Why Ants Carry Bundles as Big as Themselves
Long ago, in an Ashanti village, there lived Kweku Anansi, the clever spider, and his son, Kweku Tsin. They were known as good farmers. Their fields usually grew yams, beans, and maize, enough to feed many mouths.
But one year, the rain did not come.
Day after day, the sky stayed bright and empty. The soil cracked, and the seeds slept dry beneath the ground. Soon the fields were bare.
One afternoon, Kweku Tsin walked sadly along the edge of the farm. As he walked, he noticed a small, bent man sitting calmly by the road. The stranger had a hunched back and bright eyes that seemed to see everything.
“Why do you look so worried?” the little man asked.
“Our crops are dying,” Kweku Tsin said honestly. “Without rain, we will have no food.”
The small man nodded. “I can help. Bring me two small sticks. Tap my hump gently while I sing.”
Though surprised, Kweku Tsin did exactly as told. The little man began to sing softly, calling the water from the sky. As the sticks tapped lightly, clouds gathered, and rain fell at last.
The fields drank deeply. Soon green shoots appeared, and the crops grew strong again.
When Anansi heard of his son’s success, his heart filled with envy. His own fields were still dry. He hurried to Kweku Tsin and demanded the secret. Trusting his father, the boy told him everything.
But Anansi thought he knew better.
“If small sticks worked,” he said to himself, “big ones will work even more.”
Anansi went to find the little man, but instead of gentle sticks, he brought heavy branches. When the song began, Anansi struck too hard. The singing stopped, and the little man did not rise again.
Anansi’s clever mind filled with fear. He knew this was no ordinary traveler, but someone important to the king. Quickly, he tried to hide what he had done.
Later, when Kweku Tsin arrived, Anansi tried to place the blame on him. But the boy stayed calm and turned his father’s trick against him. Anansi, greedy for reward, admitted the truth himself.
At the palace, the king’s sorrow turned to anger. There was no reward, only punishment. Anansi was given a heavy box and ordered to carry it without rest.
Days passed, and Anansi grew weak from the weight. At last, he met Ant walking along the path.
“Friend Ant,” Anansi said sweetly, “will you hold this box while I run an errand?”
Ant hesitated but agreed, trusting Anansi’s words. The moment the box touched Ant’s back, Anansi disappeared.
From that day on, Ant and all ants after him were left carrying heavy loads wherever they go.
And that is why, even today, ants march across the earth with bundles far bigger than themselves.
Regions & Countries:
West Africa
Ghana (Ashanti cultural tradition)
Culture Bite:
In Ashanti stories, Anansi is known for being clever but selfish. Many tales explain why animals behave as they do today. These stories were often told aloud at night to teach children about honesty, patience, and the trouble caused by greed.
Lesson:
Responsibility
Difficult Words:
Barren: empty land where nothing grows
Hump: a raised curve on the back
Envy: wanting what someone else has
Punishment: a penalty for doing wrong
Burden: something heavy to carry
Riddles:
I’m small but super strong, I can lift more than my size,
I march in a line and never stop to brag,
Who am I?
I’m a tricky web-spinner from an Ashanti tale,
I love big plans, even when they go wrong,
Who am I?
I’m a heavy thing you don’t want to hold,
Once it’s on your head, it’s hard to let go,
What am I?
I’m a tiny tool, not big at all,
Used with a gentle tap to call the rain,
What am I?
I’m what dry fields wait for from the sky,
I patter, I drip, I help seeds wake up,
What am I?
Answers:
Ant
Kweku Anansi
The enchanted box
Two small sticks
Rain
Word Search Words:
ANANSI
TSIN
ASHANTI
GHANA
ANT
RAIN
STICKS
KOLA
PALACE
BOX
Word Search Grid:
(10×10 letter grid)
Q K I G X G S K S U
N E S R Z H E E R K
I X N F H A C A G O
S O A Q P N A D T L
T B N T F A L N S A
P O A M R J A P R H
S K C I T S P A V U
A S H A N T I G A Q
A O P Z H N H E S S
X Q I W S E V T G G
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