Deception, Manipulation and Emotional intelligence in Anansesem: Unravelling the Amoral Ananse Archetype

Sela Kodjo Adjei, PhD

2021 International Society for Folk narrative Research Conference

7th September, 2021

Abstract
This paper seeks to analyse the deception and manipulation schemes of amoral Ananse archetypes in Anansesem. Folktales exist in every society and culture to ensure its survival. Most indigenous people gain cognitive abilities, moral, ethical and emotional intelligence through the didactic lessons embedded in oral traditions. Ananse the trickster is a spider, seen by many, either as a cultural hero or villain. In a meta-ethical sense, amoral Ananse archetypes traverse the boundaries of conventional ethics. They rarely conform to cultural norms and moral laws, constantly violating ‘accepted’ social behaviours. Deception is a natural evolutionary trait plants, mammals, insects, crustaceans, reptiles, and arboreal creatures instinctively employ as defense or offense mechanisms to perfect the art of survival. Similarly, in Africa, real life lessons about human nature are embedded in oral traditions to serve as enlightening pedagogical tools to ensure the survival of societies. In the study of Ghanaian folk narratives, there have been several advances in terms of linguistic and stylistic analysis, yet there is apparently a lack of interdisciplinary discourse on the philosophy, psychology, and social anthropology of deception and manipulation schemes embedded in Anansesem. This paper will explore these neglected areas to unravel the amoral Ananse archetype. 

Keywords: Deception, Manipulation, Folktale, Psychology, Trickery, Ananse