Sankofa Creative Competition: KWEKU ANANSE AND THE GREAT FAMINE

Once upon a time, there was this great famine in a town called "Bisa Biribi". In the town lived Ananse, his wife and his two children . Famished with hunger, Ananse decided to go to a distant land where he could get some food for the family. He took along a bit of kenkey and some water. After a whole day's journey, having become very hungry and tired, Ananse sat under a tree to eat some food. 

Suddenly, an old woman appeared and asked Ananse to share his food with her. Although the food was so little, Anase gave half of it to the old woman. After they had eaten and drunk some water, the old woman gave Ananse a flat, white plate which was capable of producing abundant food for anybody who ever asked it the right question. The question was: "what is your name, white plate?". As soon as Ananase asked the plate this question, several other plates appeared from nowhere and were each full of different types of food. He and the old woman ate as much of the food as possible. It was a sumptuous  feast and after they had eaten their fill and needed no more, Ananse was asked to say to the plate, " It is enough", and the rest of the food and the other plates vanished  leaving the white plate behind. The old woman then asked Ananse to take the plate home. 

On the way back, Ananse had to spend the night at an inn by the wayside because it was getting dark. The innkeeper was surprised that although Ananse appeared to be tired and hungry, he wouldn't eat anything given to him. This made him very curious and to his amusement found out about the magic plate. Late in the night, the inn's keeper woke up to steal the magic plate and replaced it with a new white plate. Ananse journeyed back to "Bisa Biribi" with joy expecting to have a feast with his family on arrival. Upon arrival, Ananse called his wife and the two daughters into his room and told them the mysteries that he has come across. He tried to demonstrate the action of the white plate but all efforts to get the plate to produce food for him and his family became futile. Ananse was greatly disappointed and so was the whole family. 

After such disappointment, Ananse decided to  return to the old woman who gave him the first plate. In the moro, Ananse set off to his destination. He reached the spot where she had his first meal and decided to eat again under that same tree. Not long did the old woman appear asking to join Ananse to enjoy his meal. Ananse shared his meal with the old woman and after the meal, the old woman gave Ananse a very nice small square box. The little box had the capability to produce gold dust when tapped three times in on the upper side followed by saying " OPEN". The box will open with plenty of gold dust in it to be collected and the process could be repeated as many times as one wants.

Ananse once again was so happy and decided to return home. On his journey back, the night drew nigh and he needed a place to lay down his head as he had reached the inn. Once again, the innkeeper stole Ananse's box and replaced it with a similar box and ananse couldn't detect it in the morning as he journeyed back home. On arrival, he once again called his family into his room to show them the mysterious box which was capable of producing gold dust. To his greatest disappointed, the box didn't open upon three taps followed by the word "open". Ananse was disgraced once again in front of his family. He was so ashamed as he wanted to commit suicide but his wife was able to console him. 

Ananse was so astounded that he decided to go to the old woman for the last time to tell his story. Upon arrival, the old woman didn't listen to anything Ananse had to say and gave him a nice looking walking stick. He told Ananse to return home and that he must spend the night at the inn. Ananse followed the instructions of the old woman. When he reached the inn, the keeper welcomed him and gave him a place to sleep. Late in the night when Ananse had fallen asleep, the innkeeper came for Ananse's walking stick. As he held the stick, he asked it several quetsions of which one happened to be the right question for the stick to begin action. The innkeeper asked: " What is your name?" and the stick answered, I punish!. At once the stick started beating the innkeeper. He was badly beaten that he swore never to steal again. The stick continued to pursue him and the prolonged noise of the crying and agonizing shouts brought out of their beds those who were sleeping. Ananse saw what was happening and was so delighted to have found the culprit of the previous thefts. Finally, the innkeeper, unable to bear any more punishment, brought out the white plate and the box which he had previously stolen and the stick stopped beating him. 

Ananse returned home happily leaving with the plate and the box. He left behind the walking stick with the innkeeper as a present. On the way home he tried the white plate out and he realized it was the right plate. So on arrival, he called another family meeting and no one was interested in such a meeting because for their previous experiences but Ananse persuaded them to come. First he asked the white plate to produce enough food for his wife and the two children. It was amazing what they saw: plenty of food which they ate and ate and ate and after that the gold dust from the box . Ananse and his family became rich overnight and the joy and happiness of the family knew no bounds. 

This is quite an old folktale about the spider (Ananse ) who is believed to be the wisest creature ever made in the African Folktales. I remember it from my childhood by the fireside stories. Lessons from the story shows us to persevere as we continue to steem. Don't be that wise innkeeper for the law will eventually catch up on you. And if you try hard and you thrive on a good path, your rewards will be like that of Ananse and his Family. Hope you enjoyed this tale about Ananse and his family.