Long ago, in a lively village by a sparkling river, there lived a spider named Kwaku Ananse. Ananse was famous far and wide for his clever tricks, his sly wit, and his insatiable curiosity. Every villager knew of his mischievous ways, and while some were frustrated, most could not help but chuckle at his antics. One bright morning, as the marketplace buzzed with chatter and the scent of fresh yams filled the air, Ananse noticed a small, dusty pot resting on an old wooden stall. Its surface was carved with swirling symbols, and it seemed to glow faintly in the morning sun.
The shopkeeper leaned close and whispered, “This is no ordinary pot, Ananse. It is a magic pot. Whatever you place inside will grow tenfold, but only if it is shared wisely.”
Ananse’s eyes gleamed with excitement. A pot that could multiply anything? He imagined mountains of yams, heaps of kola nuts, and treasures beyond measure. Without hesitation, he traded all his gold coins for the pot and hurried home, his many legs moving as fast as a breeze across the river.
At home, Ananse placed a single yam inside the pot. Carefully, he closed the lid and waited. Soon, the pot began to rumble softly. When he lifted the lid, he gasped. Ten yams now lay inside where once there had been only one. His heart leapt. “If I keep this pot all to myself,” he thought greedily, “I will have more yams than the whole village combined!”
Eager to hide the extra yams, Ananse placed them in a secret room. But the pot had its own rules. It began to shake violently, and yams bounced out as if they had a life of their own. They rolled down the stairs, bounced into the river, and tumbled straight into the hands of villagers who had gathered nearby. Children laughed, elders cheered, and Ananse scurried after the yams, flailing his tiny legs in frustration. He could not retrieve a single one.
Determined, Ananse tried again, this time with his finest kola nuts. He carefully placed a single nut into the pot, imagining the chest of wealth he would hide from the villagers. But as before, the pot shook, and the kola nuts sprang out, scattering into the laps of delighted villagers. Children danced and elders clapped, while Ananse could only sit on the ground, bewildered and annoyed.
Finally, Ananse realized that the pot’s magic did not favor greed. He sat quietly, pondering what he had done wrong. Slowly, he understood: the pot multiplied blessings when they were shared fairly. The magic only worked for those who thought of others, not themselves alone.
The next day, Ananse carefully placed a yam into the pot and went door to door, giving the extras to families in need. He shared kola nuts with the children, offering a few to every villager. To his astonishment, the pot multiplied everything he placed inside. Not just once, but again and again, creating plenty for the whole village. The villagers cheered and celebrated, and even Ananse felt a warm happiness he had never known before.
From that day on, Ananse learned to share his cleverness and his treasures. He continued to be witty and mischievous, but he no longer used his tricks solely for himself. The villagers respected him, and the magic pot became a symbol of generosity, teaching everyone that true wealth is found not in keeping, but in giving.
Moral Lesson:
The story of Kwaku Ananse and the magic pot teaches that greed and selfishness bring frustration, while generosity and fairness bring true abundance. Sharing wisely multiplies blessings not just for oneself, but for the entire community.
Knowledge Check
Who is the main character in the story?
Answer: Kwaku Ananse, the clever spider.What magical item does Ananse discover in the marketplace?
Answer: A magic pot that multiplies anything placed inside if shared wisely.Why does the pot reject Ananse’s attempts to hoard yams and kola nuts?
Answer: Because the pot only works when blessings are shared fairly, not when kept selfishly.How does the village react when the pot multiplies food for everyone?
Answer: The villagers cheer, celebrate, and enjoy the food happily.What lesson does Ananse learn by the end of the story?
Answer: That generosity and sharing bring true abundance, while selfishness leads to frustration.What cultural origin does this folktale come from?
Answer: It is an Ashanti folktale from Ghana.Source: Ashanti folktale, Ghana
