Ukubuyisela u-Anansi kusukela eHollywood emuva kwezinganekwane zethu

I love Sleepy Hollow and have been an avid fan of the show since I watched its trailer prior to its 2013 premier, revolving around two witnesses- Abbie and Ichabod- as foretold in the book of Revelations, who must thwart the forces of evil, primarily Moloch and his four evil horsemen to save the world… BUT, there is one misleading part that still troubles me till today, especially as one who is rooted in her African Stories.

Remember during episode 9 of season 2, Jenny, Abbie’s rebellious sister, recites a spell to save her. Well guess what? What she recited was not gibbrish, it was actually in my language, Twi (Spoken in Ghana by the Akan tribe!!)

Now before I go deep into what troubled me, let me let you listen to it first and I will tell you what she said. (Lindie Greenwood speaks Twi)

Transcription of what Jenny bravely says:
Anansi honhom, Odaadaafoo ma Asantefoo, Mesre wo, beyi yen firi, Nneema dada yi ase, Firi yen so

Translation of what Jenny bravely said:
Spirit of Anansi, Deceiver for the people of Asante, I implore you, deliver us, From these deceitful things, Away from us

Imagine sitting comfortably, enjoying your favorite show, and suddenly hearing your native language spoken on screen—only to be jolted out of that moment when a character explains the words as a “West African invocation to expel witch doctors who have arisen from the dead.” Wait, what? Since when did Kwaku Anansi, the iconic trickster of African folklore, become a villain?

Hollywood’s portrayal distorts the rich narrative of Anansi (Some also spell it Ananse), casting him in a negative light that’s far removed from our cultural roots. In the tapestry of African storytelling, Anansi is not a demon but a cunning and wise figure, teaching us the importance of intelligence and moral values, much like Aesop’s fables. The Anansi I know is far from Marvels version—a family man with a wife, Aso, and four children, not what they’ve turned him into. (Now the good news!)

This image is clickable to our luxury Red Africa Fannypack Bag

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