Anansi is a trickster god of West African folklore and tradition, particularly among the Ashanti people. Due to the slave trade, his tales spread across the world. Although Anansi is known to some in the United States, those of the Caribbean islands still hold him in great prestige. His tales continue to be passed down among the descendants of former West African slaves almost exclusively through oral tradition. Anansi Himself Anansi the Spider is a shapeshifter. He can appear in the guise of a spider, a man, or a strange conglomeration of the two. As the son of Nyame, the sky god, he must perform tasks for his father, such as bringing the rain to put out fires. Most importantly, he is the god of stories, a title he earned after making a deal with his father and pulling a trick on quite a few others. Stories are irrevocably tied to Anansi, and the two of them have changed the world. …show more content…
He helped others by accident, because he was forced to do so, or because it brings greater benefit to himself. He loves being lazy, playing tricks on others, and laughing at the stupidity of the world. Anansi is a trickster, and he glories in that. His stories however, his Anansisem, are, in a way, quite heroic. Trickster tales are so popular because they have a way of inspiring people. Yes, you may be downtrodden and forgotten, yes, you may be weak and oppressed, but trickster tales reminds us that sometimes the weak overcome the strong. This was the case for the islander slaves so many years ago. Anansi was a hero because his stories gave real people hope and the strength to