In Jamaica, the character of Anancy has a reputation of being a trickster or a “jinnal”, who uses his wits to outsmart others in order to further his own agenda. The character is normally depicted as being a spider and is mainly featured in local folk tales and children’s stories. The character of Anansy has its origin in West African folklore and is also known as Ananse, or Kwaku Ananse. In the Dutch Caribbean he is referred to as Nanzi. It is believed that enslaved Africans, specifically the Akan speaking or Asanti people of Ghana, who were brought to Jamaica during the period of the Trans-Atlantic Trade in Africans (during the 17th-19th centuries), carried with them the tales of Anancy and relayed his antics through oral tradition.

There are many stories that tell how Anancy manipulated other West African gods, animals and even his wife (Konnore), and his son (Ntikuma). In the folk tales, Anancy interacts with other animals – Brothers Goat, Rat, Dog, Pig, Tiger and others and always leaves them worse off for the interaction. As such, the folk tales will tell you why “pig mout long”, “why rat live inna hole”, “why mongoose love chicken-meat”, “why fowl eat cockroach”, “why dog fight cat” and so on. Typically, each Anancy story ends with the phrase, “Jack Mandora, mi no choose none”.

Quite apart from being a trickster, Anancy is also regarded as a character of great wisdom. Some researchers suggest that the enslaved Africans used the tales of Anancy to inspire resistance and to promote a sense of African identity while they laboured on plantations in the West Indies. In this regard the character of Anansi was used as a symbol of resilience, hope and determination; traits that were integral to the survival of the enslaved Africans in the face of great adversities and trials associated with plantation society.

Here are a few Anancy Stories titles:-

• Anancy an’ Mongoose
• Bra’ Nancy an Tigar
• Anancy an Cow
• Puss, Dog an Anancy
• Anancy an’ Fire
• Anancy and his Fish-pot
• Anancy an’ Lizard
• Anancy an’ Mangoose
• Cockroach an’ Fowl

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References

• Senior, Olive. Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage. St Andrew: Twin Guinep Publishers Ltd. 2003.
• Bennett, Louise. Anancy and Miss Lou. Kingston: Sangster’s Book Ltd. 2003.
• Tanna, Laura. “Anansi – Jamaica’s Trickster hero.” Jamaica Journal, Vol. 16: 2 (May 1983) 20-30.
• Patterson, Orlando. The Sociology of Slavery: An Analysis of the Origins, Development and Structure of Negro Slave Society in Jamaica. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Presses, Inc., 1969.
• Brathwaite, Edward. The Development of Creole Society in Jamaica 1720-1820. London Oxford University Press, 1971.