As Ananse scratched his head in search of a solution to his problem, he was startled by a loud laugh behind him, and he turned around to find, to this utter amazement, his son. Ntikuma suggested to his father that if he would put the pot on his back instead of on his belly he would find it easier to climb the tree. Ananse was furious that it took his son to show him this simple solution. Filled with great frustration, he threw down the pot, and the wisdom from it spread to all parts of the world. It is part of the wisdom scattered from Ananse's pot that appears in African proverbs.
Proverbs have many uses in African societies.
They may express an eternal truth. They may be a warning against foolish acts or a guide to good conduct. They may also bring special meaning to certain situations and may even solve particular problems. Proverbs are expressed not only in words but also in the language of the drums and the sound of the horns blown by the attendants of chiefs. Even patterns woven in cloth by weavers may express proverbial saying.