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Ghanaian Folktales

Traditional folktales from Ghanaian (Ghana), passed down through generations in West African Folktales.

Parchment-style illustration of Anansi tricking Ant into carrying a heavy box, Ashanti folktale from Ghana.

Why Ants Carry Bundles as Big as Themselves

by Oyebode Ayoola

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Kweku Anansi, the trickster spider of Ashanti tales, was well known for his cunning ways. He and his son, Kweku Tsin, were both skilled farmers who usually enjoyed plentiful harvests. Their farms had always been fruitful, with yams, beans, and maize ripening under their care. But one year misfortune struck. They had sown their seeds as usual, waiting for the

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Ananse and the Pot of Wisdom

In the ancient forests of Ghana, where towering trees formed green cathedrals and mysterious shadows danced between the leaves, lived the most cunning spider the world had ever known. His name was Ananse, though few remembered that his full name was actually Kweku Ananse, for he had been born on

Ananse discovering a glowing magical pot of wisdom in a dry, barren forest -African folktales

Kwaku Ananse and the Pot of Wisdom An Ashanti Folktale

There was once a time when famine swept across the land. The

Kwaku Ananse, the spider trickster, with a glowing magic pot -Akan folktales

Kwaku Ananse and the Magic Pot

Long ago, in a lively village by a sparkling river, there lived

The Lucky Fisherman – Akan Version

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

In the fishing town of Anomabo, where waves comb the shore with a patient hand, lived Kofi, a quiet man who repaired nets as carefully as he spoke. His

Why Ants Carry Bundles – Ashanti Version

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

In the time when stories still walked before they were told, Kwaku Ananse, the spider with clever fingers, loved to watch people work while he gathered credit for their

Chief scolding fowls, Head Cock responding proudly, Akan folktale from Ghana.

Why Fowls Never Shut Their Doors: A Traditional African Folktale

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in a village where animals and humans shared close ties, there lived a chief who owned a great number of fowls. These birds, though lively and colourful,

Parchment-style illustration of Ananse dropping the magical drum before villagers and chief, Ashanti folktale from Ghana.

Ananse and the Talking Drum: Ashanti Folktale from Ghana

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago, in a sunlit village of Ghana, there lived Ananse, the clever spider whose name was known in every household. He was no ordinary creature. Ananse thrived on boasting,

Parchment-style illustration of Ohia accusing the deer before King Tiger and animals, Akan folktale from Ghana.

The Tale of the Confused Akim-Man and the Mysterious Mr. Minū – Akan Folktale

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

It once happened that a poor Akim-man set out from his quiet little village to Accra, a bustling coastal town. He had never traveled far before, and he spoke

Parchment-style illustration of Ohia chasing the thieving deer with broken pots, Akan folktale from Ghana.

How Jealousy and Selfishness Spread Across the World: Akan Folktale from Ghana

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

There once lived a poor man named Ohia, and his wife, Awirehu. Their life was a long chain of troubles, each link heavier than the last. No matter what

a tortoise with a magical drum in the spirit world, surrounded by spirits and palm kernels

The Tortoise and the Drum

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Long ago in the forests of Ghana, the clever tortoise wandered about looking for food. One day, as he walked along a path, his eyes fell upon a tall

a clever chipmunk leaping between tree branches, with faint stripe patterns beginning to appear on its back, representing the Ghanaian folktale

How the Chipmunk Got Its Stripes

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

A very long time ago, the Chipmunk looked exactly like the Squirrel. He had no markings on his back and no stripes to set him apart. His fur was

a clever tortoise tricking a decorated elephant into falling into a hidden trap from the Ghanaian folktale

The Tortoise Captures the Elephant

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Once there lived a mighty king who longed for the greatest prize of all: the elephant. The king admired the elephant’s size, strength, and majesty, and he desired to

Tortoise with a cracked shell beside Lizard near a hidden yam cave, from a Ghanaian folktale.

The Tortoise and the Lizard

African Folktales·Ghanaian Folktales·West African Folktales

Once upon a time, in the animal kingdom, there came a season of famine. The rivers ran low, the trees bore little fruit, and the ground seemed too hard

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