Ananse was very sure that he was the most clever person in the whole world.
Ananse was not just content to think this,
oh no, no, no!
He wanted everyone to agree with him and acknowledge his superior intellect.
One day,
he went to Nyankupong, the Supreme God,
and asked him to declare to the world that he,
Ananse, was the the most clever person ever.
“Oh great and mighty Nyankupong,
you know about most of my adventures.
Would you not say that I am the most clever of all your creatures?”
“Yes Ananse,
you are indeed quite a crafty fellow.
However,
I would not say that you are the most clever of all my creatures.
Everyone has something that they do better than everyone else they know.
No one is wise about everything.
Not even you, Ananse.”
Ananse was very disappointed with this answer,
but he was not about to give up on his quest
to be declared the wisest person on earth.
Every time Ananse visited Nyankupong,
he would ask him to declare to everyone that he was the wisest of them all.
Nyankupong soon grew tired of Ananse’s constant pestering.
One day, in great frustration he said to him,
“Ananse,
I am sure there are people wiser than you in this world.
To make things easy on you however,
I will confine this challenge to the Kingdom of Asante.”
“Oh another challenge,”
Ananse said eagerly.
“Please tell me what it is. I am up to any task.”