trickster legends

Parchment-style artwork of Anansi, the spider trickster, weaving webs of stories in Akan mythology.

Anansi: The Spider Trickster of the Ashanti (Akan Mythology)

Anansi, known among the Akan as Kwaku Ananse, meaning “Ananse born on Wednesday”, is the most famous trickster spirit of West Africa. Often appearing as both man and spider, he is a weaver of webs and of words, a symbol of cleverness, survival, and the eternal power of storytelling. In Akan belief, Anansi stands between the worlds of gods and

Small six fingered Mannegishi spirits by a northern Cree river guarding and testing travelers

American Spirits and Demons·Spirits & Demons

The Mannegishi of Cree Riverbanks

Along the winding rivers of the northern Cree homeland, where the waters move with ancient memory, people speak of the Mannegishi. These small river spirits live beneath flat stones near rapids and hidden bends. They are no larger than a child, with slender bodies, wide eyes that gleam like wet