Roots & Wonder
Roots and Wonder is a storytime space where little ones are invited to slow down, listen closely, and remember.
Each episode, I retell beloved African folktales carried across generations through voice, rhythm, and imagination, with warmth, personality, and heart…
Roots and Wonder brings ancient stories into modern homes, offering families tales of wisdom, mischief, courage, and wonder to return to again and again.
**The voices, accents, and character portrayals used in this podcast are intended solely for storytelling, humor, and creative expression.
They are not meant to represent, imitate, stereotype, or mock any specific culture, ethnicity, nationality, community, or individual.
Any similarities are unintentional, and all characters are fictionalized interpretations created in the spirit of entertainment.**
Roots & Wonder
The Storm
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When Tiger refuses to share the sweet mangoes from his tree, Anansi arrives with a warning about an approaching storm and a clever little plan of his own. What follows is a tale of trickery, mangoes, and one very surprised Tiger.
**The voices, accents, and character portrayals used in this podcast are intended solely for storytelling, humor, and creative expression.
They are not meant to represent, imitate, stereotype, or mock any specific culture, ethnicity, nationality, community, or individual.
Any similarities are unintentional, and all characters are fictionalized interpretations created in the spirit of entertainment.**
The storm. Tiger had a mango tree in his yard. Ananzi came by and asked, Can you give me a pinky's worth of mango? Tiger said, No. But Ananzi really wanted those mangoes. So Ananzi said, Ah, didn't you hear? There's going to be a heavy storm. The law says anyone who has a tree must tie himself to it or he might get blown away. Tiger said, Well, then I must tie myself to my mango tree. Once Tiger was tied securely, Ananzi stepped back, looked up at the tree, and climbed. He picked a mango. Ripe, soft, and sweet. He took a bite. Then he looked down at Tiger and flicked the seed. Plop right onto Tiger's head. Tiger blinked. What was that? Anansi said nothing. He picked another mango and took another bite. Another flick. Plop! This time Tiger looked up. Ananzi, what are you doing? Ananzi smiled. Just making sure you stay awake for the storm. After he had his fill, Ananzi shook down the rest of the ripe mangoes, gathered them up, and left, leaving Tiger tied to the tree. After a while, Tiger saw Rabbit passing by and called out, Please, sir, loosen me. But Rabbit said he couldn't stop and kept going. Then Tiger saw Ant passing and said, Please, sir, loosen me. Ant said, I'm in too much of a hurry and rushed along. Then Tiger saw Duck passing by. Tiger called out, Plea, sir, loosen me. Duck was very slow, but he took his time and finally untied Tiger. Tiger said, Thank you. From now on, any of your friends who pass by are welcome to share from my mango tree. Now Anansi was nearby, hiding up in a cotton tree, listening. The next evening, Ananzi went to Tiger's house, donning a clever disguise. He knocked on the door. Tiger called out, Who's there? Anansi answered. I'm uh mister Duck's brother. Tiger welcomed him warmly. Since he was Duck's brother, they treated him well, gave him tea, half a mango, and a place to sleep. The next morning, when Ananzi woke, he began washing his face and had to remove his hat. And that's when they saw a big, shiny, bald head. They realized right away this was not Duck's brother, who, by the way, had gorgeous locks, and they chased him out of the house. The End.