Anansi the spider was walking through a palm forest when suddenly a coconut the size of a hippopotamus was found on the road. Incredulous, Anansi rubbed his eyes to make sure that what he saw was true:

— What a big coconut! he said in admiration.

PLOP! At the end of these words, Anansi felt a stupor and fell into a deep sleep.

After an hour, he woke up feeling his head spinning.

-What happened? -he asked himself-. I walked through the forest, I found this coconut, then I said: What a big coconut!

PLOP! Saying these words, the stupor returns and falls into a deep sleep.

Waking up, Anansi said:

“This is an enchanted coconut, anyone who says the magic words will fall into a deep sleep.” I must find a way to take advantage of my discovery!

At that moment, Anansi devised a plan. He rolled the coconut halfway down the path that led to the village market. Then he hid behind a leafy bush and waited patiently.

Very soon, the donkey came down the road carrying a bag full of very sweet large oranges on its back. Seeing the gigantic coconut, he stopped to say in amazement:

-What a big coconut!

PLOP! Saying these words, the poor donkey felt a stupor and fell into a deep sleep. Anansi jumped out of hiding while the donkey slept and carried off the sack of oranges.

After an hour, the donkey woke up feeling his head spinning. He looked everywhere, but he couldn’t find his sack of oranges. The donkey was very sad.

But Anansi was very happy. He couldn’t wait to put his plan in motion again. Once again, he sat down to wait when suddenly the elephant passed by on the road. The innocent animal carried in its trunk a basket full of delicious bananas. Seeing the gigantic coconut, he stopped to say in amazement:

-What a big coconut!

PLOP! Saying these words, the elephant felt a stupor and fell into a deep sleep. Anansi approached the elephant and took the basket of bananas.

After an hour, the elephant woke up feeling his head spinning. He looked everywhere, but he couldn’t find his basket of bananas. The elephant was very sad.

Anansi was still very happy, because when the afternoon came, the dog, the hen, the rat and the mouse had also fallen into his trap and while they slept, he ate all the unsuspecting walkers.

All this time, the weasel had been watching Anansi. The spider’s behavior didn’t surprise her, for Anansi had tricked her before, too. This was his chance to teach the cunning spider a lesson.

In this way, the weasel went to the market to stock up. Pretending not to be aware of the spider’s tricks, she walked down the path holding a tray covered with fish of all sizes and colors. Seeing the gigantic coconut, he stopped to say in amazement:

“I don’t believe what my eyes see.”

Without saying the magic words, the weasel stood looking at the fruit for several minutes.

Anansi’s mouth watered at the sight of the fish and he couldn’t wait any longer to eat it. Then he came out of the bush and greeted the weasel.

“Hello friend, I’m glad to see you,” Anansi said, pointing to the huge coconut and adding, “Can you tell me what your eyes see?”

— I don’t know what I see Anansi, can you tell me? replied the weasel.

Anansi was losing patience:

“You’re supposed to say what you see,” he answered, very annoyed.

—Okay Anansi, I’ll say what you ask me: WHAT YOU SEE! said the weasel, avoiding saying the magic words at all costs.

-NO! Anansi yelled. You’re supposed to say, “WHAT’S A BIG COCONUT!”

SWAP!… Anansi felt a stupor and fell into a deep sleep once more.

After an hour, Anansi woke up feeling his head spinning. The elephant, the donkey and the rest of their victims looked at him very angry.

“Anansi, give us back what is ours!” They said in unison.

The weasel had told them what had happened, but Anansi had a huge appetite and there was nothing left of the food. So, the animals devised a plan to recover what was lost.

“Go to the market and sell what you have to pay for the food you took with you,” they said.

And that’s how Anansi ended up in the market selling coconut cakes, coconut water, coconut milk, coconut flour, coconut puree, grated coconut…

And everything you can imagine that can be done with a coconut the size of a hippo!