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AGES 5-6 • 10 pages • about 3 min to read together
Kweku tricks Elephant and Hippo into tugging against each other, then learns that clever plans feel best when they are fair and kind.
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Kweku Anansi’s village sat between tall green trees and a sparkling stream. Nearby lived Elephant, who was strong as a hill, and Hippo, who was strong as the river.
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One morning, Kweku heard the animals praise Elephant and Hippo. Kweku lifted his chin. “I am strong too,” he said. “Maybe I am strongest of all!”
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Hippo chuckled kindly from the stream. “Then let us see,” she said. Elephant flapped his ears and smiled. “A tug of war would be fun.”
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Kweku’s eyes twinkled. “Tomorrow,” he said, “I will tug against both of you.” The animals whispered and wondered how one small boy could pull two giants.
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At sunrise, Kweku found a long, sturdy vine. He carried one end to Elephant near the forest path. “When you feel a tug, pull hard,” Kweku said.
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Then Kweku ran through the thicket to the stream. He handed the other end to Hippo. “When you feel a tug, pull hard,” he told her too.
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Kweku climbed a little mound between the trees and lifted both hands. “Ready!” he called. Elephant pulled. Hippo pulled. The vine stretched tight through the leaves.
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Elephant leaned back with all his strength. Across the thicket, Hippo dug her feet into the muddy bank. Each one thought Kweku was pulling from the other side.
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The ground rumbled, branches shook, and the watching animals gasped. Kweku giggled at first, but then he saw how hard Elephant and Hippo were working.
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At last, Elephant and Hippo followed the vine and met in the middle. Kweku stepped forward. “I tricked you,” he said softly. “I wanted everyone to call me strong.” Elephant and Hippo looked at each other, then laughed gently. “You are clever, Kweku,” said Elephant. “But clever plans should be kind,” said Hippo. Kweku nodded. Together they made a new tug-of-war game where everyone knew the rules. Kweku smiled, because cleverness felt best when it was fair.
Talk about it together
- What was your favourite part of the story?
- What do you think Anansi learned?
- What would you have done differently?
ABOUT THIS TALE
Anansi (Kwaku Ananse) is the clever spider of Ashanti folklore from Ghana. These tales were told aloud for generations and travelled the world with the Akan people. This is an original retelling that keeps the wit and warmth of the tradition alive for young readers.
More Anansi stories
Explore more Anansi
- Who is Anansi? — meet the clever trickster spider of Ghana.
- See Anansi in 360° — his spider and human forms.
- More free stories for ages 5–6
