Anansi
Anansi the spider went to the sky god Nyankopon and offered to but his stories from him. Nyankopon jokingly set the price as a python, a hornet, a leopard and a nature spirit.
Anansi took the advice of his wife Aso and took a branch from a tree and caried some rope with him. When he came near to the python's home he started shouting, the python asked what was wrong and Anansi said that he was arguing with his wife about whether the python was longer than the branch. The python suggested that he lay down next to the branch so that Anansi could compare them. As soon as he did, Anansi wound the rope around the branch binding the python to it. And delivered it to Nyankopon.
Anansi then took a gourd of water with him and, when he spotted a swarm of hornets, he poured some of the water over his head and shoulders placing a big plantain leaf on top. He then sprinkled the rest of the water over the hornets and invited them to shelter from the rain in his gourd. As soon as the hornets entered the gourd he plugged it up and took the hornets to Nyankopon.
To capture the leopard, Anansi dug a concealed pit in the middle of a track. The next morning he found the leopard trapped in the pit. The leopard asked to be helped out, so Anansi placed two sticks across the pit and instructed him to place his front paws on them. While the leopard was vulnerable, Anansi struck with his panga and sliced open his scull, he then took the body to Nyankopon.
Finally Anansi made a wooden doll and covered it with resin, he placed it where the elemental spirits would find it and attatched a string to it's head. He placed food next to the doll and then hid, holding the string. When the elementals came across the doll, one of them asked if she could have some of the food. Anansi twitched the string and the doll nodded. The elemental ate her fill and then thanked the doll which did not respond. The elemental gave her thanks again but the doll still didn't reply. Finally the elemental became angry at the doll's rudness and hit it, her hand became stuck fast to the resin, she kicked the doll and her foot stuck too. After much struggling she became completely stuck to the doll and Anansi tied her up and took her to Nyankopon who gave him all of the stories saying that they would, from then on be called 'The Spider's Stories'
Adapted from 'A guide to the Gods' by Richard Carlyon
