Anansi and the Wisdom
African folk tale (Ashanti)
In Africa, they say the spider Anansi was very clever and wanted to keep all the world's wisdom for himself.
He gathered all the wisdom into a clay pot and decided to hide it high up in a tree, where no one could reach it.
He tied the pot to his belly and tried to climb, but the pot in front kept getting in the way and he slipped again and again. There was no way up!
His son, who was watching, said: «Dad, why don't you put the pot on your back?». And so, at last, he could climb!
Anansi realized that if a child knew something he didn't, wisdom couldn't belong to just one person. So he opened the pot and let the wisdom fly out and spread all over the world.
…and they all lived happily ever after. 🌙
One more story before bed?
The Curupira, Guardian of the Forest →