Anansi and the Wise Tortoise
Original Anansi ne Akyekyedeɛ Nyansafo
Story by: Akan Traditional Storyteller
Source: Akan Oral Tradition
Gather close, children, for tonight I tell you of the meeting between Kwaku Anansi, the quick-witted spider, and Akyekyedeɛ Nyansafo, the Wise Tortoise, and how speed of thought must be balanced with depth of understanding.
Anansi, proud of his clever mind and quick solutions, challenged the ancient tortoise to a contest of wisdom, believing his rapid wit would easily defeat the slow-moving creature. “Old shell-carrier,” Anansi boasted, “let us see whose intelligence is truly superior!”
The tortoise accepted calmly, proposing they solve the mystery of why the village wells had suddenly gone dry. Anansi rushed about, quickly proposing dozens of theories and hasty solutions, while the tortoise moved slowly, carefully examining each well and listening to the elders’ stories.
When Anansi’s quick fixes all failed, the tortoise revealed his careful investigation had discovered the true problem: an underground stream had shifted course due to recent rains. His methodical approach led to a lasting solution that restored water to all the wells.
“Young spider,” the tortoise said gently, “quick thinking has its place, but true wisdom comes from patient observation, careful consideration, and learning from those who came before us. Sometimes the best solutions require time to understand deeply rather than speed to answer quickly.”
From that day, Anansi learned to balance his natural quickness with the tortoise’s patient wisdom, discovering that the deepest understanding comes not from racing to conclusions, but from taking time to truly comprehend the world around us.
Akyekyedeɛ ntu mmirika, nanso ɔdi kan - The tortoise does not run, but he arrives first.
This ancient wisdom reminds us that in life’s most important matters, careful thought often succeeds where hasty action fails.
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