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Stories are a big part of the African culture and growing up in the city of Port-Harcourt, these stories shaped my childhood. Times are different now and these bedtime stories which were passed down through generations are not as popular with children as they once were. This podcast aims to bring these stories to the new generation of African children and introduce everyone else to these wonderful stories from the motherland. The lessons and values learnt from these will never be forgotten. Welcome to Stories Mother Told.
Ananse and the Kente Cloth
Long ago, in the village of Bonwire, nestled within the Asante Kingdom, two brothers, Nana Koragu and Nana Ameyaw, were known for their skill as weavers. The fabric they made, called nwen-ntoma, was the kind everyone in the village wore—simple, practical, and unremarkable. But one fateful night, deep in the forest, they stumbled upon a creation so extraordinary it changed their craft forever and wove their names into history.
One evening, as the brothers ventured into the forest to check their traps, the moon cast a silvery glow over the trees. The air was cool and quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves. They had done this walk many times before, but this night was different.
“Koragu, stop!” Ameyaw whispered, his eyes wide.
Koragu followed his brother’s gaze and saw it: a spider’s web, glistening in the moonlight, stretching between two trees. It wasn’t just a web—it was a masterpiece. The intricate patterns shimmered as if they were alive, and the threads reflected vibrant colors that seemed to dance in the night.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” Ameyaw asked, his voice barely audible.
“Never,” Koragu replied. “It’s as though the moon itself weaved this.”
As they marveled, a voice broke the stillness. “Admiring my work, are you?”
Startled, the brothers turned to see a small spider descending from the trees on a single golden thread. It landed before them, its many eyes gleaming with wisdom and mischief.
“Who… who are you?” Koragu stammered.
“I am Ananse,” the spider said, bowing slightly. “And you, my friends, have stumbled upon my craft.”
Koragu and Ameyaw exchanged looks of disbelief. Everyone in Bonwire had heard of Ananse, the clever and cunning spirit of stories, but to meet him in person was beyond imagining.
“Ananse,” Ameyaw began hesitantly, “your web is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. We are weavers, but we could never dream of creating something so perfect. Will you teach us?”
Ananse tilted his head, as though considering their request. “I can teach you,” he said at last, “but knowledge comes at a price. If you want to learn my craft, you must first do something for me.”
The brothers eagerly agreed, and Ananse gave them a list of tasks. They were to gather rare forest berries, fetch water from a sacred spring, and bring him the finest silken threads from other spiders’ webs. The tasks were difficult, requiring patience and determination, but the brothers completed each one, driven by their desire to learn.
When they returned, Ananse examined their offerings and nodded. “You’ve done well,” he said. “Now, watch and learn.”
The spider began to weave, showing them how to use a single thread to create patterns so intricate they seemed to tell a story. He demonstrated how to extract vibrant colors from the berries they had gathered, blending them into the threads to create fabric that was as beautiful as it was meaningful.
“This is my gift to you,” Ananse said. “But remember, all gifts carry responsibility. Use it wisely.”
The brothers thanked Ananse and returned to Bonwire, their minds racing with possibilities. Night after night, they practiced what they had learned, their loom transforming the lessons into something tangible. When they finally unveiled their first creation, the villagers were stunned. The fabric was unlike anything they had ever seen—its colors were rich and vibrant, and its patterns spoke of unity, heritage, and pride.
News of the brothers’ creation spread quickly, reaching the ears of Asantehene Osei Tutu I, the great king of the Asante people. The king summoned Koragu and Ameyaw to his palace, eager to see the fabric for himself.
“What do you call this?” the Asantehene asked, examining the cloth closely.
“We call it kente, Your Majesty,” Ameyaw replied. “It is inspired by the weaving of Ananse, a gift we wish to share with you.”
The king studied the fabric for a long moment before speaking. “This is no ordinary cloth,” he said. “It is art, a symbol of unity and pride. From this day forward, kente shall be the royal cloth of our people.”
The brothers returned to Bonwire as heroes. The village became the heart of kente weaving, with Koragu and Ameyaw teaching others the craft Ananse had shared with them. Over time, kente came to symbolize not just the ingenuity of the Asante people, but their culture, history, and resilience.
Even today, the village of Bonwire is known as the birthplace of kente, and the vibrant patterns of the fabric continue to tell stories of the past. And though many years have passed, the people of Ghana still honor Ananse, the clever spider whose gift wove a legacy that endures.