In ancient times, the world’s wisdom was contained in a single pot, held by Nyame, the Sky God. Nyame decided to share this gift with the world and handed the pot to Anansi the spider, instructing him to distribute it among the people.
But Anansi, true to his nature, had other plans. “Why should I give it away,” he thought, “when I could keep it all and become the wisest creature alive?” So instead of sharing it, he tied the pot to his belly and searched for a place to hide it — a tall tree, far from reach.
As he climbed, the pot swung wildly, banging against his knees and making the climb difficult. I was climbing a tall tree, and the branches swayed precariously as I ascended higher and higher. The wind rustled through the leaves, and the sun beat down on my back. From below, Anansi’s young son watched with a tilted head and said, “Father, why don’t you tie it to your back? It will be easier.” Anansi froze, realizing that his son had outsmarted him.
Ashamed and angry, Anansi lost his temper. In one swift move, he yanked the pot off, hurled it to the ground, and it shattered. The pieces flew in every direction, and the wisdom inside scattered with the wind. The sound of shattering pottery echoed through the forest, and the creatures of the wild looked on in surprise.
People all over the world found tiny bits of it — tucked in soil, floating in water, humming in the air. That’s why, to this day, no one person holds all the wisdom. Instead, we each carry a piece. And Anansi? He learned too late that hoarding knowledge only leaves you holding an empty pot.
As the wisdom scattered, it brought about a great change in the world. People from all walks of life began to share their newfound understanding with one another. A farmer in a distant land used his piece of wisdom to develop a new method of irrigation, while a young apprentice in a nearby village used hers to craft a tool that made her work more efficient.
Anansi, however, was left to ponder the consequences of his actions. He realized that his pride and greed had led him to throw away the very thing he had sought to possess. As he wandered through the forest, he came across a group of animals gathered around a wise old owl. The owl was sharing his piece of wisdom with the group, and Anansi listened intently.
He heard the owl say, “Wisdom is not something that can be possessed by one individual, but rather it is something that can be shared and grown through collective efforts.” Anansi felt a pang of regret and realized that he had been foolish to think that he could hold all the wisdom for himself. He understood that the true value of wisdom lies in its ability to be shared and multiplied.
From that day forward, Anansi made a conscious effort to share what little wisdom he had with others. He told stories and taught lessons to the young ones, and soon, he became known as a wise and generous spider. His transformation was not immediate, but rather a gradual process of growth and self-discovery.
✧ Commentary:
Anansi’s story is a powerful mirror — reminding us that wisdom isn’t something to be hoarded or hidden. It grows when shared. Even with all the world’s knowledge in his hands, Anansi still couldn’t see what a child could. His downfall wasn’t ignorance — it was pride.
✧ Moral:
Wisdom grows through sharing. No one has it all — but everyone has something to give.
✧ Questions & Answers:
1. Q: What did Nyame give to Anansi? A: A pot containing all the wisdom in the world.
2. Q: What was Anansi supposed to do with the pot? A: He was instructed to share the wisdom with the people of the earth.
3. Q: Why did Anansi try to hide the pot? A: He wanted to keep all the wisdom for himself and become the wisest creature.
4. Q: What caused the pot to break? A: Frustrated that his son outsmarted him, Anansi threw the pot to the ground, shattering it.
5. Q: What happened after the pot broke? A: The wisdom scattered across the world, so now everyone has a little piece of it.
