Once upon a time, there was a village called Nsem Pii. For many years, the village suffered greatly from famine. People died from hunger, and many heads of families died from the shame of being unable to provide for their households. Yet Kwaku Ananse, the great spider, used his wit and cunning to keep his family alive.
One day, a grand sporting event was held, and animals from far and near gathered to watch. Kwaku Ananse also attended, though his true intention was not merely to spectate, but to find someone he could trick for his own gain.
As Ananse stood among the crowd, Mr. Elephant, who was seated nearby, noticed him and felt uncomfortable seeing him remain standing. Out of courtesy, he asked Ananse to sit. Ananse replied dramatically that he could never sit on the bare ground, hoping Elephant would offer him a place upon his tail. However, Elephant remained silent, and Ananse also let the matter rest.
As the event drew to an end, Ananse began spreading a rumour that there was plenty of food across the great River Nyansapo. The king of the village had long forbidden the larger animals from crossing the river because the river itself sustained the people of Nsem Pii. Seizing the opportunity, Ananse secretly told Elephant that if he could cross the river, he would bring back enough food for everyone.
He then persuaded Elephant to cut off part of his buttocks for him to use as a canoe to cross the river. Ananse promised faithfully that he would return both with food and with Elephant’s buttocks once he came back.
Elephant, greedy to keep the secret to himself and not wanting the other animals to know, agreed to Ananse’s request.
Although Elephant offered to accompany him to the riverbank, Ananse declined, explaining that too many people might notice them together and become suspicious. Convinced, Elephant returned home to wait for the promised food.
The moment Elephant left, Ananse hurried home and asked his wife, Okonore Yaa, to fry part of Elephant’s flesh. He even sent one of his children to share some of the meat with their starving neighbour, Butterfly, whose children were close to death from hunger.
Meanwhile, Elephant, hoping to surprise his wife with the food Ananse would bring, said nothing to her about the agreement. He waited patiently, but Ananse never returned. After many hours, Elephant grew worried and sent his child to Ananse’s house to find out whether he had returned and to collect his buttocks.
Baby Elephant arrived at Ananse’s house and knocked on the door.
Baby Elephant: Knock! Knock!
Ananse: “Hwan na ɛbɔ me punu mu, hwan na ɛbɔ me punu mu?”
(Who is knocking at my door?)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
(A chorus of agreement)
Baby Elephant: It is me, Baby Elephant.
Ananse: “Na wo pɛ dɛn, na wo pɛ dɛn?”
(What do you want?)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Baby Elephant: “Mere bɛgye m’agya tu, mere bɛgye m’agya tu.”
(I have come for my father’s buttocks.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “W’agya tu ne nkye nam dɛ!”
(Your father’s buttocks taste very sweet when fried.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “Matwa bi awe o, matwa bi akyɛ o!”
(I have eaten some and shared some as gifts.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “Kafra gong, gong, gong, gong, gong!”
(Sorry! Gong, gong, gong, gong, gong!)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Baby Elephant returned home and repeated everything he had heard to his father. Elephant refused to believe it and assumed the child must have misunderstood, so he sent his wife instead.
Mrs. Elephant also went to Ananse’s house and knocked.
Mrs. Elephant: Knock! Knock!
Ananse: “Hwan na ɛbɔ me punu mu, hwan na ɛbɔ me punu mu?”
(Who is knocking at my door?)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Mrs. Elephant: It is me, Mrs. Elephant.
Ananse: “Na wo pɛ dɛn, na wo pɛ dɛn?”
(What do you want?)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Mrs. Elephant: “Mere bɛgye me kunu tu, mere bɛgye me kunu tu.”
(I have come for my husband’s buttocks.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “Wo kunu tu ne nkye nam dɛ!”
(Your husband’s buttocks taste very sweet when fried.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “Matwa bi awe o, matwa bi akyɛ o!”
(I have eaten some and shared some as gifts.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “Kafra gong, gong, gong, gong, gong!”
(Sorry! Gong, gong, gong, gong, gong!)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Mrs. Elephant also returned home with the same shocking story. Furious and confused, Mr. Elephant decided to go himself.
When he arrived, he knocked heavily on Ananse’s door.
Mr. Elephant: Knock! Knock!
Ananse: “Hwan na ɛbɔ me punu mu, hwan na ɛbɔ me punu mu?”
(Who is knocking at my door?)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Elephant: It is me, Elephant.
Ananse: “Na wo pɛ dɛn, na wo pɛ dɛn?”
(What do you want?)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Elephant: “Mere bɛgye me tu, mere bɛgye me tu.”
(I have come for my buttocks.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “Wo tu ne nkye nam dɛ!”
(Your buttocks taste very sweet when fried.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “Matwa bi awe o, matwa bi akyɛ o!”
(I have eaten some and shared some as gifts.)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Ananse: “Kafra gong, gong, gong, gong, gong!”
(Sorry! Gong, gong, gong, gong, gong!)
Ananse’s family: “Adende gash, adende gash!”
Mr. Elephant was horrified by what he heard. In anger, he repeated the knock, but the same mocking response echoed from inside the house. Enraged, Elephant smashed down the gate and stormed in. However, before he could catch them, Ananse and his family escaped into a web in the corner of the house and hid there for safety.
And that is why spiders to this day live in webs in the corners of houses.
By Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia, as told to me by my late grandmother, Naomi Adwoa Pokua Ahwenee.
Mum Cee 