Myths & More

Having reached the peak of the cavern’s entrance,  Kweku Tsin turned to face the beast. Once there was a man named Kweku Tsin, a brave hunter and the provider of his village. He was as strong as he was clever, being the son of the quick-witted Anansi. Everyone admired Kweku Tsin and felt safe in his presence. One day, the people in the village began to go missing. Every day that passed, more of the villagers disappeared. Concerned, Kweku Tsin gathered his hunting gear and left the village to investigate. Reaching the lush forests, Kweku Tsin walked deftly through the trees, looking for any sign of the missing villagers. In his wake he spotted something weaving through the foliage. Kweku Tsin reached for his bow when suddenly, the large figure arose. A dragon, unlike anything he had ever seen before, reached out to grab him. The beast flew off with Kweku Tsin and dropped him in a dark den on the highest mountain. Gathering his surroundings, Kweku Tsin saw the missing villagers...

Kweku Tsin flees from the dragon Link to story.   Title:   The Moon and the Stars Publication: West African Folk-Tales, 1917 Author: William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair Notes: William H. Barker (1882-1929) was an American missionary who collected stories from the west coast of Africa to compile into his book, “West African Folk-Tales,” published in 1917. Cecilia Sinclair was the coauthor and the illustrator of the novel. Characters: Anansi Kweku Tsin, Anansi’s son Dragon Rooster Anansi’s friends Places: Ghana Events: Kweku Tsin supplies food for his family Kweku Tsin spots a dragon while out hunting Kweku Tsin and his father Anansi go to see the dragon The dragon captures them and holds them hostage in his castle Kweku Tsin devises an escape plan for the captives Kweku Tsin collects rice for the dragon’s servant, the rooster Kweku Tsin makes a rope ladder Kweku Tsin gathers leftover bones and the dragon’s fiddle The captives begin to climb the ladder with the dragon...

Anansi Link to story. Title: How We Got the Name “Spider Tales” Publication: West African Folk-Tales, 1917 Author: William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair Notes: William H. Barker (1882-1929) was an American missionary who collected stories from the west coast of Africa to compile into his book, “West African Folk-Tales,” published in 1917. Cecilia Sinclair was the coauthor and the illustrator of the novel. Characters: Nyankupon, chief of the gods Spider/Anansi, the trickster Bees Boa Tiger Places:  Ghana Events: Anansi envies Nyankupon’s fame Anansi asks to be written into future stories Nyankupon sends Anansi on a quest to fetch three things Anansi tricks the bees to fly into a jar Anansi tricks the boa to hang from a stick Anansi tricks the tiger into following him Nyankupon, impressed, calls the old tales Anansi tales References: http://www.loyalbooks.com/book/west-african-folk-tales-by-william-h-barker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anansi