A Pride of African Tales: Anansi’s Fishing Expedition
By: Donna L. Washington
Multicultural and International Literature
This story is based on a trickster tale from Ghana, where a young boy, Anansi, is in search of a partner to go fishing with him. However, everyone knew that Anansi was a cunning boy so no one wanted to join him. Finally, Onini agrees to accompany him on his fishing adventure, thinking to himself how Anansi would be the one outsmarted this time. So Onini tricks Anansi into doing all the work and Onini receives all the benefits. It isn’t until the very end when all the people in the village were laughing at Anansi that he realized that he was the one who was being deceived.
After reading this book in class I would ask my students if they had ever been tricked into doing something they didn’t want to do, or if they had ever tricked anyone else. I’d have them write about a time that they tricked someone and then have them draw a picture to go along with their tale.
After reading this book in class I would ask my students if they had ever been tricked into doing something they didn’t want to do, or if they had ever tricked anyone else. I’d have them write about a time that they tricked someone and then have them draw a picture to go along with their tale.
Great tale, I am presently teaching in Mwanza, Tanzania and I plan to introduce this trickster to my Form II students. We have similar tastes in literature for children. Number the Stars and Sadako are personal favorites. Your blog is wonderful and I plan to share it with my teaching colleagues in the states. Hoping your 2012 school year is successful. Maryjane Gallo, English teacher, Morning Star Secondary School, Mwanza, Tanzania
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