Falling Back Into Story
Earth..
Gaia, Aiye, Pachamama, Asase Yaa, Dunya, Aduna, Dunida, Pasi, Mother Nature1 – throughout history, the Earth has come to be known by many names.
Since it came to be over four billion years ago, the Earth has been home to an array of life forms as you could think of. Trees came to be, dinosaurs roamed the world, and trees witnessed the evolution of archaic Homo sapiens, the predecessors of anatomically modern humans, in the Middle Palaeolithic, also known as the Old Stone Age.
It's no wonder that people from a multitude of cultures have weaved stories around the Earth.
In myths and Legends, Mother Nature is sacred and is represented as a nurturing figure–a female deity, the mother of all humanity, a goddess. One of my favourite stories to read about is that of Asase Yaa, a goddess of the Akan people of Ghana in Africa.
Asase Yaa is the goddess of fertility. She is also known as Mother Earth and represents the Earth's womb. It is believed that from her womb, she gives birth to us, and into her arms, she takes us at the time of our transition. She is known as Mother Earth and teaches the importance of sustaining life on Earth.
The Akan accept that the Earth is the principal source of life.
One must walk softly on the Earth so as not to cause harm to its surface.2
A Question For You…
What if someone asked you to describe Earth? How would you describe it? Can you think of three things?
I have thought about this question for many nights. For me, Earth is magic; an elixir of life that exists everywhere. Life in all forms—those in the sky, in the soil, streams, and the deep seas. Earth is where everything that dies remains in other forms—an ever-evolving purpose, an everlasting story.
I am reminded of the Akan people in Ghana, who believe The Earth is the abode of their ancestors. When a person dies, they also return to the Earth, to Asase Yaa, goddess of fertility, the one who causes the land to prosper.
Before I read about the Akan people's concept of the Earth, I struggled to find words to describe Earth. When I stumbled upon the Akan people, I was filled with wonder. Asase Yaa.. Asase Yaa..
Asase Yaa..
Asase meaning Earth and Yaa meaning a female born on a Thursday. The Akan people believe that the creator god Nyame created the Earth on a Thursday. Traditionally, Thursday is considered a day of rest, on which there is no farming, no burying of the dead, and refraining from all earth related activities.
Nyame, much like Zeus in Greek mythology, is considered the supreme god who created the Earth.
Anansi..
Did you know Asase Yaa is the mother of Anansi?
Asase Yaa, the teacher, gave us Anansi, the shape-shifting trickster god. The weaver of webs, both literal and allegorical-stories we can learn from.
Let me tell you my favourite Anansi story.
How The World's Stories Came To Humankind.
Long ago, all stories belonged to Nyame, the creator god, but one creature, Anansi, the tricky shape-shifting spider, resolved to take ownership of the world's stories. He spun a web that stretched far and wide into the sky and climbed up to confront Nyame, the sky god—crouching beneath the towering presence of Nyame. Anansi announced that he had come to take ownership of the world's stories. Nyame told Anansi that he could have all the stories he wished for, but only if he could complete four impossible tasks. He could take the stories if Anansi brought him Onini the Python, Osebo the Leopard, Mmoboro the Hornet and Mmoatia the Forest Spirit.
Determined more than ever, Anansi accepted, his mind already whirring with plans and schemes.
Back on Earth, Anansi set to work, crafting a plan. He grabbed his magic bag and searched for Onini, the python. Anansi darted through the jungle; his senses alert for any sign of Onini. After searching for a while, Anansi found Onini relaxing, basking in the sun.
Anansi looked in Onini's direction, baiting Onini with his words. Speaking boldly, Anansi claimed that Onini could not be the longest animal on Earth, saying he looked no longer than a piece of bamboo cane he held. Enraged, Onini stretched himself across the bamboo to prove he was the longest animal. With a burst of speed, Anansi quickly bound Onini to the can, trapping him. Anansi then placed Onini in his magic bag.
Anansi then dug a great pit in the middle of a path where Osebo the Leopard usually prowled with the stealth of a shadow. Anansi covered the hole with banana leaves. Sure enough, Osebo fell in the pit shortly after. Anansi offered to help him. When Osebo got to the top of the pit, Anansi jabbed him. Osebo fell to the ground. In the speed of lightening, Anansi spun a tight web, binding Osebo in a silk sheet-like capsule. As he was binding Osebo, Anansi kept hearing a buzzing sound. It could only be the Mmoboro the Hornet. He had a plan!
Anansi knew the Hornets did not like rain, so he filled his mouth with water. On a thin line of silk strip bound on a tree a safe distance away, Anansi approached Mmoboro. Anansi was particularly cautious as the Hornets' venomous stings and fierce swarms would cause someone to sell up and die. When he got close, he spat water out of his mouth, creating an illusion of rainfall.
As the hornets flew around confused, Anansi pulled a gourd out of his magical bag and offered the Hornets shelter. Fooled by the illusion, the Hornets sought refuge in Anansi’s gourd. Once they were in, Anansi covered the top of the gourd, trapping them.
It was time to find Mmoatia, the elusive Forest Spirit, who Anansi knew was lonely. Anansi made a doll, placed it in the middle of the road, covered it in sap, and sat waiting for Mmoatia. After a while, Mmoatia found the doll; its presence was alluring. Filled with excitement, Mmoatia started speaking to the doll. Much to her frustration, Mmoatia got no answer back. Enraged, she attempted to grab the doll but stuck to the sap instead. Anansi wrapped Mmoatia in a web and scooped her into his magical bag.
Anansi spun a web that stretched far and wide into the sky and climbed up, telling Nyame that he had completed the task. Nyame was amazed and gave Anansi the world's stories. Spinning a circular web of joy, Anansi stuffed the stories into his magical bag and went back to Earth, where he scattered them far and wide, sharing them with everyone.
Something in common…
The Earth always speaks through stories and reminds us of how magical the world is.
Anansi and I have something in common. We love to share stories. From Anansi I learn about generosity, about community, I learn about the human experience. Stories, myths and fairy tales have helped me find new meaning, continuously re-imagine myself, and re-imagine the world and my place in it.
Every aspect of the flowering tree of life lives in a story. Stories teach us lessons about learning to live more deeply in the world, offering valuable insights into the human experience.
One particular genre of storytelling encapsulates timeless wisdom—these stories are called myths. Myths are a durable mode of knowledge transmission, kept alive and resilient by communal storytelling.3
Myths generate landscapes for our imagination; they provide fertile ground for it to roam free.
Imagination…
Imagination allows us to penetrate the veil, envision new possibilities and explore realms beyond the limitations of our everyday existence.
Imagination can be revolutionary, galvanizing people to wander into greater freedoms. I say this as I believe that when we see something with a sense of wonder, we are naturally compelled to protect it.
A message for you :
Thank you four your time, for your presence! I'd love to learn more about your language and culture. What word describes 'earth' in your native language?
Also, if there's a story or a deity associated with the word or words, I'd love to hear that, too! Please let me know in the comment section or email me! Whatever works.. Be well. Ritah
Dunida- Somalia ( Thanks Munira) Dunia- Mandinka Aduna-Wolof-( Thanks Molamin) Asase Yaa- Akan people of Ghana Dunya- Arabic Pachamama -Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and northern Argentina Gaia-Greek mythology Aiye- Yoruba, Nigeria Pasi - Shona ( Thanks Tafara)
Encyclopaedia of African religion/ editors, Molefi Kete Asante, Ama Mazama.
The characters in myths can be great learning tools for us. Characters like Anansi, the shape-shifting trickster god. I like to think that stories shaped Anansi, moulding him into the trickster, the teacher, and sometimes the student. Perhaps, deep down, his quest was not entirely about ownership, but about honouring the legacy of his ancestors.