|| A folktale from Ghana ||
There once lived, in a faraway land, a man named Father Anansi. He possessed all the wisdom in the world. People came to him daily for advice and help. He would hear them out and give suggestions to their problems.
One day the men of the country were unfortunate enough to offend Father Anansi, who immediately resolved to punish them. “How dare they offend me, the wise one! Let me teach them a lesson”, he thought bitterly.
After much thought he decided that the severest penalty he could inflict would be to hide all his wisdom from them.
He set to work at once to gather again all that he had already given. When he thought he gathered all of it, he placed all in one great pot.
This he carefully sealed, and determined to hide it where no human being could reach it. Until he could find a suitable place, he hung the pot around his neck, rather like a large necklace.
Now, Father Anansi had a son, whose name was Kweku Tsin. Kweku is an intelligent but kind boy.
He saw his father acting strangely and being over-protective of a regular pot. He suspected his father was upto something so he made up his mind to watch carefully.
Next day he saw his father quietly slip out of the house, with his precious pot hung round his neck. Kweku Tsin followed.
Father Anansi went through the forest till he had left the village far behind. Then, selecting the highest and most inaccessible-looking tree, he began to climb.
The heavy pot, hanging in front of him, made his ascent almost impossible. Again and again he tried to reach the top of the tree, where he intended to hang the pot. There, he thought, Wisdom would indeed be beyond the reach of every one but himself. He was unable, however, to carry out his desire. At each trial the pot swung in his way.
For some time Kweku watched his father’s vain attempts in silent laughter. At last, unable to contain himself any longer, he cried out: “Father, why do you not hang the pot on your back instead of the front? Then you could easily climb the tree.”
Father Anansi was turned around and got down from the tree. He was too surprised to be angry that Kweku followed him without his knowledge.
He said: “I thought I had all the world’s wisdom in this pot. But I find you possess more than I do. All my wisdom was insufficient to show me what to do, yet you have been able to tell me.”
Kweku said, “But father, wasn’t it you who used to tell earlier that unlike bread or wealth, wisdom only multiples if you share it”
Father Anansi nodded thoughtfully, “Indeed, you’re right my sweet son”. And he threw the pot down where it hit a rock and broke.
The wisdom contained escaped and spread throughout the world. And that’s how the humans came to be wise, atleast some of them!
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