Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom is a lively folktale from West Africa that teaches an important lesson about the value of knowledge, humility, and the importance of sharing. In this playful story, Anansi the Spider believes he is clever enough to collect all the wisdom in the world and keep it for himself. However, as his journey unfolds, Anansi learns that true wisdom cannot be hidden, owned, or controlled by a single individual. Through humor, clever dialogue, and a memorable mistake, this story reminds us that wisdom grows when it is shared with others.
CHARACTERS:
NARRATOR:
ANANSI
MRS. ANANSI
HARE
SCRIPT:
NARRATOR: (Standing at the side of the stage) Long ago, in the golden lands of West Africa, lived Anansi the Spider. Now, Anansi was neither a king nor a giant, but he believed himself to be the cleverest creature to have ever walked the earth. One day, Anansi decided that being “clever” wasn’t enough. He wanted all the wisdom in the world—every bit of it—to belong only to him. And that is where our story begins.
ACT 1 – THE LIVING ROOM
(Anansi is pacing back and forth, looking frustrated.)
ANANSI: It’s simply not fair! It’s a tragedy!
MRS. ANANSI: (Sighing) What is a tragedy this time, Anansi? Did you run out of flies for dinner?
ANANSI: No! It’s the wisdom. Why should everyone have a share of it? Why should every man and woman be allowed to be wise? It should belong to someone who truly appreciates it. Someone like… me.
MRS. ANANSI: Wisdom is like the air, Anansi. It’s everywhere. There’s nothing you can do about it, so sit down and eat.
ANANSI: That’s where you’re wrong! Where is that clay pot Nyame, the Sky God, gave me?
MRS. ANANSI: It’s tucked away safely. You know it’s our most precious possession.
ANANSI: Exactly! And I’m going to use it to collect every drop of wisdom in the world. Once it’s in the pot, no one else will have any. I’ll be the only wise one left!
MRS. ANANSI: And how do you plan on catching something you can’t see?
ANANSI: I’ll travel the world and listen. Every time I hear a clever idea, a proverb, or a skill, I’ll catch the words, whisper them into the pot, and seal the lid tight.
MRS. ANANSI: That sounds like a lot of walking. And what happens when the pot is full?
ANANSI: One thing at a time, wife! Wealth and power come to those who possess knowledge that others lack. I’m starting today. See you when I’m the wisest spider in the world!
(Anansi grabs the pot and scurries out.)
ACT 2 – THE KITCHEN
NARRATOR: Anansi traveled for a whole year. He listened to grandmothers telling stories, to farmers planting crops, and to builders making houses. One by one, he captured their secrets and stuffed them into his pot.
(One year later. The clay pot sits on the table. Anansi and his wife are staring at it. Anansi looks exhausted but proud.)
ANANSI: It is finished! Every riddle, every song, and every clever trick is trapped inside. The world is empty of wisdom, and I have it all!
MRS. ANANSI: You’ve been gone a long time. Now that you have it, what will you do with it? You could teach the villagers. You could help the crops grow.
ANANSI: (Greedily) Share it? Are you joking? I’m going to hide it where no one can ever find it.
MRS. ANANSI: But Anansi, what good is wisdom if it’s stuck in a jar? It’s meant to be used!
ANANSI: I’ll use it whenever I want! But first, I must find a hiding place. I’ll hide it at the very top of the tallest thorny tree in the forest. (He ties the pot to his stomach with vines and runs out.)
MRS. ANANSI: (To herself) He has a pot full of wisdom, yet he’s acting like a fool.
ACT 3 – THE FOREST
(Anansi stands before a massive tree. The pot is tied firmly to his belly.)
ANANSI: This is the perfect hiding spot. Now, let’s get to the top.
(He tries to climb, but the pot hits the trunk. He slips and falls. He tries again, grunting and huffing, but the pot is in his way.)
ANANSI: Ouch! This pot is too heavy! And every time I try to reach for a branch, this clay belly of mine knocks me back down!
(Hare hops onto the stage and watches, amused.)
HARE: Afternoon, Anansi. Are you trying to wrestle that tree, or just hugging it?
ANANSI: Go away, Hare! I have all the wisdom of the world in this pot!
HARE: Is that so? Well, for someone with all the world’s wisdom, you’re not being brilliant.
ANANSI: (Snapping) Excuse me?
HARE: If you want to climb that tree, why don’t you tie the pot to your back? Then your arms and legs would be free to climb.
(Anansi freezes. He looks at the pot, then at the tree, then at Hare.)
ANANSI: I have the Great Pot of Wisdom! And yet… You knew something I didn’t?
HARE: Maybe wisdom isn’t something you can keep in a jar, Anansi. It’s just common sense.
ANANSI: (Enraged) This pot is useless! A year of work, and I’m still being outsmarted by a rabbit!
(In a fit of temper, Anansi unties the pot and hurls it to the ground. It smashes it. Anansi watches as the “wisdom” escapes.)
ANANSI: Look at it go… drifting back to the village.
HARE: Looks like everyone gets a piece now.
ANANSI: (Sighing) I suppose it’s for the best. Keeping it all to myself was an exhausting job anyway. I’m going home.
(Anansi walks off)
NARRATOR: And so, the pot was broken, and wisdom was scattered to the four corners of the earth. That is why, today, no one person has all the wisdom. We all have a little bit of it, and we must share what we know with one another to be wise. For as Anansi learned the hard way: greed only makes a fool of you.
The End
Author: West African Folktale.
Adapted by: K I D S I N C O
Conclusion: In the end, Anansi discovers that even with a pot full of wisdom, greed can make anyone act foolishly. When the pot shatters and wisdom returns to the people, balance is restored to the world. Anansi’s journey shows that knowledge belongs to everyone and that learning from others is just as important as being clever ourselves. Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom leaves us with a timeless reminder: wisdom shines brightest when it is shared.
Moral of the Story: Wisdom cannot be owned or hoarded; it must be shared to have true value.
Moral Values:
- Humility – No one knows everything.
- Generosity – Knowledge grows when shared.
- Cooperation – We learn best from one another.
- Self-awareness – Being clever does not mean being wise.
- Respect for others – Everyone has something valuable to teach.
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👉External Resources:
- Folktales from Africa (for teachers and students) – World of Tales
- South African Fairy Tales, Folktales and Fables – Fairytalez.com
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