Long long ago, in the age before television, the village of the Ashanti people stood close to the Niger river in Africa. Life was difficult for the Ashanti because a great python lived along the river bank. This python would eat the Ashanti’s goats and cows as they came down to the river to drink. Sometimes if the people weren’t careful the python would eat one of the Ashanti as well. The people didn’t know what to do so they sent a messenger to Nyanse, the sky god. On hearing their complaint Nyanse scratched his head and considered the issue.
“I cannot choose between you” Nyanse said at least. “Though I regret his greed and gluttony, the python is also my child as well as you. However there is a man named Kwake Ananse, the spider man, who thinks he is the most clever man in the world. I am getting tired of his boasting. Go to him and tell him if he can get rid of the python for you then I will believe him but if he can’t then he will be punished.”
The Ashanti messenger went off to find Ananse and tell him of the challenge of Nyanse. On hearing the news Ananse laughed.
“Of course I can get rid of your python for you” he said. “First you must tell me how big he is, is he longer then my hut?”
“Much, much longer” the messenger replied.
“Longer then the chiefs hut?”
“Longer then that.”
“Longer then six huts?” Ananse asked.
“Maybe just a little longer then that. But he is also fat and strong.”
Ananse just smiled.
“Listen well then, tomorrow at dawn your village must bring to the river bank a big bowl of powdered yam, some eggs, and a calabash of good palm wine. Then I will get rid of the python for you.”
The messenger agreed and hurried back to tell the villagers the news. The next morning Ananse went out with his axe and down a straight young tree. He then carried it down to the river. Once there he found the yams, eggs, and wine as the villagers promised. In the distance he could hear the funeral drums start to play in the village. Ananse just smiled to himself, the villagers were so certain he would fail they were already starting his funeral. Ananse sat down on a stump near the pythons hole and began a conversation with himself in two different voices, one high and the other low.
“The python is a very beautiful creature,” he said in the high voice. “I cannot understand why the villagers dislike him. He is a very fine fellow I say.”
“You lie, you live,” He then said in the deep voice. “The python is short, skinny and very ugly. No wonder people hate him when he steals their beasts and children.”
The python was woken up by this apparent argument and laid in his hole listening to it.
“No, no, no,” said the first voice “The python is a friend, it’s not his fault he gets hungry. If those mean Ashanti were to offer him some powdered yam, some eggs, and a calabash of good wine he would not have to steal.”
“Who says the Ashanti are mean!” Growled the deep voice in anger. “I’ll make you eat those words!”
With that the python heard the thud of blows, some banging on the ground, then the apparent sound of running feet. Being curious he poked his head out of the hole to see who had spoken so highly of him. It was nothing but the truth of course in his mind!
He slithered up to Ananse who was sitting alone on the bank of the river. The python was a fearsome sight and even Ananse was frightened. He kept his head however and greeted the python like an old friend.
“Thank you so much for coming brother python” he greeted. “You are indeed all that I said you were. Did you hear me running off that foolsih man? You ought to have seen him run. Now come and have the meal I’ve brought you.”
The python was hungry after his long sleep so he gladly swallowed all that was put before him, the powdered yam, the eggs, and especially the calabash of good wine.
When the python was done with his mean Ananse said, “Brother python, I have a favor to ask you. That foolish man I was arguing with said you weren’t long enough to go around his hut once while I know you are as long as six huts together. Could I measure you with this log I’ve brought along?”
The python was feeling sleepy and not as clear headed as he normally was because of all the wine he had drunk so he consented to the strange request. He stretched himself on himself out along the straight young tree. The python was so long that he was longer then the tree itself.
“Well friend, how do I measure?” the python asked.
“Not so hasty, not so hasty,” Ananse replied. “I have to measure you Ashanti fashion. To be quite sure I must tie to the log with these vines.”
With that he took some vines growing nearby and wound them around the python and the log. All the while Ananse counted aloud some measurements as if taking a strict count of the pythons length. Soon the monster python was well and truly bound.
His task accomplished Kwake Ananse went back to the tree stump and brought out his axe. The python began to look alarmed.
“Come now friend” the python said. “Untie me, these ropes are tight and the sun is very hot. Surely you must have my measure by now.”
“I have your measure all right” laughed Ananse.
At the top of his voice he shouted to the villagers, calling them to come and look. When they arrived they could hardly believe their eyes. There was the huge python tied to the log unable to move. As they stood dumbfounded Ananse went to the tail.
“I have taken your measure and find it wanting!” He said.
With that he raised his axe and with a swish, chopped off the pythons tail.
“That is for the goat you stole”
Swish went the axe again.
“That is for the cow, that for the other goat” he continued.
At each blow the villagers cheered and cheered. Soon the monster python was chopped into little bits and the last blow chopped off the head. The villagers congratulatedAnanse for ridding them of the hated python. Afterwards Ananse went to Nyame who kept his promise and declared Kwake Ananse was the most clever man in the world and that he would be forever remembered in stories. Ever since then people have told many stories about the crafty spider man.