It was the custom in villages in Africa, with the passing
of a relative or in-law, one was to show great strength and respect by fasting for many
days. The more days you spent in not eating, the greater and more powerful a person you
appeared to be to the other people of the village. There was only one thing that made it
very difficult for Anansi, all the time of his fasting, women prepared food that carried
their delicious aromas, filling the air with one tempting taste bud treat, one better than
the other. As each man praised and complimented Anansi for his powers of perseverance,
Anansi was weakening. Five days had passed and Anansi's empty tummy began to rumble and
roar, and what was worse no one would leave him alone long enough so that he could go and
take just one small peek at the delicious foods he longed to eat. In the end it is his
spectacular and unusual dance that attracts attention and reveals to others that he has
been a bit of a storyteller.
COMMENTARY:
This is a comical story with thoughtful overtones of what
can happen when a person expresses one thought in word and does the opposite in action,
and then must face the consequences of their trickery.
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