Anansi the Spider

Anansi is a famous spider from West African folktales. He is small but very, very clever. He uses tricks and cunning to outsmart animals much bigger than him. Anansi stories began with the Ashanti people of Ghana and spread all over the world.

The Clever Trickster

Anansi is known for being the cleverest creature in the forest. He once tricked the sky god Nyame into giving him all the world's stories. He caught a python, a leopard, and a swarm of hornets to win the stories. That is why all stories are sometimes called 'spider stories.'

Anansi Around the World

When West Africans were taken to the Caribbean and Americas, they brought Anansi stories with them. In Jamaica, Anansi became a beloved folk hero. The stories helped people feel brave and clever during hard times. Today, Anansi stories are told in many countries around the world.

Fun Facts

• Anansi sometimes appears as a spider and sometimes as a man.
• In some Caribbean islands, all folktales are called 'Anansi stories.'
• Anansi's tricks sometimes backfire and teach him a lesson about greed or pride.

Did You Know?

Anansi is so popular that a crater on Saturn's moon Titan was named Anansi. Even in space, the little spider is famous!