This story is from the ashanti tribe in West Africa. Through the years they have told many folklores and fables of the clever anansi. In most of these anasi stories he is a spider who goes through his life tricking other animals.In most of these story it either ends in a moral or anansi succeeds in his trickery.However in this story anansi is portrayed as a clever man who trys to trick another man named Nothing into getting what he wants. I used to read these stories when i was a little girl and now i want to share one of my favorite stories with you so kick back go ahead and enjoy. Happy Black history month to all!!

Anasi and Nothing Go Hunting For Wives

One time it came to Anansi that he needed a wife. For the most part for men of this day and age it was easy to do. However Anansi did not have a good name through out the country therefore he knew that he would not have any luck. He thought that if he were only as rich as Nothing  his life would be easy.  Nothing was a very respectable man in the village, everyone listened and marveled at him whenever he walked by. He wore find clothes and was quite rich. Anansi knew that he would have no trouble finding a wife. So one day he decided to go across the little valley to the hill where Nothing lived. As he followed the trail to his house he noticed how large and clean it was with a fresh palm thatch on the roof. 

"Hello friend Nothing, I've been thinking about you", he said. "It's a shame that youlive so alone with all those servents to wait on you. You should find a wife.

 "That's a good idea, said Nothing "I've been thinking about it myself."

"I've been thinking about going to Komasi also to get a wife, and i thought we could go together." says Anansi

"Ah a very good idea" Nothing says after giving it much thought "let's do it!"

The next morning they both met at the crossroads down in the valley, bound for Komasi. Anansi wore his best cotton clothes but becuase he was to lazy to work his clothes were not as shiny and colorful as Nothing's extravagant cotton clothing.  Anansi thought to himself that if he dressed like nothing the townspeople would surely consent to giving their daughters to wife.  So being the clever man he was, he thought of a plan.

" My friend, how about we change clothes for a while. Just for fun."

Nothing was amused at this idea and happily consented to do so. After and hour or so, Anansi said "How about we also changed coats for fun until we get to Komasi." Nothing laughed at the idea and  again they change. 

 "Now you look like me and I look like you!" Anansi exclaims.

Finally when they get to Komasi clever Anasi says: "Oh i just remembered i have a message to take to my uncle, i'll meet you later". He disapears into the the streets without giving Nothing back his garments. Anansi is very proud being in Nothing's clothes surely now people would esteem him as an important man. It had only taken him 3 days to find a beautiful wife from a father who fully impressed with him. However since Nothing still wore Anansi's clothes he had a horrible time finding a wife. No one would speak with him since he looked like a begger. Finally and old woman  gave him her daughter to wed.

 "Take my daughter" she said "for though you are poor, you are better off than we are."

Nothing looked at her, she was not beautiful but she was the only one in Komasi who would have him.  So he took her. As they started back to Nothing's village He met Anansi still dressed in his clothes and riding on a donkey with his beautiful wife. "Aha, friend there you are! I've been looking for you," exclaimed Anansi " Where have you been? I see you hadn't had much luck."

Nothing looked at Anansi's beautiful young wife and at the donkey they were riding, but didn't mention the clothes. When they all came to the crossroads both wives were surprised. The trail to Anansi's house was dirty and unkempt. While the trail leading to Nothing's house was clean and nicley trimmed. Nothing's servents were waiting for him with towels and fresh clothing. The wives were silent as Nothing and Anansi departed to go to they're owen home.  Anansi's soon became miserable in the old hut while Nothing's wife became very happy living there. One day anansi's wife could stand it no longer she slipped away to Nothing's house where Nothing's wife was very kind to her. She decided that since she had been tricked, she would stay with Nothing and his wife. When Anansi found out about this he was furious. He had walked all the way to Komasi and tricked Nothing to get her.  That day Anansi decided to kill Nothing. So one night he went and dug a hole in the trail that came down from Nothing's house. The hole was very deep and he put sharp wooden stakes in the bottom like a trap for an animal.  Hiding the hole with leaves and putting grease on the trail to make it slippery, he hid in the brush and shouted:

" Nothing my friend i must see you at once!"

Nothing's wife begged him not to go and Anansi's wife said "Anansi is a trickster . Don't believe him and don't go". But since Anansi was persistant, Nothing took a small torch and made his way down the trail. When he came to the place where the trail had been he  slipped, and fell into the pit where Anansi had dug. He died on the sharpened stake as Anansi fled back into the brush. The people of the village grieved for Nothing. His servants,wife and friends mourned for him becuase he was a very good man. His wife cooked yams and lots of food for all the houses in the district. Then she asked all the young children she met to help her cry for her dead husband. That's why so many children say when you ask them for what they're crying for they say:

         "For nothing."

                              The End