Ananse and the Sheep Disguise | West African Trickster Tales

10/05/2025 0 min

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Episode Synopsis

# How Ananse Escaped Leopard's TrapAnanse the spider had been stealing a lady's sheep until only one remained. Seeking revenge, Leopard offered to kill Ananse in exchange for the final sheep. After receiving his payment, Leopard disguised himself by wearing the sheepskin, planning to catch Ananse in the act of theft. The plan initially worked when Ananse came to steal what he thought was the last sheep. Though struggling with the unexpected weight, Ananse managed to carry the disguised Leopard home. When he attempted to cut the "sheep's" throat but saw no blood, Ananse became confused. At that moment, Leopard revealed himself with a mighty roar. Ananse immediately fled, and despite Leopard's pursuit, the nimble spider escaped. When the lady discovered Leopard had failed to catch Ananse while her sheep was now dead, she became furious and had Leopard imprisoned for stealing her sheep—ironically punishing her would-be helper while the true thief remained free.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​https://mythopia.io/story/68/african-folktale-ananse-and-the-sheep-disguise-west-african-trickster-tales