1. West African Culture & Drama
“Anansi’s Rescue from the River”
Created by Ashli Gore
Sources cited - Permission is granted to edit and/or use for educational purposes only.

2. Location http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africa

3. Climate & Geography Africa has vast climates
Undergoing climate changes
West Africa
Part Rainforest, part Sahel
Extremely wet and humid
Mostly brown except during Rainy season
High temperatures
Mainly flat land

4. Storytelling Characteristics
For entertainment and education
Passes on cultural stories
Emphasizes and supports the values of a people
Says who you are and what is special about you
Cultivates an attitude of thinking
Expresses humanity
Arts Toolkit - Drama

5. West African Storytelling Forms
Oral tradition prevalent in African communities
Storyteller invites the audience to gather around and hear the story
Set beginning and ending
Audience is stationary (stays)
Informal gatherings of friends and family
“Big ol’ lie” and tells to entertain
People come and go

6. West African Storytelling
“Trickster” tales
One character outsmarts another
Most Anansi the Spider tales are this type
“Why” stories or Myths
Set in nature
Supernatural beings and heroes
How something came to be
“Why do mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears?”
“The Buzzard and the Monkey”

7. African American Storytelling Forms
Stylized verbal art
Found on street corners
Rap poems
Contemporary slang

8. West African Storytelling
Jali or Griots (Storyteller -Musicians)
Still tell stories today because they are responsible for teaching the stories to their people and making sure that they understand them
Tales about relationships within family, doing good without being told, getting along, responsibility
“Life of service” – helping others
Kwaku means Uncle (Village Elder)
Name of male child born on Wednesday
Important in Ashanti culture as the Uncle is responsible for nieces & nephews

9. Nana Yaa Asantewaa Louisville, KY native
Graduated from University of Louisville
Received many awards & achievements
Traveled west African countries to study oral traditions & culture
View performance via KET Arts Tookit for Drama – contact your Library Media Specialist
Gloria Bivens
Programs?do=topic&topicid=LOUL010045&id=LOUL

10. Mama Yaa’s Performance
Carries cow tail switch (African tradition for storytellers)
Headress and clothing
Importance of singing, drumming, and dancing to communicate messages and retell stories
Plays balaphone
Ashanti people today are great artisans

11. Anansi the Spider Folktales
Father was the sky god
Ashanti, Nyames
Most Anansi tales are trickster tales
Our tale is a traditional West African Folktale/Myth
Myths explain how something came to be
Shows Anansi’s wisdom in “Anansi’s Rescue from the River”

12. Post Viewing Activities
List and describe how these elements of drama were used in the performance
Literary
Technical
Performance

13. Post Viewing Activities
What purpose(s) of drama did this performance meet?
Sharing the human experience
Passing on tradition and culture
Recreational
Artistic expression

14. Post Viewing Activities
List and describe how these elements of drama were used in the performance
Literary
Technical
Performance

15. Prose vs. Drama
Compare and contrast this performance, storyline and format to the book, “Anansi” by Gerald McDermott

16. More Info Explore Africa with Anansi Why Anansi has Eight Thin Legs
Why Anansi has Eight Thin Legs
Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott (Caldecott Winner)