Home \(\blacktriangleright\) Children and Youth Unit \(\blacktriangleright\) Arrows Website \(\blacktriangleright\) Literature in Africa \(\blacktriangleright\) Activity 1: Anansi the Spider
Activity 1: Anansi the Spider
In West Africa, everyone knows Anansi the Spider – a legendary, wise, clever, and funny hero who is at the heart of the oral storytelling tradition.
He teaches us important lessons about wisdom and also a bit of mischief.
In this activity (written using Gemini 2.5 Flash AI), we will learn an Anansi story, act it out, and make our own spider puppet!
The Activity
- Introducing the character of Anansi (can be done with a puppet or an illustration).
Tell that the stories about him were passed down orally.
\(\space\) - Reading the story “How Anansi the Spider Brought Stories to the World” (in a short and adapted version for children, based on books like “Anansi” by Gerald McDermott).
\(\space\) - Creating a “chain story”: The parents start a sentence that continues the adventures of Anansi: “Anansi went out in the morning, and saw…”
Each child in turn adds one sentence to the story.
Emphasize that stories passed down orally change every time, and today the children are the griots (the storytellers).
\(\space\) - Creating a finger/stick puppet in the image of Anansi
(using simple craft materials like black strings, cardboard circles, or paper).
Each child in turn operates their puppet in a quick and agile spider movement (inspired by Anansi’s traits) around the room.
Alternatively, each child in turn says one sentence of wisdom or mischief (like Anansi).
