Kweku Tsin

Also known as: Kweku · Family: Anansi and his family · Role: eldest son of Anansi · First appears: Tale 2 · How Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race

In Tale 2, Kweku Tsin advised his father Anansi to hang the wisdom pot on his back so he could climb a tree. In Tale 4, he discovered Anansi taking food from a hidden pot; once his father was out of sight, Kweku brought it out and called Mrs. Anansi and the family to eat.

In Tale 6 · Tit for Tat, Kweku found a forest home full of animals. Anansi secretly put ashes in Kweku’s bag to track him, followed him there, and drove him away, claiming the place for himself. Kweku set a bell-covered image in Anansi’s path, causing him to abandon his meat day after day. Kweku grew rich while Anansi remained poor and had to go to Kweku’s house for food. When the famine ended, Kweku hosted a feast and told the village how his father’s cunning had been overcome. Anansi promised to stop his evil tricks, though he did not keep the promise for long.

In Tale 9, the dwarf brought rain to Kweku’s farm, allowing the seeds to germinate. In Tale 16, the old woman gave Kweku a drum that brought food when beaten. He used it to feed his household, then provided food for every family in the village. Anansi pressed him to explain how he had obtained the drum.

In Tale 18, Kweku and Anansi went hunting, and Kweku killed a fine deer. the dragon seized them and carried them to his castle. Kweku led the dragon’s victims up a ladder to the heavens, then cut it when he was close to the top; the dragon fell, and the gods pulled Kweku to safety. For freeing his fellow-men, the gods made him the sun.