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AGES 7-8 • 12 pages • about 3 min to read together
Kweku tries to use music to sneak fruit from Nia the leopard’s guarded grove, admits the truth when caught, and learns that honest asking and respectful sharing are wiser than tricking.
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PAGE 1 OF 12
Beyond Kweku Anansi’s village stood a secret grove where golden fruits grew beneath broad green leaves. Everyone said the fruits tasted sweeter than honey and rain, but the grove was watched by Nia the leopard.
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Kweku longed to taste one. From behind a tree, he watched Nia walk through the grove with quiet steps, her spotted coat shining in the sun.
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Kweku noticed something important. Whenever birds sang from the high branches, Nia stopped, closed her eyes, and listened as if the whole forest had become a song.
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That evening, Kweku built a small gourd harp from a dried calabash, smooth sticks, and plant-fiber strings. “A little music,” he whispered, “may open the way.”
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The next morning, Kweku sat near the grove and played a gentle melody. Nia paused under the trees, her ears soft and her eyes half closed.
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While Nia listened, Kweku tiptoed toward the fruit trees. He picked one golden fruit, then another, and placed them carefully into his cloth bag.
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Kweku should have stopped, but the fruit smelled wonderful. He filled the bag until it bulged. When he lifted it, the heavy bag bumped against a tree with a loud thud.
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Nia opened her eyes at once. Kweku froze with the bag in his hands. The leopard stepped closer, not roaring, but watching him with a sharp, disappointed stare.
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Kweku swallowed and told the truth. “I was afraid you would say no,” he said. “I wanted the fruit for everyone, but I should have asked instead of sneaking.”
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Nia sat beside the grove and thought. “These fruits are special,” she said. “They should be shared, but with respect. No one may take them in secret.”
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Together, Kweku and Nia carried a basket of fruit back to the village. For every fruit shared, a child, elder, or traveler offered a story in return.
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From that day, Kweku still loved clever plans, but he learned that asking honestly can open more doors than tricking. The sweetest gifts are shared with trust.
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
Anansi and Sefu’s Hidden Spring →
Anansi and Allo’s Secret Well →
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 7–8
