Read This, Write That

bythegods:

Anansi

Anansi is a very popular trickster character in the folklore of West Africa and the Caribbean. Although he often appears in the shape of a man, Anansi is in fact a spider. He has many names specific to certain countries or regions. A few of these include Aunt Nancy, Ayiyi, and the always hilarious Anansi Drew.

Despite being renowned as a master of words and deception, Anansi, it seems, doesn’t have much in the way of foresight. Most stories about him follow a similar arc: first, Anansi comes up with a sneaky plan on how to bamboozle someone out of their food. Second, he implements this plan and it works very well the first time. Unfortunately, the victims of his first operation then tell on him. When Anansi tries for a round two, he is out-bamboozled and brought to justice. This usually involves him being eaten. But sometimes his house is burned down instead, or he’s impaled on a fork, or boiled alive. In one story that may have inspired Mafia hit-men he is placed in a coffin, taken far out to sea, and dumped. He’s still alive at the time mind you. And he does it willingly, because he’s told there are delicious sheep where he’s headed. And coffins are totally valid vessels for sea-travel right?

Poor old Anansi. Curse that insatiable appetite of his!