Other Figures — Minor Figures

78 figures from West African Folk-Tales who appear only briefly. Each keeps their own page; this one gathers them so they can be read together.

Anansi’s son

son · first appears Tale 10 · Why Spiders Are Always Found in the Corners of Ceilings

• Tale 10 · Why Spiders Are Always Found in the Corners of Ceilings · parent: Anansi “By that time Anansi’s son began to think it was time for him to go and weed the farm, lest the weeds should grow too high.”

Ant

ant · first appears Tale 9 · Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles as Big as Themselves

• Tale 9 · Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles as Big as Themselves · enemies with Anansi “Needless to say, the sly fellow had not the least intention of keeping his word.”

Father Crow

crow · first appears Tale 8 · The Squirrel and the Spider

• Tale 8 · The Squirrel and the Spider · enemies with Anansi “So saying, he picked them up and went off with them, leaving Spider and his children to return home sorrowful and empty-handed.”

Kofi

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

• Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself · cousins with Anansi “This was the household of Anansi’s cousin.”
• Tale 13 · The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour by Itself · enemies with Anansi “His cousin, however, saw he had been tricked, and went back to bed again, saying he would not start till the women were sweeping.”

Lizard

first appears Tale 5 · Why the Lizard Continually Moves His Head Up and Down

• Tale 5 · Why the Lizard Continually Moves His Head Up and Down · friends with Anansi “He then visited his friend the Lizard, to get him to act as herald at the Court next day.”
• Tale 5 · Why the Lizard Continually Moves His Head Up and Down · enemies with Anansi “He went home in a very bad temper, declaring that he would be revenged on Lizard for stealing his wives away.”

Mrs. Anansi

wife of Anansi · first appears Tale 4 · Thunder and Anansi

• Tale 4 · Thunder and Anansi · married with Anansi “He had been quite unable to obtain food for his poor wife and family.”

Nothing

rich man · first appears Tale 3 · Anansi and Nothing

• Tale 3 · Anansi and Nothing · enemies with Anansi “He was very angry, and tried in many ways to kill Nothing, but without success.”
• Tale 3 · Anansi and Nothing · married with Nothing’s wife “Nothing’s wife was queen over the whole district and had everything her heart could desire.”

Nyankupon

chief of the gods · first appears Tale 1 · How We Got the Name ‘Spider Tales’

• Tale 1 · How We Got the Name ‘Spider Tales’ · recipient: Anansi “Nyankupon was amazed at Spider’s cleverness in fulfilling the three conditions. He immediately gave him permission for the future to call all the old tales Anansi tales.”