te-te, come help us!
We’ll work for our mother.
Come help us, Ki-te-te,
Our favorite brother!”
For a long moment, nothing happened. Then slowly, the gourd began to change. It sprouted a head, then arms, then legs. At last, it was not a gourd at all. It was—Kitete!
Shindo learned her lesson. Ever after, she was very careful what she called her children. And so they gave her comfort and happiness, all the rest of her days.
Akara-Ogun Meets Agbako (Excerpt from “Forest of A Thousand Daemons,” Wole Soyinka’s translation of D.O. Fagunwa’s Yoruba literary masterpiece)
On the third day of my sojourn in the forest of Irunmole, I woke up and ate. Unfortunately, I ate so much that I forgot all the charms I needed at the foot of the palm tree. All I remembered to carry were my gun, cutlass and hunting-bag, which I slung over my shoulder, and headed to the forest.
I started encountering game soon after entering the forest, but they went helter-skelter, evading my shots. Soon after, I heard a rumbling that sounded like six hefty men approaching. It was Agbako, a sixteen-eyed monster whose tales I had often heard from my predecessors. Seeing him, I was terrified.
Once he saw me, I became his target. When I felt he was too close, I ordered the road to seize him, but not only did it seize him, I was also seized and thrust right in front of Agbako. Terrified, I conjured earth to return me to the road; it did, but Agbako was right there waiting for me. Now, I invoked ogede and commanded the road to take him to the bush to be bound by forest ropes, but I was not spared by this as well. When the thongs began to strangle me, I yelled to be released and set back on the road; it happened, but Agbako was there again to receive me. Fed up, we began wrestling, sweating profusely, our eyeballs reddened, the ground shone brightly; yet no one toppled the other. Soon, I was exhausted, but not he. I untwined my arms, but he held me fast and only released me when he perceived my tiredness. I was exhausted, but not he. I untwined my arms, but he held me fast and only released me when he perceived my tiredness.1
Agbako sat down and served us palm-wine, which he got from a gourd in his pouch. After I had rested a while and the palm-wine was almost exhausted, he said we should resume our strife, which we did. After wrestling for a while, I drew my cutlass, slipped behind him, and slammed him on the back of his head, but the cutlass broke into two while he was unscathed. Surprisingly, he joined the broken cutlass, made it new again and said the fight should continue. Completely exhausted, I hit him on the side with my cutlass, but he in turn cut my arm and the cutlass off with his sword, and I came crashing to the ground in deep pain.
While I groaned in pain, Agbako took my missing arm, fitted it on the stump, spat on his hand, and when he had rubbed the spittle on the joint, my hand returned to normal as though it was never cut off. Then he looked at me, laughed and said the contest must continue. In terror, I said to myself “E-ya! Is this not the certain approach of the end?” So I cried aloud: “Spirits of the woods! Pilgrims of the road! – hasten to my rescue!” Shortly after, all beings in the forest of Irunmole came, ghommids, birds and animals, yet Agbako acted like he saw no one. He pulled me up and we grappled anew, with him returning every blow I gave him while the leaves and the forest were in dead silence.
One of the ghommids that had been watching us signaled to Agbako to release me, which he did. Then he gave me a slice of kola-nut, which I ate and instantly regained a new vitality and strength equal to that of sixteen men. I charged at Agbako and seized him by the neck till he bellowed like a beast, which made all the ghommids cheer. But when I tried to lift him up and smash him to the ground, his foot was firm and did not move at all. He, in turn, tried to lift my legs, but I too was firm and did not feel any of his kicks and blows. Then his entire body turned scorching hot and his breath was like a violent storm. And then, to prove that he was indeed Agbako the master, he stomped his feet, and the earth opened and swallowed both of us.
Below the earth, I found myself in a strange house, but there was no sign of Agbako. Not until the day of our journey to mount Langbodo would I encounter him again, but I will never forget what I experienced until my escape from the depths of the earth.
The Man Who Never Lied
Once upon a time there lived a wise man by the name of Mamad. He never lied. All the people in the land, even the ones who lived twenty days away, knew about him. The king heard about Mamad and ordered his subjects to bring him to the palace. He looked at the wise man and asked:
“Mamad, is it true, that you have never lied?”
“It’s true.” “And you will never lie in your life?”
“I’m sure about that.” “Okay, tell the truth, but be careful! The lie is cunning and it gets on your tongue easily.” Several days passed and the king called Mamad once again. There was a big crowd: the king was about to go hunting. The king held his horse by the mane; his left foot was already on the stirrup. He ordered Mamad:
“Go to my summer palace and tell the queen I will be with her for lunch. Tell her to prepare a big feast. You will have lunch with me then.” Mamad bowed down and went to the queen. Then the king laughed and said:
“We won’t go hunting and now Mamad will lie to the queen. Tomorrow we will laugh on his behalf.” But the wise Mamad went to the palace and said:
“Maybe you should prepare a big feast for lunch tomorrow, and maybe you shouldn’t. Maybe the king will come by noon, and maybe he won’t.”
“Tell me will he come, or won’t he?” – asked the queen.
“I don’t know whether he put his right foot on the stirrup, or he put his left foot on the ground after I left.” Everybody waited for the king. He came the next day and said to the queen:
“The wise Mamad, who never lies, lied to you yesterday.” But the queen told him about the words of Mamad. And the king realized that the wise man never lies, and says only that which he saw with his own eyes.