ANANZI and BABOON
by Unknown · from Popular Tales from the Norse
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, in a sunny land, lived Ananzi the spider and Baboon. Ananzi the spider and Baboon were friends. They wondered who was bigger. "I am big," said Ananzi. "No, I am bigger," said Baboon.
They made a game. They would hang from a tree branch. One would hang first. They would see who was bigger.
Baboon helped Ananzi hang up. Ananzi was small. Nothing happened. Ananzi did not get bigger.
Then Ananzi helped Baboon hang up. Baboon was big. Ananzi saw this. Ananzi had a bad idea. He felt very greedy.
Ananzi was very tricky. He told Baboon a secret. Baboon went inside Ananzi's tummy. This was very bad.
But Baboon was still there. Baboon wiggled inside Ananzi. Ananzi's tummy hurt. He felt very bad. He had no rest.
Ananzi needed help. He went to The Doctor. The Doctor was kind. He listened to Ananzi.
The Doctor told Ananzi a plan. "Do not eat for a while," he said. "Then get a ripe banana. Hold it near your mouth."
Ananzi felt bad again. He went back to The Doctor. The Doctor took a banana. He held it to Ananzi's mouth.
Baboon smelled the banana. Baboon was very hungry. He jumped out fast. He came out of Ananzi's mouth.
Ananzi was very happy. He was free now. He felt much better.
Baboon ate the banana. Baboons love bananas still today. Ananzi learned a lesson. Being greedy is not good.
Original Story
ANANZI AND BABOON
Ananzi and Baboon were disputing one day which was fattest. Ananzi said he was sure he was fat, but Baboon declared he was fatter. Then Ananzi proposed that they should prove it; so they made a fire, and agreed that they should hang up before it, and see which would drop most fat.
Then Baboon hung up Ananzi first, but no fat dropped.
Then Ananzi hung up Baboon, and very soon the fat began to drop, which smelt so good that Ananzi cut a slice out of Baboon, and said,
“Oh! brother Baboon, you’re fat for true.”
But Baboon didn’t speak.
So Ananzi said, “Well, speak or not speak, I’ll eat you every bit to-day”, which he really did. But when he had eaten up all Baboon, the bits joined themselves together in his stomach, and began to pull him about so much that he had no rest, and was obliged to go to a doctor.
The doctor told him not to eat anything for some days, then he was to get a ripe banana, and hold it to his mouth; when the Baboon, who would be hungry, smelt the banana, he would be sure to run up to eat it, and so he would run out of his mouth.
So Ananzi starved himself, and got the banana, and did as the doctor told him; but when he put the banana to his mouth, he was so hungry he couldn’t help eating it. So he didn’t get rid of the Baboon, which went on pulling him about till he was obliged to go back to the doctor, who told him he would soon cure him; and he took the banana, and held it to Ananzi’s mouth, and very soon the Baboon jumped up to catch it, and ran out of his mouth; and Ananzi was very glad to get rid of him. And Baboons to this very day like bananas.
Story DNA
Moral
Greed and deceit often lead to unexpected and uncomfortable consequences.
Plot Summary
Ananzi and Baboon dispute who is fatter, leading to a contest where they hang over a fire. Ananzi tricks Baboon, then eats him whole when his fat begins to drop. However, Baboon reassembles inside Ananzi's stomach, causing him immense discomfort. Ananzi seeks a doctor, who devises a cure involving a banana to lure the hungry Baboon out of Ananzi's mouth, finally freeing him and explaining why baboons love bananas to this day.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to discomfort to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Anansi stories often feature the spider as a cunning, often greedy, character who outsmarts others but sometimes faces consequences for his actions.
Plot Beats (13)
- Ananzi and Baboon argue about who is fatter.
- They agree to a contest: hang over a fire to see who drops the most fat.
- Baboon hangs Ananzi first, but no fat drops.
- Ananzi hangs Baboon, and Baboon's fat starts to drop, smelling delicious.
- Ananzi cuts a slice from Baboon, then decides to eat him entirely.
- After Ananzi eats Baboon, the pieces reassemble inside his stomach and cause him severe discomfort.
- Ananzi seeks a doctor for help.
- The doctor advises Ananzi to starve himself, then hold a ripe banana to his mouth to lure Baboon out.
- Ananzi tries the cure but is too hungry and eats the banana himself, failing to get rid of Baboon.
- Ananzi returns to the doctor, who takes the banana and holds it to Ananzi's mouth.
- Baboon, smelling the banana, jumps out of Ananzi's mouth to catch it.
- Ananzi is finally free and relieved.
- The story concludes by explaining that Baboons' love for bananas stems from this event.
Characters
Ananzi
A small, wiry spider, but with an exaggeratedly round, distended belly after eating Baboon. His eight legs are thin and spindly, typical of a spider, but he stands and moves with human-like dexterity. His body is covered in fine, dark, almost black hairs, giving him a slightly fuzzy appearance.
Attire: None. He is depicted in his natural spider form, perhaps with a slight sheen on his chitinous exoskeleton.
Wants: To prove his superiority (initially), to satisfy his hunger, to get rid of the discomfort caused by Baboon.
Flaw: His insatiable greed and gluttony, which leads him to eat Baboon and then struggle with the consequences.
He starts as a boastful trickster, becomes a gluttonous victim of his own actions, and ends up relieved but unchanged in his fundamental trickster nature.
Cunning, greedy, selfish, mischievous, gluttonous.
Baboon
A robust, muscular baboon with a thick, shaggy coat of brown fur. He is larger and more physically imposing than Ananzi. His face has the characteristic elongated snout and prominent brow ridges of a baboon.
Attire: None. He is depicted in his natural baboon form, with his shaggy fur.
Wants: To prove he is the fattest, to escape Ananzi's stomach.
Flaw: His trust in Ananzi's 'game' and his physical vulnerability to Ananzi's trickery.
Starts as a boastful competitor, becomes a victim, then a source of torment, and finally escapes, retaining his love for bananas.
Boastful, competitive, somewhat naive (to fall for Ananzi's trick), resilient (to reassemble himself).
The Doctor
A wise and calm figure, perhaps with a lean build, suggesting a life of study and observation. Their skin tone is likely dark, consistent with the story's African origins. They wear simple, practical clothing.
Attire: Simple, practical garments made of natural fibers like cotton or linen, perhaps a tunic and trousers in earthy tones, suggesting a traditional healer or village elder. No elaborate adornments.
Wants: To heal Ananzi and restore balance.
Flaw: None explicitly shown; they are presented as competent and effective.
Remains a consistent figure of wisdom and help, providing the solution to Ananzi's predicament.
Wise, observant, patient, helpful, effective.
Locations
Clearing in the Forest
A secluded, open space within a dense, tropical forest, likely with rich, dark soil and dappled sunlight filtering through a thick canopy of broad-leafed trees. The air is humid and still.
Mood: Initially competitive and playful, turning grim and predatory.
Ananzi and Baboon have their fat-measuring contest, leading to Baboon's demise.
Doctor's Hut
A simple, traditional West African hut, likely constructed from mud and wattle with a thatched roof. The interior would be dimly lit, perhaps with a small opening for light and air, and contain basic, natural furnishings and tools for healing.
Mood: Mysterious, hopeful, and eventually successful.
Ananzi consults the doctor to get rid of the Baboon inside him, and eventually succeeds.