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
Duck's Dream
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Sometimes the trickster gets tricked.
In a land where words carry more weight than anyone expects, Anansi discovers a clever way to stay one step ahead. But when a sharp-witted Duck comes waddling by with a very curious dream, Anansi may have finally met his match.
**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.**
Ducks Dream. Once upon a very, very strict time, Ananzi was living in a country where things were very, very hard. A law was passed. If anyone spoke badly about another person, that person would drop down dead. Ananzi said to himself that he was going to take advantage of this, so he could get something to eat. So he got a hoe, a pickaxe, and a machete, and went to a large flat rock by the roadside where everyone passed. He began working on the rock, knocking. Pong, pong, pong. After a little while, Hogg came walking by. Good morning, Brother Anansi. Good morning, Brother Hog. What are you doing there? Ananzi said, The governor passed a law, a famine is coming, and everyone must work the land. So I'm trying to see what I can do. Hog nodded and walked on. But after a little while, Hog stopped, turned his head, and said, Other people are working the land in good soil, but Anansi is trying to farm on a rock. As soon as he said that, he dropped down dead. Ananzi turned around, picked him up, and put him in his bag. That's what happens when you speak about someone, he said. Then he carried Hog home and ate him. The next day, Ananzi went back to the same spot. Cao came walking by. Ananzi started knocking again. Pong, pong, pong. Cao said, Good morning, brother Ananzi. Ananzi said, Good morning, brother Cao. Cao asked, What are you doing there? Ananzi said, The governor passed a law that a great famine is coming and everyone must work the land. So Cao went on his way. But after going a short distance, he said, Other people are farming in good places, but Anansi is working on a rock. Immediately, Cao dropped down dead. Ananzi picked him up, put him in his bag, and said, That's what happens when you talk about someone. Then he carried Cao home and ate him. The same thing happened to horse. The same thing happened to goat. A day or two later, Ananzi was back at the rock again knocking. Pong, pong, pong. Duck came along. Duck said, Good morning, brother Ananzi. Ananzi said, Good morning, brother Duck. Duck asked, What are you doing there? Ananzi said, The governor passed a law that a great famine is coming and everyone must work their land, so I'm trying to see what I can do. Then Ananzi asked Duck, What's the news on your side? Duck said, Nothing much. What? But I had a dream last night, and I've been alive all this time. What? And I never in my life tried a taste of fogwa. What? Duck waddled off. Ananzi watched him go, then chuckled to himself and said, other creatures are clever, but that duck is such a fool. As soon as Ananzi said that, he dropped down dead. Duck turned around, picked him up, swallowed him, and said, Wank! That's what happens when you talk about someone. Whack whack whack whack whack. The end.