An original 8-part Anansesɛm audio series. While this series uses characters familiar to Ghanaian folklore lovers, each episode was written by Akotowaa and corresponds to a short story from OTC 1: The Complete Kuukua Collection.

Ways to Listen

In Green Green Grasses, Ntiwaa from OTC 1 narrates her Kuukua-inspired Ananse stories to a group of kindergarten children, and as one might expect, she completely flips the script!

This arm of the OTC project was brought to life through a creative partnership between Akotowaa and Joshua Adjeman (AKA Tronomie), as well as a brilliant cast of their friends, family, and collaborators.

Preview Episode 1

---

Episode Descriptions

#1: Why the Spider Uses Its Web to Catch Food

Corresponding story: Kuukua and the Magical Markers

When a famine in the animal kingdom shows no signs of ending, Okonore Yaa sends Ananse and Ntikuma out to look for food. In the forest, they meet Anomaa, a clever bird who looks suspiciously well-fed.

#2: How the Bull Got Curved Horns

Corresponding story: Kuukua and the Twisting Tablecloth

The bull, Nantwie, is on a long journey and needs a place to spend the night. Okonore Yaa generously opens her home to him, but Kwaku Ananse isn’t happy about that at all.

#3: Why the Horse’s Mane Is Thin

Corresponding story: Kuukua and the Haunted Hair

Okonore Yaa’s beauty begins to wane as her hair loses its appeal. Kwaku Ananse, not wanting to lose the privilege his wife’s beauty brings, betrays his friend, Pͻnkͻ the horse.

#4: How the Lion Lost His Clothes

Corresponding story: Kuukua and the Sliding Sneakers

Kwaku Ananse gets upset at how proud his hunter friend Gyata the Lion is about his beauty and the fact that he will soon be king. Ananse the weaver thus decides that it’s time to strip the lion of his pride.

#5: Kwaku Ananse and the Water God

Corresponding story: Kuukua and the Cavorting Cups

After a long dispute between the sky god and water deities, there is drought in the land. Kwaku Ananse and his family desperately need to fetch water from the river. But when the water god, Antoa Nyama, discovers that Ananse is the son of sky god Onyankopͻn, things go south very quickly.

#6: How the Hedgehog Got His Spines

Corresponding story: Kuukua and the Difficult Doors

Kwaku Ananse and Okonore Yaa are extremely excited to have discovered a maize farm that “nobody” seems to own. However, the farm owner, Apɛsɛ the hedgehog, soon returns, and now the couple must find a way to keep him distracted.

#7: Why Rabbits Have Long Ears

Corresponding story: Kuukua and the Whistling Woodmen

The rabbit mother, Adanku, should have known better than to leave her many children in the care of a trickster spider. Kwaku Ananse, tired of how annoying these rabbit kids are, strikes a wicked deal with the snake, Ɔwͻ.

#8: Why the Owl Is Nocturnal

Corresponding story: Kuukua and the Killjoy Kente

Raiders keep coming into the animal kingdom to pillage and destroy, every night. At first, the king, Ɔhene Gyata, commissions the spider Kwaku Ananse to protect the animals. When this fails, the owl, Patuo, takes over the responsibility.

Ways to Listen

---

---