African FolktalesTrickster Tales

Anansi and the Gum Baby

A greedy spider's temper lands him in a sticky trap in this classic African trickster tale.

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Illustration for Anansi and the Gum Baby - a trickster tales African Folktales story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

In the classic African folktale Anansi and the Gum Baby, the clever spider meets his match when his greed leads him into a sticky trap set by a fed-up farmer.

During a great famine, the clever spider Anansi refused to work the fields, yet his belly remained full. Suspicious, the local farmer discovered Anansi was stealing his yams every night. To catch the thief, the farmer fashioned a doll out of sticky tree sap and sat it by the garden path. When Anansi arrived that night and saw the 'Gum Baby' blocking his way, he demanded it move. Receiving no answer to his threats, the prideful spider struck the doll with his right hand—and it stuck fast. Enraged, he struck with his left hand, then kicked with both feet, and finally butted it with his head. By morning, the farmer found Anansi completely tangled in the gum, a victim of his own temper and greed.

The Moral

Greed and hot-tempered pride will eventually lead you into a trap you cannot escape.

“The more Anansi fought to get free, the tighter the gum baby held him.”

Fun Fact

Anansi stories served as a form of cultural resistance for enslaved people, as the small spider's ability to outsmart larger foes mirrored their own struggles against oppression.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of Anansi and the Gum Baby?

The moral is that greed and losing one's temper can lead to self-destruction. Anansi's arrogance and inability to walk away from a perceived insult caused him to fall into a trap of his own making.

Who is Anansi the Spider?

Anansi is a prominent trickster figure in West African and Caribbean folklore, particularly among the Akan people of Ghana. He is known for using his wit and cunning to get what he wants, though he often outsmarts himself.

What is a gum baby made of?

In the traditional story, the farmer makes the gum baby out of sticky tree resins or rubber-like sap. It is designed to be an inanimate, silent trap that uses the victim's own force against them.

Is Anansi and the Gum Baby the same as the Tar Baby story?

Yes, they are directly related. The African 'Gum Baby' story traveled to the Americas via the Transatlantic slave trade, evolving into the 'Tar Baby' story famously featured in Uncle Remus and Br'er Rabbit tales.

Why did Anansi get stuck to the gum baby?

Anansi got stuck because he was offended by the gum baby's silence. He interpreted its lack of response as disrespect and attacked it, causing his limbs to adhere to the sticky sap until he was completely immobilized.

Why did the farmer create the trap?

The farmer created the trap because Anansi was lazily avoiding work during a famine while secretly stealing the crops that the farmer had worked hard to grow and protect.