African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

Anansi Short African Story for Kids

Anansi Short African Story for Kids.


Anansi is a tricky spider who gets into all sorts of trouble in African Folklore stories.

About Anansi.

Anansi African folktale is a story forming part of an oral storytelling tradition shaped by the tongues of African elders passed down from one generation to the next. Folktales reflect the morals, superstitions, and customs of the African people.

Anansi is a tricky spider who gets into all sorts of trouble. The word Anansi is Akan simply meaning spider. Anansi is an exceedingly popular folktale character whose stories are told and retold in West Africa and Jamaica.

The Anansi tales are believed to have originated by the Ashanti people of Ghana. In the southern United States of America, Anansi's name evolved into the beloved Aunt Nancy stories.


Anansi and the Old Lady’s Field Story.

One day there was an old lady work a very nice field on a rock, And an old-witch boy is the watchman.

And one day Anansi heard about the old-witch boy, And Anansi sends And invites him to his yard. And when the old-witch boy come, Anansi asks him what his name. And he says to Anansi that his name is John-John Fe-We-Hall.

And the boy asks Anansi why he ask him like that.

And Anansi say:—"Don't be afraid my friend', I very love you; that's why I ask when your name."

And by this time the old lady didn't know that the old-witch boy gone to Anansi yard.

And Anansi have a son is a very clever thief, call Tacoma.

And Anansi made a bargain that, when he sees John-John Fe-We-Hall come, he must walk to the back door And come out, And go to the old lady ground And destroy the provision.

And when Tacoma come home, Anansi leave John-John out the hall And tell him that he is going to get some breakfast for him.

Now the old lady make a law that, if the watchman eat any of his provision, it going to make him sick in a way that he will find out if it is the same watchman thieving him.

And being the boy is old-witch, he knows that the food Anansi is getting ready is from the old lady field. Therefore, when Anansi bring breakfast he won't eat it.

Anansi tell him that he must eat the food, he must not be afraid.

And the boy say:—"No."

And Anansi send And tell the old lady that the man is here clever more than him.

And when the old lady receive the message from Anansi, he sent to the ground to tell the old-witch boy that he must look out for Mr. Anansi, for him receive a chance from Anansi.

And this time the old lady didn't know that the watchman is at Anansi yard.

And the old-witch the boy is a flutter, And when the old lady wants to dance it's the same boy playing for the old lady. And the old lady has a tune which he is dancing with. And Anansi asks the boy to play the tune when he is going home, And Anansi knows if the tune plays the old lady will dance till she kills herself.

When the boy going home, he took up his songs with the flute:

Old lady you too love dance, turn them,
Old lady you too love dance, turn them,
Turn them make them lay, turn them,
Turn them make them lay, turn them.

And when the old lady hear the song she begins to dance And wheel until she tumbles off the rock And dead.

And Anansi becomes the master of the field until now.

Up next.
Have you ever wondered about How the baboon’s bottom got swollen and red. an African folktale.

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