What up with Anansi?

My additional name, Anansi, often raises an eyebrow — it’s not exactly a familiar word in our Western world. Maybe that’s part of why I love it! The meaning behind it, and the way it found me, make it even more special.

Pre-Anansi time at Afrika Burn, 2019

It was March 2019. I’m usually pretty bad with dates, but because it was my very first Afrika Burn — a wild and beautiful Burning Man–inspired event in the South African desert — this one stuck. I had just arrived in this special country and continent, and I still remember falling to my knees in Amsterdam when I heard the Burn would take place only a month after I’d land in Cape Town.

I love the desert, doing things that felt off-the-odd, and the dress-up vibes were definitely a plus.

It might sound as if I’d dreamed of going for years, but I hadn’t. Though, something about it struck me as very special and attractive. I love the desert, doing things that felt off-the-odd, and the dress-up vibes were definitely a plus. What I didn’t know was that glitter was banned because nothing may be left in nature. It was a tough one to swallow but I understand the reasoning, so it was acceptable.

Anyway, back to the point: Anansi.

After a week of dancing, wandering through the desert, playing some music and meeting people, I had hardly came to knew the theme camp I was "part of". I was too much out and about and enjoying my own party, but at the very last evening, we made it out with the whole crew and we sat together, watching one of the artworks burn up at night. Then Darren, the "camp leader," said that they had spoken together and decided on a name for me.

Anansi.  Anansi is a central spider-figure in the folklore of the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. He is not only known as a trickster, but also for his cleverness and cunning. He is often portrayed as a hero and a symbol of the power of intelligence over physical strength [source].

Can you see the similarities between me and Anansi? ;)

I decided I liked the name, and that it suited me pretty well. But also, that is was a useful name. New friends across the world were often struggling to find me on Facebook as “Anouk Vos”. It might be hard to believe, but here in Holland and on Facebook there are like forty of us. So I thought, let's help those fellows and add it as my second name and nickname.

Life carried on, and I eventually ended up with my partner at the time, living in our converted home bus and my boho caravan on a mountaintop near Riversdale. A gorgeous view, no neighbours, a few wattle trees and… plenty of giant rain spiders.

Just like many others, I wasn’t a fan of spiders. With the first three, I called my partner, asking to rescue me from the monsters in my caravan. After the third time, I realised it was time to handle this myself. A yoghurt container and a plastic chopping board were ready anytime, I started removing the big ones from my caravan all by myself.

Folded, so about 1/3 of its true size, I found this rain spider sleeping on my Oracle Cards.

I can see the cuteness in him now, can you see it too?

I’ve always believed everything is connected. This time I discovered that spiders stand for transformation. Sure, the transformation of becoming less terrified of enormous spiders was one part of it, but there was also a deeper shift happening. Those years were filled with personal growth — learning about myself, others and spirit. Like a spider in my own web, watching the world from a quiet distance, I changed and grew.

The name stayed with me. It became my second name, and later also a part of my performance name when I started writing songs and sharing them with others. So - now you know that’s how Anouk became Anouk Anansi — woven through with a bit of desert dust, a touch of magic, and a whole lot of transformation. Thanks for being part of my journey! With love and gratitude Anouk Anansi.