Reclaiming Ananse: Discussing the trickster's relevance in contemporary Ghanaian Society

Abstract

In stories told across some African cultures, there is often, the mention of a trickster character. In Ghana, among the Akan speaking tribes, the trickster character is the spider, referred to in Akan as Kwaku Ananse. There is also the use of the hare, rabbit, and chameleon in some cultures in Africa and the Caribbean. For many of these cultures, the use of these animals as trickster characters in folktales represents a cultural affiliation that creates identity, instills values and preserves history. However, over the years, the relevance of trickster characters like Ananse, featured in contemporary storytelling, has been questioned and overlooked. The aim of this paper is to project the relevance of Ananse by presenting the diverse ways in which the trickster character reinforces the cultural identity, economic value, and historical affiliation that it affords the Akan societies that feature him in their folktales. This discussion would be archived by shedding light on the socio-cultural, political, and economic relevance of Ananse. The paper argues for Ananse's importance by taking a look at society's perception of him as a trickster. Ananse's relevance is highlighted through a critical discussion on how playwrights such as Sutherland. Mawugbe, and Asare present Ananse in their plays as a reflection of the Ghanaian society. The paper concludes by asserting that an extermination of Ananse means an extermination of the Akan society.