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AGES 11-13 • 12 pages • about 4 min to read together
Kweku seeks stories from Binta, the Bewitching Breeze, loses one of his own tales in a careless bargain, and wins it back by respectfully carrying the oldest tree’s melody.
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PAGE 1 OF 12
Kweku Anansi first heard of Binta during harmattan season, when dust softened the sun and every roof seemed to whisper. They said she was the Bewitching Breeze, a wind spirit who carried stories no road could reach.
PAGE 2 OF 12
Kweku wanted those faraway tales. He packed his notebook, a charcoal stick, a braided raffia wind-ribbon, and a small calabash listening cup. “I will ask politely,” he promised, “and remember the price of listening.”
PAGE 3 OF 12
In the deep forest, the leaves turned silver-side up though no storm was coming. A cool teal wind curled around Kweku’s scarf, and Binta appeared as ribbons of air, leaf motes, and a voice like song.
PAGE 4 OF 12
“I trade fairly,” Binta whispered. “One story from me for one story from you.” Kweku knew his stories were part of him, but curiosity leaned forward before wisdom could catch his sleeve.
PAGE 5 OF 12
Binta poured visions through the clearing: singing deserts, moon-touched mountains, oceans hiding golden cities, and caravans crossing stars of dust. Kweku listened, dazzled, and forgot the sharp edge of the bargain.
PAGE 6 OF 12
When Binta finished, Kweku told one of his treasured village tales. As the last words left his mouth, the memory loosened inside him and flew into the wind like a glowing seed.
PAGE 7 OF 12
Panic struck harder than shame. “Please,” Kweku said, “do not keep it forever.” Binta circled him thoughtfully. “Bring me the melody hummed by the oldest tree before moonrise, and I will return what you gave.”
PAGE 8 OF 12
Kweku found the ancient silk-cotton tree with roots like sleeping elders. He tried guessing the melody, then stopped. A tree that old would not answer noise. It would answer patience.
PAGE 9 OF 12
He set the calabash listening cup against a root and tied the raffia wind-ribbon between two low branches. As the breeze moved through it, the tree’s hum gathered into a trembling, golden-blue note.
PAGE 10 OF 12
Kweku carried the captured melody back without trapping it, letting it pulse inside the calabash like a firefly in an open hand. Binta listened, and for once the wind spirit grew still.
PAGE 11 OF 12
“You learned the difference between taking and receiving,” Binta said. She released Kweku’s lost tale, and it returned to him warm and whole, carrying a new respect for every story he owned.
PAGE 12 OF 12
Back in the village, Kweku shared Binta’s distant wonders, but he also shared the warning. Stories could travel on any breeze, he said, yet the best ones must be carried with care.
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.
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- Who is Anansi? — meet the clever trickster spider of Ghana.
- See Anansi in 360° — his spider and human forms.
- More free stories for ages 11–13
