THE SPIDER AND THE LION

Ashanti, Ghana  45” x 57”  Woven Cotton Artist, Macothosa

Based on a tale in the tradition of Anansi the spider, the story-telling trickster of the

Ashanti people of Ghana. 

Under the hot West African sun, Spider sat beside a fire roasting the fish he had caught. A guineafowl and a timid gazelle watched nearby when Lion suddenly appeared. Though he was known as the King of the Beasts, Lion was also a bully. Without asking, he ate every one of Spider’s fish and then demanded to know what Spider would prepare next. Spider knew he could not defeat Lion with strength, so he decided to use his cleverness. Noticing the beautiful spots on the guineafowl, Spider remarked that it was a shame lions did not have spots like that. Lion immediately demanded to know how he could get some. Spider told Lion that it would require two things: a large cow and a strong mahogany tree. Lion quickly returned with a bush-cow. Spider instructed him to use his powerful jaws to cut the cowhide into thin strips. Then Spider told him they needed to find the strongest mahogany tree in the jungle. Lion charged into tree after tree, testing their strength with his body. Each time, Spider declared the tree too weak. Lion continued until he was bruised, exhausted, and dizzy. At last, Spider approved one of the trees and told Lion to stand against it while he tied the strips of cowhide around him. Once Lion was securely bound, Spider revealed the truth. The spots were not meant to make Lion beautiful—they were punishment for every fish he had stolen. Spider built up the fire, roasted some of the cow meat for himself, and prepared sharp sticks to mark Lion with a spot for each stolen fish. Lion struggled desperately, but he could not escape. His cries eventually attracted a group of white ants. Though they were frightened of Lion, he begged them for help and promised not to hurt them. The ants carefully chewed through the strips of cowhide, and after many hours, Lion was finally free. Furious, Lion immediately went searching for Spider, threatening to eat him. When he encountered a gazelle and asked where Spider was, the gazelle reminded him that Spider was powerful enough to tie up a creature as mighty as Lion.

 Lion thought better of it—and ran away.

Moral of the Story:
The mighty are not always the strongest. Intelligence and courage can overcome brute strength, and even the most powerful bully may be frightened by someone clever enough to outwit him.