Anansi's Tale Gets More Voices
In this original tale inspired by Anansi stories from the Akan traditions of West Africa, Anansi discovers that sharing a story brings new voices and more laughter.
Play the quiz as a gameAnansi the spider had invented a tale about a yam in a floppy hat. He set a stool beneath a mango tree. The heading on his sign read, "One Story, One Teller."
"This tale is too splendid to share," he said. "If others tell it, there will be less for me." He sat down and whispered the tale to himself. When the yam lost its hat, nobody laughed.
Tortoise stopped beneath the tree. "May I listen?" she asked. Anansi thought for a moment. His fine story felt rather dull without a listener. "You may listen," he said, "but the telling belongs to me."
Anansi began. Soon Tortoise chuckled. "I can imagine that yam speaking very slowly," she said. She tried a low, slow voice. Anansi grinned. The yam sounded funnier already.
Hare came hopping over. "Perhaps the hat is tickling its nose!" he said. He made a squeaky sneeze. Anansi laughed so hard that his eight legs wiggled. Together, they decided the sneeze sent the hat tumbling onto the yam's foot.
"Tell it again!" Hare begged. This time, Anansi told the tale, Tortoise spoke for the yam, and Hare supplied the sneeze. Their laughter brought more listeners to the tree.
Anansi looked at his sign. He had shared his tale, yet he had not lost it. Now it had funny voices and friends inside it. He changed the heading to "One Story, Many Voices."