In a time before humans wrote books, Nyame, the great Sky God, held all the world’s stories. They were locked away in a golden box, kept out of reach of humans and creatures alike. These stories held the wisdom, the laughter, the tragedies, and the triumphs of all beings.
Anansi, the spider, was clever and witty, but he was not content. He yearned for the stories. More than gold or jewels, he understood their true worth. So, he went to Nyame and asked, “Mighty Nyame, I wish to possess your stories. Name your price.”
Nyame looked at the small creature with amusement. “You desire my stories? Then bring me three things: the Silent Songbird of the West, Mmoboro the Hornet’s stinging potion, and, finally, the teeth of Onini, the great python.”
These tasks seemed impossible, but Anansi was undeterred. With cleverness and wit, he trapped the Silent Songbird by mimicking its call. He managed to collect Mmoboro’s stinging potion by pretending that it was raining and offering the hornet a dry gourd to stay in, then sealing it. For Onini, he tricked the python into stretching his length to prove he was longer than a bamboo pole, allowing Anansi to tie him to it.
With the three items, Anansi returned to Nyame. Impressed, Nyame handed over the golden box of stories. “They are yours,” he said, “but remember, with possession comes responsibility.”
Anansi released the stories upon the world. They flew everywhere, into the ears of humans, animals, and spirits. Some stories were of joy, some of wisdom, some of warnings, and some of laughter.
And while Anansi had the honor of being the Keeper of Stories, he understood Nyame’s words. He realized stories weren’t to be hoarded but shared, for in sharing, the stories acquired their true meaning.
Moral: True wealth and wisdom are not in possessing, but in sharing and understanding.