Can greediness be of any benefit in a way? Let’s read this short fairytale to find out.
Long ago, in a quiet Ghanaian village surrounded by lush forests and golden savannahs, there lived a cunning and greedy man named Kwaku Ananse.
Though he was known for his wisdom and clever tricks, his greed often led him into trouble.
Ananse loved food more than anything else and would go to great lengths to fill his belly.
One sunny morning, as the roosters crowded to announce the new day, Ananse sat deep in thought outside his small mud hut.
His stomach rumbled loudly, for he had eaten the last of his yam stew the night before. “Ah, my stomach cries for food,” he groaned, rubbing his belly.
Ananse’s hut was at the edge of the village, close to the thick forest where farmers and hunters often passed by.
That day, as he sat pondering his next meal, he saw his neighbor, Esi, carrying a large basket of fresh, ripe plantains on her head. The sight of the golden plantains made his mouth water.
“Esi, my dear friend!” Ananse called out, putting on his most charming smile. “What a wonderful harvest you have! Where are you taking these beautiful plantains?”
“To the market, Ananse,” Esi replied. “I’ll sell them and buy ingredients to prepare a feast for my family.”
Ananse’s mind raced. He quickly hatched a plan to get some of the plantains for himself. “Esi, you are truly kind-hearted,” he said sweetly. “May I help you carry that heavy basket? It looks like such a burden.”
Esi was surprised by Ananse’s offer. He was not known for helping others, but she thought perhaps he had changed his ways. “Thank you, Ananse,” she said. “That would be most kind of you.”
Kwaku Ananse The Greedy Man eagerly took the basket from Esi, but as they walked toward the market, his greed grew stronger.
He glanced at the plantains and thought, If I could just eat a few, my stomach would be satisfied.
As they passed through a dense part of the forest, Ananse stopped and said, “Esi, let’s rest for a moment. This basket is quite heavy.”
Esi agreed and sat under a shady tree. While she rested, Ananse pretended to adjust the basket. Instead, he slyly slipped a handful of plantains into his bag.
He made sure Esi didn’t notice and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
When they reached the market, Esi thanked Ananse for his help and offered him a plantain as a reward. “Take this as a token of my gratitude,” she said.
Ananse, already full of guilt (and stolen plantains), declined. “Oh no, Esi, I couldn’t possibly accept it,” he said, feigning humility. He hurried away, eager to enjoy his stolen feast in private.
Ananse returned home, cooked the stolen plantains into a sweet stew, and devoured every bite. His greed didn’t stop there.
He began scheming how he could get more food from others without working for it.
A few days later, news spread that Nana Abena, the village’s oldest and wisest woman, was hosting a grand feast to celebrate her 80th birthday.
Everyone was invited, but guests had to bring a dish to share.
Ananse, as greedy as ever, thought, Why should I contribute when I can eat for free?
On the day of the feast, Ananse boiled a few grains of rice in a tiny clay pot. “This will be my contribution,” he chuckled. “Let others bring the real food.”
When he arrived at Nana Abena’s compound, the aroma of roasted chicken, spicy jollof rice, and fragrant peanut soup filled the air.
Villagers had placed their dishes on a long table, creating a colorful and mouthwatering spread.
Ananse slipped his tiny pot of rice onto the table and quickly grabbed a large plate. He piled it high with all the best dishes, ensuring his plate overflowed. “Ah, this is the life,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
But as Ananse sat down to eat, the villagers began to notice his antics.
“Ananse, isn’t that your tiny pot of rice?” asked Kwame, a young farmer. “You’ve taken so much food, but you barely brought anything to share!”
Others murmured in agreement. Ananse laughed nervously and said, “Ah, but isn’t it the spirit of sharing that matters? What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine!”
The villagers shook their heads, but Nana Abena, wise and observant, decided to teach Ananse a lesson.
The Wise Woman’s Plan
Nana Abena called for silence and announced a special tradition. “To honor this feast,” she said, “each guest must tell a story that reflects their character. The food will be served only after the stories are told.”
Ananse’s heart sank. He was not prepared to tell a story, especially one that revealed his greed. As each villager shared their tale, Ananse grew more nervous. Finally, it was his turn.
“Ah, my story is… uh… about a man who loved to help others,” Ananse stammered. But before he could spin his web of lies, Nana Abena interrupted.
“Ananse, let us make this interesting,” she said with a sly smile. “How about we act out your story instead?”
Before Ananse could protest, the villagers began reenacting his greedy antics—stealing plantains, bringing tiny portions to the feast, and piling his plate high.
Everyone laughed and clapped, but Ananse’s face burned with embarrassment.
“I see I’ve been caught,” Ananse admitted, hanging his head. “I was greedy, and I am sorry.”
Nana Abena nodded. “Greed leads to shame, Ananse. But honesty and generosity bring true joy.”
A Changed Spider
From that day on, Ananse tried to change his ways. Though he still loved food, he learned to share and contribute fairly. The villagers forgave him, and Ananse became a little wiser—though he still got into mischief now and then.
And so, the tale of Kwaku Ananse the Greedy Man spread throughout Ghana, reminding everyone that greed never goes unpunished and that the spirit of sharing brings happiness to all.
Questions
With no more than seven words suggest another suitable title for the story.
What role did Ananse play in the story?
List the characters in the story
State the setting of the story.
At what occasion was Ananse exposed?
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