The Story of Anansi and the Golden Mango Tree

The small village at the center of a green African landscape, the savannah meeting the deep green of the forest, lived in perfect harmony with nature. These villagers lived simple, peaceful lives, to the very rhythm of the earth. Amongst them was a creature whose reputation stretched far beyond the village—a spider by the name of Anansi.

He was not just small; he was great in wit. Anansi was renowned throughout the lands for his cunning and resourcefulness, but he was seen as a trickster. He was considered as a trickster by most, but the one thing for which Anansi commanded respect from one and all was his sharp brain and the knack for solving puzzles that even the greatest of the towns failed to solve. He would work out a way of bringing the odds in his favor, and tales of his exploits were passed around flickering fires in villages across Africa.

One day, wandering through the dense forest, Anansi stumbled upon something as extraordinary. Before his eyes lay a grove of mango trees; their leaves were shining in golden light from inside, and the branches were bent over with the heaviest loads of the ripest, most succulent mangoes Anansi had ever seen. The scent of the fruit was cloyingly sweet and lingered in the air until Anansi's mouth watered.

"That is no ordinary tree," Anansi thought, and his sharp mind was already racing with possibilities. "These mangoes must possess some kind of magic."

#### **The Guardians of the Grove**

The first thing Anansi did was to climb the closest tree and taste this golden fruit. But he was wary. For he knew such a miraculous tree couldn't go unattended. And sure enough, as he drew closer to the grove, he saw something very strange: the earth around the grove was undisturbed by the footprint of any animal, and an unearthly silence filled the air. No bird sang, and no hum of insects could be heard.

Anansi came to a standstill, then looked closer to the grove. That was when he saw the guardians; two massive serpents, no less golden in their scales than the mangoes. Moving wound around the base of the largest tree, their eyes were half-closed, though always aware.

"These serpents must be the protectors of the Golden Mango Tree," mused Anansi. "I shall have to be very cunning if I am to taste the fruit."

Anansi was not discouraged. He was reputed for his tact and was very happy at the prospect of a challenge. He went into the forest to scheme. He thought and thought until he came up with one which he was certain would pluck the furs away from the serpents.

#### **Anansi's Plan**

The next day, Anansi came back to the forest grove, this time with a plan in mind.

He had earlier in the day gone to the forest, where he picked fruits and nuts

and placed them carefully in a basket

Then smiled as he carefully laid a trail of food leading away from the grove.

He strung the juiciest of the berries followed by the plumpest of nuts, and, last of all, deliciously scented fruits at the end. He was sure, the aroma would be too tempting for the serpents to avoid.

At last, when the trail was all properly set, Anansi climbed another tree on the opposite side of the grove and hid with eager expectation to see the effect—though he did not have to wait a very long time. The snakes, now drawn by the increased food supply, began to uncoil from the tree and one after another, danced away on the trail of food Anansi had set for them.

As soon as the serpents were out of reach, Anansi scuttled down from his perch and headed for the Golden Mango Tree. His heart raced in excitement as he climbed the trunk of the tree and plucked the largest, freshest, and ripest mango he could find. The fruit felt warm in his hands, its skin aglow with a golden light.

Anansi took a bite, and the taste he beheld was beyond anything he had ever known. It was sweet and rich, with a flavor that seemed to dance in his mouth. As he ate, he felt a surge in his energy, as if the mango's magic was coursing through his veins.

But one mango was far from satisfying Anansi; he wanted to take all he could carry back to the village and brag of his fine trick. He hastened to fill his little bag choke-full of mangoes and made ready to leave the grove.

### The Consequence **

No sooner had the words left his lips than he heard the rustling. Hardly after speaking, back came the serpents, angry as anything. What were they following but to find the food back in the grove but to find that they had been tricked? The golden eyes flashed on Anansi, and they hissed.

There was a loud thud in the chest of Anansi; he knew he was had. The snakes began to circle the tree, one after another, catching Anansi's legs in the branches. His mind began to wander frantically in search of a way out.

Thinking fast, Anansi decided to put his wits to the test once more. "Ah, great guardians of the grove," he cried, "I see you are angry, and who could blame you? I beg you, listen to my plea. These mangoes are too precious to stay hidden in this forest. They should be shared with the world so that all may come to know the greatness of this tree and the guardians who watch over it.".

The serpents paused, their golden eyes narrowing as they considered Anansi's words.

"If you let me go," Anansi continued, "I will carry these mangoes to the village and tell the story of this magic grove. People will come from far and wide to admire the beauty of the Golden Mango Tree and the guardians of it. Your fame shall spread across the land, and you shall be known as revered creatures of the forest."

Anansi's flattering words tipped the scale for the serpents. Proud creatures, the idea of immortality in the form of great fame appealed to their vanity. After a moment's hesitation, they uncoiled from the tree and let Anansi go free.

#### **The Return to the Village**

Anansi couldn't wait at all. He climbed down from the tree and started running to the village with the bag full of mangoes. The people in the village were astonished at seeing the golden fruits. They had never seen anything like that, and they listened quite eagerly while Anansi told the tale of the Golden Mango Tree and its protectors.

True to his word, Anansi spread the word around. All and sundry came to stand in the grove, to see the golden mangoes, and to pay obeisance to the serpents, its guardians. The grove became a place of legend, and so, in a way, did the serpents. They collected great respect, being considered as wise and powerful custodians.

But Anansi became all the more famous for his wit. The villagers praised him for having brought the mangoes from the Serpent World to the village, and generations told and retold his story.

But Anansi knew that the true reward was not in the fame or the praise—it was in outwitting the serpents, and having the sweetest fruit in the land.

#### **Conclusion**

The story of Anansi and the Golden Mango Tree reminds us once again of the power that cleverness and intelligence exhibit. More often than not, men think that strength and size are what give them an edge; however, it is the wisdom to think mentally that leads on to success. Anansi used his wits to do what seemed impossible, and his story will forever be an inspiration to all those who hear of it.

And so, Anansi did prove that the smallest of us could also be great if they use their minds correctly. So, said the legend of the Golden Mango Tree that, till this day, goes on in the world to be a testimony and wonder in view of the fact that a little spider outwits the serpents, sharing the magic of the forest with the world.