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Stefan
Stefan Scherbik
United States, NJ, Mt. Laurel

Words: 598
Access: Public
Comments: 1

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Ananse the Spider Man Finds Music

Maybe you've read the story of Ananse/Anansy the Spider Man? He wins the ability to write from the sky god. Well, you probably didn't know that he found music for the world as well. Yep, he did indeed. I have the proof right here:


Ananse the Spider Man Finds Music

It was long ago when there was no music in the world. The great Cloud God kept all of the world’s music in a trinket around his neck. Ananse the Spider Man spun a web up high to meet the Cloud God, who demanded of Ananse, “You complete three tasks and you shall have your music.”
“I will gladly do your favors,” Ananse said.
“You must teach the Mountains to sing, the goats to drum, and Bisi the Wise Parrot to play flute.”
And Ananse set about his tasks without fear.
He traveled to the Great Mountains of the East and hatched a plan. He found a stick and coated it in gum resin and leaves to make a plug. He stuffed it deep into a hot steam hole in the mountain’s base. He waited for the sun to rise and pulled the plug out, to which the mountain gave a high pitched “wiiihhhhh.”
The Cloud God saw this and scoffed.
Ananse went next to the Great Prairie of the South where the goats foraged. He hid in the bushes until the sun rose and the goats surrounded the bush to feed. Ananse poked one of the goats with a bone needle, to which the goat bashed the goat to his left with his horns. Ananse poked another goat, who did the same thing. He poked the goats and they made drum music.
The Cloud God saw this and scoffed.
Next Ananse went to the jungles of the West. He made a paste of the tasty fruits of the trees and with his hands he made a whistle from the bamboo. He covered the whistle in the paste and stuck it to the perch of Bisi the Wise Parrot. The Parrot flew to his home, and when he saw his gift claimed, “Oh, the jungle has left me a cone-shaped treat!” Bisi tried to gobble up his gift, but the whistle hidden inside got stuck in his beak. He tried to shout for help, but only flute music came out.
The Cloud God saw this and scoffed.
Ananse the Spider Man returned to his village in the North and climbed his web to the Great Cloud God.
“Ananse,” he said, “I did not think a small man of the village could complete my tasks. But you are cleverer than most men.”
And so Ananse was awarded all of the world’s music in a trinket. Ananse dubbed himself a Griot, and from then on traveled dealing out a little music for each village, mountain, prairie, or jungle.







As an interesting disclaimer, the Italian word for pineapple is "ananas." That's awfully close to the name "Ananse." Also, put a "b" in front of "ananas," and you have "bananas," which is another fruit, which is especially wierd because the English word for ananas is pineapple, which is comprised of Pine and Apple, apple being another fruit. That's like four fruits in one! Speaking of apples and Italians, the Italian word for apple is "mela," which is an anagram for meal, and an apple makes a fine meal. I think I'm going to go and drink some succo d'ananas now.

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Comments  
schwagkilla Comment by: schwagkilla - 2008-05-07 17:17
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Nicely written. Very fable-like in concept. Interesting disclaimer at the end - did you figure that one out for yourself?
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