How Ananse, the Spider, Became Poor

We do not really mean, we do not really mean, (that what we are going to say is true).

KWAKU ANANSE, the Spider, went off there to Nyankonpon, the Sky-god, and said, “Give me a single grain of corn and let me bring you a whole village of people (in exchange).” The Sky-god said, “You are not able.” The Spider replied, “Should I be unable, I swear by your mother, Nsia, then I shall pay for the violation of my oath with my head.” The Sky-god said, “Receive it (the grain of corn) and be off.” The Spider set out and went to a certain village. He told the head-man the following story. “The Sky-god has sent me; he says, I must take this single grain of corn and go with it somewhere, and when I come (anywhere), I must let this grain of corn sleep with the fowls.” The head-man said, “E! when fowls and corn sleep together, will it be well?” Ananse replied, “All you have to do is to allow them to sleep together.” The head-man said, “Go and place it there.” Next morning early Ananse said he was going to look for it, but the (single grain of) corn was no longer there. The Spider said, “Head-man, the fowls have eaten the Sky-god’s corn.” The head-man said, “I am not able to have any dispute about this, so take the fowl and go.” Ananse went and took one large fowl, and set out with it for another village. When he reached there, he told the head-man a story, saying, “The Sky-god sent me, and I shall sleep here, and this fowl which I hold must sleep with the sheep.” The head-man said, “Bring it and put it there.” In the night, Ananse went to the sheep kraal and killed the fowl. He took the fowl’s intestines and stuck them on the horns of a big ram. Next morning early, he went to the head-man there and said, “Give me the fowl.” When they would have gone and fetched it for him, behold, the fowl was dead. Ananse said, “Ah! that is the Sky-god’s fowl, which the sheep has killed.” The head-man said, “I am not able to have any dispute about it, so take a sheep and go.” Ananse took the sheep and set out. He reached another village. He went to the head-man’s house. The head-man said, “What news?” The Spider replied, “The Sky-god has sent me, and I hold the sheep; it and the cattle are to sleep together.” The head-man said, “Ho! let it rest with the sheep.” The Spider said, “No, for this is the special sheep of the Sky-god, it rests with the cattle.” The head-man said, “Go and put it there, then.” The Spider went and put it there. At night, Ananse went and killed the sheep, and put its blood on the head of one of the cattle. Next morning early, Ananse said, “Head-man, give me my sheep.” They went to the kraal; there was the sheep, dead. Ananse said, “Head-man, it is the Sky-god’s sheep which the cattle have killed.” The head-man said, “I am not able to have any dispute with you about this matter, so take away the cow that killed it.” Ananse took the cow, and set off, and came to another village. He took the cow and tied it up there, and went to sleep. As he was sleeping there, they came and told the head-man that one of his slaves had died. The head-man said, “You must throw him away, for I have no coffin.” The Spider said, “As for me, I want it, for the Sky-god told me that if I got a corpse which they were going to throw away, that I must change it for a cow.” The villagers said, “No.” (But) Ananse (insisted), saying, “You must bring it to me, and if you go and sell the cow you will get an asuanu’s-worth of gold dust (be. £4), and you can take (this amount) and buy a fresh slave.” The people said, “There is truth in that.” So they effected the exchange. Ananse picked up the corpse and set off, and came to another village. When he reached there, he addressed the head-man, saying, “Permit this child of mine to go and sleep with your children, in this pato (open veranda room); now (I must tell you) this child is not nice, he is in the habit of breaking wind at night, so when he breaks wind, let the (other) children beat him.” Now the man had been dead for three days. The children and he (the corpse) lay down. Now they felt something stinking. They said, “That child has broken wind, let us beat him.” They fell on him, titim! titim! titim! (was the sound of their blows). Next morning early, Ananse went to call his child. When he went, there he was, dead. Ananse said, “Head-man, your children have killed the Sky-god’s messenger who was along with me.” The head-man said, “I am unable to have any dispute about this matter, so you can take the children away.” The Spider replied, “(I cannot agree) unless you, head-man, and all the people in this town go before the Sky-god, to state your case.” The head-man sounded the ’dawuro gong, proclaiming, “All of you must go before the Sky-god yonder, to go and state our case.” The Spider led the way; all the people followed him. When Ananse reached the outskirts of the town, he sent a messenger to tell the Sky-god that he was coming with the people of a town. The Sky-god summoned his assembly, and sat down (among his courtiers). As Ananse marched in, he raised (his song):

“Ananse, alas, alas, I got a single grain of corn to go and gain a fowl.

Ananse, alas, alas, I took the fowl to go and receive a sheep.

I took the sheep and went and got a cow,

I took the cow and went and got a corpse,

I took the corpse and got the people of a town.”

Every one said, “Do you hear the song which Ananse is singing?” Ananse raised his song once more:

“Ananse, alas, alas, I got a single grain of corn to go and gain a fowl.

Ananse, alas, alas, I took the fowl to go and receive a sheep.

I took the sheep and went and got a cow,

I took the cow and went and got a corpse,

I took the corpse and got the people of a town.”

Ananse arrived before the face of the Sky-god, and the Sky-god inquired of Ananse the news. Ananse said, “A single grain of corn I received, saying I would come with the inhabitants of a town; there are the people of a town standing there.” The Sky-god said, “Praise him.” (They shouted,) “E! e! e!” The Sky-god said, “What must I give you as a thank-offering?” The Spider said, “I do not desire anything; (a place) on the rafters is all I want.” The Sky-god said, “Oh; oh! this subject (of mine), you will die in poverty, you, who went and brought much, yet say you do not desire anything.” That is why poverty will never pass Ananse by.

This, my story, which I have related, if it be sweet, (or) if it be not sweet, take some elsewhere, and let some come back to me.