Ananse the Spider is one of the great folkloric heroes of the world. He is a wise, mischievous, funny character who appears in traditional tales from Ghana, West Africa.

He represents a kind of Everyman, artistically exaggerated and distorted to serve society as a medium for self-examination. Laughter is the main social response to Ananse, whose behaviors mirror human ambitions and follies in everyday situations.

Ananse often acts outside of the norm yet gains useful firsthand experience. Inspired by Ananse’s investigative energy, this project engages curiosity and critical thinking skills, with the video camera as a storytelling tool.

Read how Ananse Tried to Steal All the Wisdom in the World.