Why Spiders Live on Roofs: The Tale of How Ananse's Final Trick Changed Spider History - West African Origin Story

Tiger and Ananse went to the river.

"Wash your guts!" Ananse told Tiger.

Tiger took out his guts and washed them.

"Now your head!" When Tiger put his head in the water,

Ananse stole Tiger's guts. "Make this into stew!"

Ananse told his wife.

Then Ananse prepared his children for Tiger's funeral.

"Everybody shout: Poor Tiger's dead!" One child cried,

"We ate Tiger!" "No!" said Ananse.

"You can't go to the funeral."

But that child went to the funeral anyway.

When Ananse saw the child coming,

he ran and hid on the rooftop.

Spiders stay on the roof even now.