Why Spiders Hide in Debris: The Dark Tale of Ananse's Rooftop Escape - West African Origin Story

Ananse and his family were on the rooftop, hiding from Tiger.

One of Anansi's children complained,

"I'm hungry." Ananse got angry!

He threw the child down. Tiger ate him.

Next child. Next child. Next child. All the children.

Then Ananse fell asleep.

Mrs. Ananse sewed her skirt to Ananse's trousers.

Ananse woke up, and he threw his wife down,

but she didn't fall. She stayed tied tight to Ananse.

Then Ananse told Tiger,

"Pile up a trash-heap for us to land on!"

Tiger piled up a trash-heap.

They jumped down and hid in the trash-heap.

Spiders are still hiding there.