Kofi

Also known as: Anansi’s cousin / Spider’s cousin · First appears: Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself

In Tale 13, while hunting one morning, Kofi discovered a stone that ground flour by itself, with a stream of honey nearby. Anansi persistently questioned his cousin until Kofi promised to show him the stone.

In the middle of the night, Anansi twice made noises like the women working; Kofi saw through the trick each time and went back to bed. Anansi then slipped into Kofi’s room, cut a hole in his bag and filled it with ashes. When morning came, he followed the ash trail to the stone. Kofi tried to stop him, but Anansi put the stone on his head and set out for the village.

Relationship record

Life events

• Kofi discovered a wonderful stone that ground flour by itself and a nearby stream of honey.(Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself · 📍 the forest)
  • “Spider’s cousin, while hunting one morning, had discovered a wonderful stone. The stone lay on the grass in the forest and ground flour of its own accord. Near by ran a stream of honey.”
• Kofi promised to show Anansi the stone after Anansi persistently questioned him.(Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself)
  • With: Anansi
  • “Anansi gave him no peace till he promised to show him the stone.”
• In the night Anansi twice woke Kofi with noises like the women at work; each time Kofi saw he had been tricked and went back to bed. Then Anansi slipped into Kofi’s room, cut a hole in his bag and filled it with ashes.(Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself)
  • With: Anansi
  • “This time Spider slipped into his cousin’s room and cut a hole in the bottom of his bag, which he then filled with ashes.”
• Anansi followed Kofi’s ash trail to the stone and joined him there.(Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself · 📍 the forest)
  • With: Anansi
  • “He was no sooner seated by the stone, however, than Anansi appeared, having followed him by the trail of ashes.”
• Anansi took the stone despite Kofi’s attempts to stop him.(Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself · 📍 the forest)
  • With: Anansi
  • “In vain did his friend try to overcome his greed. Anansi insisted on putting the stone on his head, and setting out for the village.”

Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself

• cousins with Anansi “This was the household of Anansi’s cousin.”
• enemies with Anansi (Anansi tricks Kofi.) “His cousin, however, saw he had been tricked, and went back to bed again, saying he would not start till the women were sweeping.”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of West African Folk-Tales. Made with Rho MD.