In his old age, the clever but cunning spider Anansi turned to fishing. The rivers and seas had long been a source of life for his people, and though his body was still strong, his eyes began to betray him. At first, it was a blur in the morning light. Then, as seasons passed, the blur deepened into darkness. Finally, he became completely blind.
Yet Anansi was determined not to give up. He remained sturdy, his muscles still sharp from years of scheming and trickery. Two kind-hearted men took pity on him and became his guides and companions. Each morning, they would meet him at his hut, lead him carefully to the shore, and help him into the canoe. On the water, they told him exactly where to cast his net, and when it was time to pull it in. When the canoe reached the beach again, they guided him so well that he could step out without even wetting his feet.
For many weeks, this routine carried on. The men worked patiently, never complaining, and always ensuring that Anansi’s blindness did not hinder his fishing. But instead of being grateful, Anansi’s sharp tongue grew sharper still. Whenever the men told him where to drop his net, he snapped:
“I know! I was just about to cast it there!”
When they told him the canoe had reached the shore, he retorted:
“Do you think I am a fool? I know perfectly well we are on land! I was just about to step out.”
At first, the men bore his rudeness in silence. But as the days passed, his words grew harsher, and his pride more unbearable. Gratitude never passed his lips. His arrogance was like a thorn that dug deeper each day into their patience. At last, they decided that enough was enough.
Anansi’s Pride on the Water
One bright morning, the routine began as always. The men led Anansi to the canoe.
“Step in, Anansi,” they said gently.
“Do you think I cannot tell where the canoe is?” he barked. “I am not a child!”
Swallowing their anger, the men rowed silently. They reached the fishing ground, where fish swam thick beneath the waves.
“Cast your net here, Anansi,” they advised.
“I know, I know! Must you always talk? You think I cannot manage on my own?” he snapped, his voice dripping with insult.
Still, the men endured, helping him pull in a net heavy with fish. The canoe grew full, its bottom glistening with silver scales. With their work complete, they turned the canoe toward home. Yet as they rowed, the men exchanged a glance. Today, they would repay Anansi for his ingratitude.
The Fall of the Blind Fisherman
When they had rowed some distance, the men stopped paddling. One of them said calmly,
“Here we are at the beach, Anansi.”
“Hah!” scoffed Anansi. “What fools you are! Do you think I cannot tell we have reached the shore? I knew it long before you spoke.”
Without hesitation, he leapt proudly from the canoe, expecting the firm sand beneath his feet. But instead of sand, he plunged into deep water. Cold waves closed over his head. He spluttered and thrashed, realizing too late that he had been deceived.
The men quickly paddled away, leaving him to his fate.
Now, like all men of his land, Anansi was a strong swimmer. His arms cut through the water, but blindness is a cruel curse. He could not see where the shore lay. He swam one way, then another, but every direction felt the same—endless water, no land. His strength drained from him, and at last, exhaustion overtook him. The clever spider who once outwitted gods and men alike sank beneath the waves and drowned.
Thus ended the tale of Anansi the Blind Fisherman.
Moral Lesson
This story teaches the timeless truth that pride and ingratitude destroy even the strongest among us. Anansi’s blindness was not his downfall, it was his arrogance and refusal to show humility or appreciation. Those who scorn kindness will one day find themselves without it, and those who fail to value help may lose the very hands that hold them up. Gratitude is not weakness; it is wisdom.
Knowledge Check
1. Who is Anansi in the folktale Anansi the Blind Fisherman?
Anansi is the old, blind fisherman who mistreats his helpers despite their kindness.
2. What role did the two men play in the story of Anansi the Blind Fisherman?
They guided Anansi daily, helping him fish and return safely to shore.
3. Why did the two men decide to punish Anansi?
They grew tired of his rudeness and ingratitude after repeatedly helping him.
4. How did Anansi meet his downfall in the Ashanti folktale?
He leapt into deep water, believing it was the beach, and drowned because he could not see land.
5. What lesson does the story of Anansi the Blind Fisherman teach?
It warns against arrogance and ingratitude, highlighting the value of humility and appreciation.
6. What is the cultural origin of Anansi the Blind Fisherman?
It is an Ashanti folktale from Ghana.
Source: Ghanaian Folktale
