Once upon a time, there was a village called Nsem Pii. Nsem Pii suffered from famine for years. People died of hunger, heads of families died of shame of not being able to cater for their families. But Kwaku Ananse, the great spider used his brains to make his family live.
One day, there was a sporting event, he went with many animals to be spectators. His main reason for going there was to get someone to con. Mr. Elephant sat by Kwaku Ananse as he stood. It bothered him so that he asked him to sit. But Kwaku Ananse told him he could never sit on the ground thinking Mr. Elephant will offer for him to sit on his tail, but he let it be.
When the event was about to get to end, he circulated a rumour that there is food at the other side of their great river Nyansapo. The king of the village had asked all big animals to never try to cross the river as that was what was sustaining the people. So Ananse told Elephant to cut a part of his buttocks for him to use as a canoe to ferry across the river and bring enough food for everybody.
He promised to return it to him as soon as he came back. Elephant, not wanting Kwaku to let the others in on the secret gave in.
He suggested accompanying Kwaku Ananse to the river, but Kwaku told him many people might notice, so he left for his house to await the booty.
Immediately he branched, Ananse rushed to the house and asked Okonore Yaa to fry some of Elephant’s meat, and sent one of his children to give some to his neighbour, the butterfly, whose children were dying of hunger.
Mr. Elephant wanting to surprise his wife, told her nothing of his pact with Ananse. But waited and waited for Ananse to come with the food and his buttocks to no avail, so he asked his child to go to his house and see if he has returned and collect his buttocks for him. Baby Elephant knocked on Ananse’s door and this is what ensued:
Baby Elephant: Knock knock
Ananse: “Hwan naἐbↄ mepunu mu, Hwan naἐbↄ mepunu mu?” (Who is knocking on my door?)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash (Response of agreement)
Baby Elephant: It is me Baby Elephant
Ananse: “Na wo pἐ dἐn, na wo pἐ dἐn?” (What do you want?)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Baby Elephant: “Mere bἐgye magya tu, mere bἐgye m’agya tu” (I’m coming for my father’s buttocks)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “W’agya tu ne nkye nam dἐ” (Your father’s buttocks when fried is very sweet)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “Matwa bi awe o, matwa bi akyἐ o” (I have eaten some and given some out as gifts)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “Kafra gong, gong, gong, gong, gong” (Sorry o, gong, gong, gong, gong, gong)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Baby Elephant left and told his father what had transpired. His father said maybe the Baby could not hear well so sent his wife.
Mrs. Elephant: Knock, Knock
Ananse: “Hwan naἐbↄ mepunu mu, Hwan naἐbↄ mepunu mu?” (Who is knocking on my door?)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash (Response of agreement)
Mrs. Elephant: It is me, Mrs. Elephant
Ananse: “Na wo pἐ dἐn, na wo pἐ dἐn?” (What do you want?)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Mrs. Elephant: “Mere bἐgye me kunu tu, mere bἐgye me kunu tu” (I’m coming for my husband’s buttocks)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “Wo kunu tu ne nkye nam dἐ” (Your husband’s buttocks when fried is very sweet)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “Matwa bi awe o, matwa bi akyἐ o” (I have eaten some and given some out as gifts)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “Kafra gong, gong, gong, gong, gong” (Sorry o, gong, gong, gong, gong, gong)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Mrs. Elephant also went home to tell her husband the same thing, so Mr. Elephant went to Ananse’s house.
Mr. Elephant: Knock, knock
Ananse: “Hwan naἐbↄ mepunu mu, Hwan naἐbↄ mepunu mu?” (Who is knocking on my door?)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash (Response of agreement)
Elephant: It is me Elephant
Ananse: “Na wo pἐ dἐn, na wo pἐ dἐn?” (What do you want?)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Elephant: “Mere bἐgye me tu, mere bἐgye me tu” (I’m coming for my buttocks)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “Wo tu ne nkye nam dἐ” (Your buttocks when fried is very sweet)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “Matwa bi awe o, matwa bi akyἐ o” (I have eaten some and given some out as gifts)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Ananse: “Kafra gong, gong, gong, gong, gong” (Sorry o, gong, gong, gong, gong, gong)
Ananse’s family respond: Adende gash, adende gash
Mr. Elephant was very shocked at what he was hearing, so he repeated the knock and the same response was given. He got really angry and broke the gate. But before he could kill all of them, Ananse and his family sought refuge in a web at the corner of their house. That is why the spider always lives in webs in corners of houses.
By Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia, as told to me by my late grandmother Naomi Adwoa Pokua Ahwenee.
Mum Cee 