In Gbanu, anticipatory (“leftward”) tone spreading is more general than perseverative (“rightward”) spreading. This is one counterexample to the observation that perseverative spreading is more natural (Hyman & Schuh 1974). Leftward H-Spread (/HLH/ → [HⓁHH]) occurs regularly, including in monomorphemic words. Downstep results from the anticipatory spread of the second High, delinking the Low. Rightward H-Spread (/HL-T/ → [HHⓁT]) is rarer, and it is restricted to nouns with a /HL/ melody. Gbanu provides one additional case showing that the geographic and genetic extent of Leftward H-Spread is wider than previously thought. Besides Gbaya, it is also attested in Kwa, Gur, Bantu A, West Central Sudanic, and Nilotic.