![]() ![]() Many of Anansi’s tales were told through oral storytelling they were not recorded until much later. Sometimes, he is a man, other times a spider and he can also be both-a spider with a man’s head, or a man with spider-like qualities such as eight legs or arms. With the language being spoken by 80 per cent of those who live in Ghana, many consider this to be the origin of Anansi and his stories.Īnansi derives from the word meaning spider, and he does appear as an animal as well as several other forms. Today we examine the Legend of Anansi, the Spider.Īnansi is a character that appears in Akan folklore, which primarily covers the countries of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. There is no singular story or pantheon that encompasses African mythology and folklore as a whole, so when choosing where to start, I’ve chosen one of the few figures I had heard of-a figure prominent in West Africa, but one whose stories and identity have evolved and travelled across Africa to the Caribbean and North America.Ī figure that possessed ideals many wish to emulate but also one with flaws that served as cautionary tales and lessons. Anansi, like his wife Aso, may change forms and may be shown as a human, even though his regular shape is a spider. These spider tales originated in West Africa and were spread to the Caribbean during the transatlantic slave trade. Despite playing the trickster, Anansi’s acts and parables frequently cast him as the protagonist due to his capacity to change his seeming flaws into virtues. He is one of the most significant figures in West African, African American, and Caribbean mythology, playing the role of trickster.Īnansi is well recognised for his ability to outwit and defeat more strong opponents by employing cunning, ingenuity, and intelligence. He frequently assumes the form of a spider and is sometimes regarded as a deity of all storey knowledge. Such trespassers are fair game under the terms of his restrictions so the Trickster takes great enjoyment from tormenting them.Angolan Witch Spider- Fiction! Who is Anansi the Spider?Īnansi the spider is a figure from Akan folklore. In between planning how his followers can humiliate those of the Silver Wolf, the Trickster keeps an eye on portals from the material plane in case a mortal steps through. ![]() The Trickster still had a score settle with the Silver Wolf and Loewe, though he was wise enough not to be as direct as he had previously. After all he knew they would call on him again. and the Trixkster accepted his restrictions being reimposed with reasonably good grace. There was no way either the deities or the other archfey would allow this freedom to continue. Freed not only from his prison but also from the restrictions that had preventing him cutting lose on the material plane, Kiir made the most of this opportunity and many credit him and his followers with the successful defence of the elven lands. The Trickster was released so that he could bring his legendary cunning to the battlefield. A great force was threatening the elven lands and the archfey agreed to help deal with this threat so that they didn't lose some of their favourite playthings. It is unlcear how long he would have been imprisoned for as trouble on the material plane led to his release. More centuries of imprinoment followed with the Trickster being taunted every day by the Silver Wolf. Kiir was about to embark on an even more outrageous escapade when he was captured by Loewe, a prince of the opposing court. ![]() At obne point he managed to steal the Silver Wolf's tail nearly provoking a war between the courts. He also started targeting the other archfey more, especially those in the opposing court. Using lesser fey as intermediaries Kiir became a patron of rogues and charlatans granting powers to those who would provide him with entertainment. Less able to play with mortals directly the Trickster started working through them. He was eventually released at the behest of his queen and was forced to limit the scope of his activities. One such prank took the life of a daughter of the Silma family and the Trickster was imprisoned for centuries as a result. They are purely for his own amusment and can be humiliating or deadly for the target. Unlike Caraite the tricks and traps created by Kiir Mariar are not to educate or amuse others. Many believe that Caraite Nandaro was created to provide a counter to him and his philosophy. Before the Ilma Olie was fully formed this creature was slipping through the cracks between the Feywild and the material plane to reward those who amused him and create problems for those he found boring. ![]() He has been playing pranks and causing trouble for as long as there have been stories and songs to tell about it. The Trickster has a complicated history with the elves. ![]()
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