Animal Tricksters
Animal tricksters occur in tales from the West, East, Central, and Southern African community. The animal tricksters differ from culture to culture. The hare is the most prominent trickster among people of East, Central, and Southern Africa. He is also important among the Jukan and Angass of Nigeria. The tortoise is the trickster hero among the Yoruba, Edo, and Ibo of Nigeria. The spider is the animal trickster in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Gold Coast. Each culture has its own unique way of describing and utilizing its trickster. Animal tricksters have exceptional qualities, mental agility, and extraordinary capabilities. They are portrayed as lazy, greedy, talented, clever, and mischievous. They deceive friends, acquaintances, and adversaries in pursuing their own selfish ends. The storyteller's audience appreciates the wit that leads the animal trickster from one victory to another.
Ananse the Spider
The telling of Ananse stories dates back to Ancient times. Ananse, the spider, is one of the major trickster characters in West African folktales. The Ananse folktales were originally told in Ghana, Africa. Ananse is a Ghanaian name for spider. "Ananse is a complex character who can play a plurality of roles."11 Sometimes Ananse is personified to bring the story to life. Ananse plays human roles when his deeds are successful. In time of tragedy, especially when Ananse is humiliated, he shows his true image as a real spider. Ananse is characterized as clever, jealous, mischievous, and greedy. His greediness, mischief and trickery can't be outshined. The spider tales have traveled from Africa to the Caribbean Islands. Sometimes the spelling has changed from Ananse to Anansi. There is always a lesson to be learned from Anansi. Some of the Ananse folktales include: "Ananse and Some Strong Animals," "Ananse and the Cows," "Ananse the Daring Messenger," and "Ananse and the Greedy Lion."
In the Ghana trickster tale, "Ananse and the Greedy Lion," the lion was a bully to some of the small animals. He demanded that Ananse hunt for him. Ananse suggested that they dig a long trench to trap the animals. The lion told Ananse to dig the trench by himself. Ananse dug a trench and planted sharp stakes and poisonous thorns. He covered the trench with light palm branches and dry leaves. Ananse told the lion to go to the other side of the forest to roar and scare the animals toward the trap. Many animals got trapped and killed in the trench. Ananse and the lion had more meat than they could eat. Ananse was ordered by the lion to carry all the meat to the house. The lion didn't allow Ananse to eat. Later the lion ordered Ananse to cook dinner for him. Although Ananse was tired, angry, and hungry, he cooked for the lion. Ananse thought of a way to free himself from the lion. Ananse found a huge deer to cook for the lion. He smeared the deer with poison from a deadly plant. After devouring the poison meat, the lion complained of a stomachache. The lion died of meat poison. Ananse was free. Ananse and his family went to the trench daily to collect food.
Ajapa the Tortoise
The Yoruba find the trickster folktales appealing because they can comment on antisocial behavior. Many children in Yoruba are exposed to Ajapa tales. Ajapa, the tortoise, is the animal trickster among the Yoruba of West Africa. He is the most frequent protagonist of Yoruba folktales. His popularity equals that of Ananse, the spider. Ajapa is known for his mischievous tricks to secure advantage for himself with little or no physical effort or material resources. Ajapa is portrayed as being so lazy that he will not work for a living. In times of scarcity of food, he relies on trickery and the reluctant generosity of some friends to obtain food. Aside from being lazy and greedy, Ajapa refuses to share with any animal. In "Ajapa and Inaki the Baboon," Ajapa reveals his gratuitous defiance.
He manipulates Ekun, the leopard to his own purpose. The tortoise also plays the role of the trickster in the folktales of the Kalabari in southeastern Nigeria, where he is named Ikaki. In Cameroon, east of Nigeria, the tortoise is named Ekaga. Some of the Ajapa tales include: "Ajapa and Kiniun the King Lion," "Ajapa Humbles Erin the Elephant," and "Ajapa, Aja the Dog, and the Yams."
In many of the trickster tales Ajapa's deeds are not successful. This is illustrated in the tale, "Ajapa, Aja the Dog, and the Yams." Ajapa, Aja, and their families faced starvation. Aja figured out a way to feed his family. He stole a few yams from the neighboring farmers. Aja made sure that he didn't take too many yams, just enough to feed his family. Ajapa noticed that Aja's family was doing well. Ajapa wanted to know how Aja was able to help his family. Aja finally took Ajapa to one of the farms. Ajapa was greedy and stole too many yams. Ajapa was caught and taken to the king. He told the king that Aja tricked him into picking the yams by saying he needed help on his farm. The king sent a messenger to Aja's house. Aja pretended that he was sick. His wife told the messenger that he had been in bed for three days. The messenger took Aja to see the King. After the king heard Aja's story, he exiled Ajapa from the community.
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