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STORIES IN TWI
Anansesɛm: Ananse Stories in Twi
Anansesɛm are the spider stories of the Akan people of Ghana — the folktales of Kwaku Ananse, the clever trickster spider, told in Twi for generations. On this page you’ll find what Anansesɛm means, a short Ananse story in Twi with its English translation and moral, and links to many more free Anansi stories to read.
What is Anansesɛm?
The word Anansesɛm comes from Ananse (spider) and asɛm (words or story) — literally, “spider stories.” Among the Akan, Ananse became so central to storytelling that his name came to mean folktales themselves: to tell a story is to tell Anansesɛm.
Traditionally these tales were told aloud in Twi in the evening, often with songs and a call from the storyteller that the audience answers together. They entertain — and they teach. Almost every Anansesɛm ends with a lesson about wisdom, greed, kindness or wit, which is why parents and teachers still love them today.
A short Anansesɛm in Twi
Here is one of the best-loved short Ananse stories — Kwaku Ananse and the Pot of Wisdom — in Twi, with an English translation and its moral.
Kwaku Ananse ne Nyansa Kuruwa
Twi:
Tete no, Kwaku Ananse yɛɛ n’adwene sɛ ɔbɛboaboa nyansa nyinaa ano akora, na ɔno nko ara bɛnya. ɔde nyansa no guu kuruwa mu, na ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔde kɔsie dua tenten bi atifi. ɔde kuruwa no bɔɔ n’anim, na ɔyɛɛ den sɛ ɔreforo dua no. Ne ba Ntikuma hwɛɛ no na ɔkaa sɛ, “Agya, sɛ wode kuruwa no bɔ w’akyi a, anka ɛbɛyɛ mmɛrɛw.” Ananse bo fuwii sɛ abɔfra anya adwene sen ɔno a ɔkura ‘nyansa nyinaa’ no; enti ɔtoo kuruwa no fam. ɛbɔɔ, na nyansa no petee wiase nyinaa. ɛno nti na obiara nni nyansa nyinaa, na yɛn nyinaa wɔ bi.
English:
Long ago, Kwaku Anansi decided to gather all the wisdom in the world and keep it for himself alone. He collected it in a clay pot and tried to hide it at the top of a tall tree. He tied the pot to his front, and struggled to climb. His son Ntikuma watched and said, “Father, if you tied the pot to your back it would be easier.” Anansi was angry that a small child had more sense than his ‘pot of all wisdom’ — so he threw the pot down. It broke, and wisdom scattered across the whole world. That is why no one person holds all the wisdom, and why every one of us has a little.
Adesua / Moral: Obiara nni nyansa nyinaa; yɛn nyinaa wɔ bi. — No one person has all wisdom; we each carry some.
More Anansi stories to read
We’re building a growing library of Ananse stories. You can read them all free right now — and we’re adding Twi read-alouds and audio so families can enjoy them in the language they were first told.
- Read all free Anansi stories — sorted by age.
- Who is Anansi? — the meaning and origins of Kwaku Ananse.
- Ananse Ntontan — the Adinkra symbol of the spider’s web.
Anansesɛm in Twi: FAQ
What does Anansesɛm mean?
Anansesɛm means “spider stories” in Twi — from Ananse (spider) and asɛm (story). It is the Akan word for the folktales of Anansi, and for folktales in general.
Are Anansi stories originally told in Twi?
Yes. Anansi (Kwaku Ananse) comes from the Akan people of Ghana, and his tales were traditionally told in Twi long before they were written in English or carried across the world.
Where can I find short Ananse stories in Twi with a moral?
Right here — the short Anansesɛm above is in Twi with its English translation and moral, and we are adding more Twi stories over time.
Can children read these Ananse stories in English too?
Yes. Every story in our free library can be read in English, sorted by age, with audio and video versions.
