Black Horse

The Red Water Spider

In short: A Baoulé folktale traces the water spider’s red colour to a punishment by water spirits.

The Red Water Spider · A colour left by a punishment FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 260 The Red Water Spider A Baoulé folktale traces the water spider’s red colour to a punishment by water spirits. Origin Côte d’Ivoire · Baoulé storytelling region Atlas record 2007 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF A colour left by a punishment Reach¹ 1/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 1 records · 1 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

Côte d’Ivoire · Baoulé storytelling region

In François Beney’s 2007 Baoulé–French collection, colour becomes the visible trace of an event in the past. The publisher’s synopsis identifies the water spirits as the ones who punish the spider, with redness left behind as the mark. The story brings the reader’s attention back to the small creature, whose appearance now recalls what happened.

Dated records and sources

  1. 2007 · Côte d’Ivoire · Baoulé storytelling region
    François Beney · Contes de Côte d’Ivoire en pays baoulé · L’Harmattan · Published collection

Country pages

Fairy Tale Glossary

Origin
Black Horse. The Red Water Spider. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-baoule-water-spider/