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AGES 9-10 • 12 pages • about 4 min to read together
Kweku bargains with Tiger for the world’s stories, cleverly captures Zzzap and Onini with safe human-scale tricks, and shares the stories with everyone.
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PAGE 1 OF 12
Long ago, the forest was quiet in a strange way. People worked, birds called, and rivers ran, but no one told stories after sunset.
PAGE 2 OF 12
Kojo the Tiger King owned every story in the world. He kept them locked in a golden chest beneath his carved throne and shared none of them.
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Kweku Anansi could not bear the silence. “A world without stories is soup without salt,” he said. So he put on his orange scarf, took a woven satchel, and went to Tiger’s court.
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“Great King Kojo,” Kweku said with a bow, “what is the price for your stories?” Tiger laughed until the leaves shook. “Bring me Zzzap the Hornet and Onini the Python. Then the stories are yours.”
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Tiger smiled as Kweku walked away. Zzzap’s sting was sharp as fire. Onini was longer than a canoe. Surely a boy could never bring them both.
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Kweku found a dry gourd, a grass plug, and a broad green leaf. He sprinkled water over the leaf and his own hair, then hurried beneath Zzzap’s nest.
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“Rain is coming!” Kweku cried. “Hide in this dry gourd before your wings are soaked!” Zzzap buzzed in a panic and flew inside. Pop! Kweku sealed the gourd with the grass plug.
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Next, Kweku carried a straight bamboo pole to the river grass. “This pole says it is longer than Onini,” Kweku said loudly. Onini lifted his head. “Nothing is longer than I am.”
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Onini stretched beside the pole. “Almost,” Kweku said, “but you keep bending. Let me tie you gently so the measure is fair.” Proud Onini agreed, and soon he was looped safely to the bamboo.
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Kweku returned to Tiger’s court carrying the sealed gourd and dragging the bamboo pole. Tiger’s jaw dropped. “The price is paid,” Kweku said. “Now the stories must be shared.”
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Tiger opened the golden chest. Out flew stories like bright birds: funny stories, brave stories, warning stories, and stories that made even Tiger blink with wonder.
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Kweku carried the chest to the village square. That night, everyone gathered beneath the silk-cotton tree. Kweku opened the chest and shared the first tale. From then on, stories belonged to everyone who listened, remembered, and passed them on.
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 the Celestial Circus →
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 9–10
