Folktale/read-aloud Play

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s t o r y w o r k s . s c h o l a s t i c . c o m • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 15

CharactersCircle the character you will play.

*Narrators 1, 2 & 3*anansi the spider (uh-NahN-see)*villagers 1, 2 & 3*Nyame the sky God (Nyah-may)aso, anansi’s wife (ah-soh) onini the python (oh-Nee-nee)osebo the leopard (oh-say-boh)mmoboro hornets 1 & 2 (moo-bor-oh)*mmoatia the invisible fairy (mwah-tee-ah)

*indicates large speaking role

AnansiBrings Stories to the World

Tricksters are clever characters who outwit bigger, stronger ones. As you read, look for what makes Anansi a trickster.

uPCLOSE

LOOK FOR WORD NERD’S 6 TERMS IN BOLD

Scene 1 a Village in africa

Narrator 1: Can you imagine living in a world without stories?

Narrator 2: Long ago there was such a time . . . Narrator 3: back when all people lived in Africa. Narrator 1: In that time, there was a tiny spider.Narrator 2: Not just any spider . . . Narrator 3: but Anansi the spider . . . Narrator 1: a trickster who used his cleverness to fool

By Sari Bodi and Karen Trott

Illustrations by Dave Clegg

Scene 2 In the CloudsNarrator 2:

Anansi spins a silken thread all the way to the moon.

Narrator 3: He climbs up to visit the Sky God.

anansi (bows): I want to buy your box of stories, Nyame.

Narrator 1: The Sky God laughs, making the clouds rumble.

Nyame: There are not enough riches in the world to buy my stories.

anansi: There must be something you desire besides riches.

Nyame: Nothing a tiny spider could provide.

anansi: Name your price, Nyame!Narrator 2: Nyame thinks for a

moment.Nyame: All right, Anansi. Bring

me Onini the python, Osebo the leopard, the Mmoboro hornets, and Mmoatia the invisible fairy.

anansi: How? They are the most

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creatures larger than himself.Narrator 2: One day, from his web high in a

tree, he calls out to the villagers below.anansi: You people down there, what is

wrong?Narrator 3: He scurries down his silken

thread . . .Narrator 1: and looks straight into the

villagers’ glassy, dull eyes.anansi: Why do you all just sit there not

talking?villager 1: There is nothing to say, Anansi.villager 2: Every day we work together in the

hot sun, scrambling for food.villager 3: Our evenings are long and empty.villager 1: As empty as our bellies on most

days.anansi: Why don’t you tell each other stories?villager 2: We have no stories. There are none

to tell in all the world.anansi: Impossible! I would rather lose two of

my eight legs than live without stories!villager 3 (looking up): We hear Nyame the

Sky God has them.villager 1: They are locked in a wooden box.anansi: I will get them for you.villager 2: How can a little spider wrestle

them away from the powerful Sky God?anansi: Tricksters always find a way.

How a Trickster Came to americaTrickster characters like anansi are found in folktales all over the world. These clever rascals use their wits—and some tricks—to outdo bigger, more powerful creatures.

GhANA is on the

west coast of the African continent

Anansi tales come from West Africa. The stories were first told

in what is now the country of Ghana.

deadly creatures in our land!Nyame: If you cannot pay the price, Anansi, I

will keep my box of stories.anansi: Oh no, I will pay. And when I do, be

sure to carve my name on that box.

Scene 3 In the Jungle

Narrator 3: Anansi slides down the silken thread to his home and his wife, Aso.Narrator 1: They devise a plan to capture Onini, the python that can swallow a goat.

Narrator 2: Later, they walk through the jungle arguing loudly.

anansi: I tell you, Aso, Onini is longer than this bamboo

stick!aso: And I say Onini is shorter!Narrator 3: The enormous snake

slithers off a branch.

onini: Why are you shouting my name? I

should eat you

s t o r y w o r k s . s c h o l a s t i c . c o m • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 17

for breakfassst just to sssilence you.anansi: It is my wife, great python. She says

you are shorter than this puny stick. onini: Tosss it on the ground. I will show you.Narrator 1: Onini lies alongside the stick.onini: Sssssee? I am much longer.aso: No, your head and tail still do not reach

the ends.anansi: It is your coils, Onini, that make you

seem shorter. Let me bind you to the stick with my silken thread.

aso (observing the snake): Ah yes, Onini, now that you are straight, you are longer.

anansi (laughing): You are also my captive!onini (struggling): Sss! Anansssi, you fooled me!Narrator 2: Anansi carries the python up the

silken thread to the Sky God. Nyame: So, Trickster, you have delivered

Onini. But Osebo the leopard still awaits you!

Scene 4Near the Watering Hole

Narrator 3: Anansi calls the villagers together to help him capture Osebo.

villager 3 (gasps): He’s the most dangerous leopard in the jungle—with teeth as sharp as spears!

anansi (to the villagers): You must dig a hole at the place where the leopard drinks, then cover it with branches.Narrator 1: Sure enough, when Osebo

In lively storytelling sessions, tales of Anansi gave slaves hope. Perhaps they imagined themselves as the cunning

spider, rising up against powerful slave owners.

How a Trickster Came to america

As the stories of Anansi were retold,

they mixed with other folktales.

Brer Rabbit, a trickster star of tales

from the South, is based on Anansi and on characters from

Native American and East African folklore.

During the horrible time of slavery in America, the majority of African slaves came from West Africa. They brought with them

colorful characters from their folktales, including Anansi.

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hornet 1: Zzzzzz! I hear rain!

hornet 2: Our nest izzz drenched!

Narrator 3: Anansi holds a palm leaf over his head.

anansi: Come, hornets, keep your fiery stingers dry. Fly into this calabash!

both hornets: Ananzzzi, what a good idea!Narrator 1: As soon as the swarm flies into the

calabash . . .Narrator 2: Anansi claps the palm leaf over

the gourd . . .Narrator 3: and ties it with his silken thread.villagers 1, 2, 3: They shall sting us no more!Narrator 1: Anansi holds the buzzing calabash

up to the Sky God’s ear.Nyame: So, Trickster, you have delivered the

Mmoboro hornets. But Mmoatia the invisible fairy awaits you.

Scene 6 The forest

Narrator 2: Anansi turns to Aso for help.

appears, he falls into the hole. anansi (peering down): My friend,

that is not a good watering hole. It is bone-dry.

osebo: Anansi, you’re the clever one! Find me a way out of this trap!

anansi: Yes, I am clever enough to know that if I do get you out, you will eat me.

osebo: I promise on my many spots, I will not. Just get me out, however you can.

anansi: However? As you wish.Narrator 2: Anansi has the villagers attach

one end of a silken thread to the top of a willow tree.

Narrator 3: Then they bend the tree down, and Anansi ties the other end of the thread to Osebo’s tail.

Narrator 1: When the villagers let go of the willow tree, it snaps back up, flinging the leopard with it.

villager 1: Osebo is spinning around the tree!villager 2: And with every turn, Anansi’s

thread wraps him up like a cocoon!Narrator 2: Anansi carries the thrashing

leopard up his silken thread to the Sky God.Nyame: So, Trickster, you have delivered

Osebo. But the Mmoboro hornets await you.

Scene 5 Deep in the forest

Narrator 3: Once again, Anansi calls the villagers together.

anansi: I must capture the Mmoboro hornets.villager 3: How? Their stings burn like needles

on fire!anansi: Hollow out a calabash gourd and fill it

with water.Narrator 1: Then Anansi tells the villagers to

snap their fingers quickly and softly.villagers 1, 2, 3: It sounds like rain!Narrator 2: Anansi empties some of the water

from the calabash gourd onto his head and the rest onto the hornets’ nest. They fly out.

s t o r y w o r k s . s c h o l a s t i c . c o m • N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 19

anansi: How can I trap something I cannot see?

aso: It won’t be easy. But one thing I know, the invisible fairy loves to eat yam pudding.

anansi: Ah, then take a bowl of it to the woods where the fairies dance.

Narrator 3: Meanwhile, Anansi carves a wooden doll and joins Aso.

Narrator 1: He spreads sticky gum from the gum tree all over the doll.

Narrator 2: The villagers hide in the bushes and watch.

villager 1: Why is Anansi tying a silken thread around the doll’s neck?

villager 2: And placing the doll beside the bowl of yam pudding?

anansi: Shh. The invisible fairy has a fierce temper.

Narrator 3: Anansi and the villagers hear rustling sounds.

anansi: See how the tall grasses are moving?Narrator 1: They watch as the bowl floats up

on its own.anansi: The fairy must be here!mmoatia (in a tiny voice): Ooh, little baby, is

this your yam pudding?Narrator 2: From behind a tree, Anansi pulls

the thread on the doll’s neck so it nods.mmoatia: May I have some?Narrator 3: The doll nods again.Narrator 1: The villagers hear slurping noises.villager 3 (whispering): Look, the pudding is

disappearing from the bowl!mmoatia: Ah, delicious. Thank you, little

baby!Narrator 2: The doll does not answer.

mmoatia: I said, “Thank you, little baby!” Do you not say “You are welcome”?

Narrator 3: The doll still does not answer.mmoatia (screaming): Do you hear me? When I

say “Thank you,” what do you say?Narrator 1: The doll begins to shake: The fairy

has grabbed it by the shoulders.mmoatia: Aaaahh!! Little baby, let go of me!villager 1: The fairy is stuck, glued by the gum

Anansi put on the doll!Narrator 2: Anansi leaps out and winds his

thread around the doll, trapping the invisible fairy.

Narrator 3: The fairy screeches as Anansi carries her to the clouds.

Scene 7 In the Clouds

Narrator 1: The Sky God bows to Anansi.Nyame: Through your cunning, you, a tiny

spider, have delivered all that I asked.Narrator 2: The Sky God presents Anansi

with a beautiful wooden box.anansi: I see you have carved my name on it!Nyame: From now on, what is within shall be

known as the Anansi stories.Narrator 3: Anansi opens the box and flings

the stories to the four winds.anansi: Now, winds, carry my stories to the

people of the Earth.Narrator 1: On Earth, people catch them and

tell them again and again.Narrator 2: Their evenings are no longer dull,

now that stories belong to the world.Narrator 3: So the next time you hear one, be

sure to thank our little spider, Anansi.

What makes Anansi a trickster? Why do you think people around the world enjoy tales about tricksters? Send a well-organized response to “Anansi Contest” by January 15, 2015. Ten winners will each receive a copy of Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. See page 2 for details.

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