The Animal’s Kingdom-a Ghanaian Story

Once upon a time there lived all the animals.  All the animals sin against Nana Nyankopon,  so Nana Nyankopon decide to punish them. Nana Nyankopon decide not to let the rain fall. So there wasn’t rain for so many years that all the trees in the forest started dying.  The animals did not get water or food to eat so most of the animals die.  So they pray to Nana Nyankopon and Nana Nyankopon told them he would forgive them. But in order to let the rain fall, there is a big tree on the big mountain. They should go and climb the mountain and ask the mountain the name of the tree.  If the mountain tell them the name of the tree they should climb down the mountain and shout the name of the tree and then there would be rain for them.

So the animals were glad.  They decided to send the fast and brave animal to go and find the name of the tree. So the king of the animals asked them to gather under the big tree in the kingdom. The king of the animals announced to them whoever would go the mountain and get the name of the tree would be king and he would be dethroned.

So Lion told them he was brave and strong and he would go and bring the name of the tree.  Lion run up the mountain and he ask the mountain the name of the tree and the mountain told him. He run down the mountain but unfortunately he forget the name of the tree.  The other animals were unhappy. Hare was fast and smart so hare decide to go to the mountain and get the name of the tree.  He run up the mountain. The mountain told him the name of the tree and he run down the mountain, but unfortunately he also forget the name of the tree.

High Five

Then Tortoise and Snail say they are small and slow but they would go and bring the name of the tree.  All the animals laugh at them because they know that Tortoise and Snail can’t even climb the mountain. Tortoise and Snail walk so slowly it take many years to reach the mountain.  They ask the mountain the name of the tree and the mountain told them then they walk slowly down the mountain.  It took them so many years all the animals forget about them; they think they are dead. So one day the animals were thinking about themselves and all of a sudden Tortoise and Snail appear and they shout the name of the tree: “The Wishing Tree”. All the animals were surprised and happy.  It then rain so there was enough food and water for everyone to eat and drink. They make Tortoise and Snail king of the animals.

Moral: Two heads are better than one.  Lion was strong and brave but couldn’t make it.  Hare was fast and smart but couldn’t make it.  Tortoise and Snail were able to make it even though they were small and slow.  Nana Nyankopon is God.

Story by Ama Ago, Illustrated by Melissa Rudge

Meet my Peace Corps Homestay sister Ama, the author of the Ghanaian Stories in my Blog.

My name is Cecilia Ago Asantewaa.  I will begin Form 2 (Grade 8) in Anyanisin Presby JHS in September.  I like school and church, and I like to play ampe and volleyball.  I want to study to become a journalist.  I am a member of the 4H club at my school. The crops I grow in the school garden are carrots, cabbage and lettuce. I love my friends and my family.

(by the way, Ama was the #1 student in her Form 1 class.  I have 5 of her stories which I hope to use for part of my training here.  Most of them are about the famous spider, Kwaku Anansi, but not all.)