Chic African Culture Blog

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

African Culture is World Heritage

Appreciate Africa through African art, food, proverb sayings, folklore, biographies, spirituality and African living history.

Ananse Means Teller of Stories and Spider in Akan

Ananse carrier of messages teller of stories and means spider in Akan. This is why the carrier of messages or stories is usually depicted as a spider.

Ananse Means Teller of Stories and Spider in Akan

Ananse is very clever and can change into many forms of life. Being so clever Awuku also goes by the name Ananse or Anansi the great spider, owner of all of the stories of the Gods, swift messenger of Nyame the sky God who knows all and sees all. Awuku (ah-woo’-koo) is the communicator of information between the mortal and divine. 

The Akan Awuku opens the mouth of the departed so that they may be able to communicate with Gods. Awuku is also known as the creator of clever and cunning acts.  Being so clever Awuku also goes by the name Ananse the great spider, owner of all of the stories of the Gods, swift messenger of Nyame the sky God who knows all and sees all.  Awuku or Ananse carries messages for the great mother Nyamewaa and father Nyame who are the Supreme Being.

Ananse carrier of messages teller of stories and means spider in Akan. This is why the carrier of messages or stories is usually depicted as a spider.
Ananse carrier of messages teller of stories 
Let us break down the name Ananse:

ANANSE

ANAN means foot in Akan.

SE in Akan means to say, speak, or tell.

What are the different names for Ananse

Ananse is the carrier of messages and teller of stories. Ananse is the one who tells all delivering messages for Nyame the sky God, who knows all and sees all. Ananse is very clever so of course he has many, many alias all over the world:

  • Ananse

  • Kwaku Ananse

  • Aunt Nancy

  • Nanzi

  • Bru Nansi

  • Annancy

  • Anancyi

  • Anansi

  • Ananansa

  • Ananse

  • Anansi Drew

Ananse clever spider story
Ananse clever spider story

More short folklore stories from Africa to make you fall in love with myths and legends again from the motherland.

  1. Why the bunny rabbit has wiggly slits for a nose
  2. Love Takes No Less Than Everything Marriage Folklore
  3. Hunters Attack Cowards Tell the Story
  4. One Do Wrong All Get Punished
  5. Mighty Little Hedgehog

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

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Using Amen and Ashe or Ase

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African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

Chic African Culture

Be better than average and support African history and culture. Since 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet highlight Africa through her food and culture. Contact us culture1africangourmet@gmail.com

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