The Missing Mouth and Other Ananse Stories: African Fireside Classics, #3

By A. Sakyiama

Who wants to marry a trickster?

Kweku Ananse, the trickster, is back in this third book of the African Fireside Classics series.

He is looking for a wife and it is no easy matter. He is at his worst! He lies, he cheats and behaves badly.

If you are the tiniest bit romantic, these stories are not for you. In fact, children start crying  for nothing, jealousy spreads around the world, etc. etc.

Now, if you have ever wondered what a lazy, greedy and selfish trickster wants most in a wife—it is not brains, not brawn or even beauty. 

Nope!

According to Ananse, the ideal wife should have no mouth! No eating, no speaking! Ha! How does that work out for him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aso House Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497730557

A. Sakyiama

A. Sakyiama was born in Ghana, West Africa. She grew up hearing many of the stories that she now retells for all of us to enjoy. She writes of the antics of wily folktale characters like Ananse, his son, Ntikuma and his clever wife, Aso. She tells stories of naughty and nice ghosts; scared but brave boys and girls; monsters that eat disobedient children; as well as fantastical tales about why things are the way they are.   A. Sakyiama currently lives in the USA with her family. She is also an avid gardener or more accurately, a fierce warrior who defends her territory against marauding gangs of deer, woodchucks, rabbits and crows. Visit her at www.asakyiama.com.

Book preview

THE MISSING MOUTH

& OTHER ANANSE STORIES

Sankofa bird adinkra symbol

AFRICAN FIRESIDE CLASSICS

told anew by

A. Sakyiama

THE MISSING MOUTH AND OTHER ANANSE STORIES

African Fireside Classics, #3

Copyright © 2013 A. Sakyiama

All rights reserved.

Visit http://www.asakyiama.com for the latest on the the African Fireside Classics series. All sorts of goodies await you there. You can join the readers group, find out how you can get audio of some of the stories in the series, or try out an audio-ebook (read-along) book.

Table of Contents

Cover

Epigraph

1.

Crying For Nothing

2.

Ananse and the Village of Women

3.

Ananse’s Talking Drum

4.

Sleeping Mat Secrets

5.

Why Mosquitoes Whine

6.

Ananse and Aso

7.

The Missing Mouth

Author’s Note & More

Pronunciation guide

More stories from the author

Epigraph

Gain the wisdom to turn your back,

On the wisdom of Ananse.

Do not be persuaded,

You will fill your stomach faster,

If you do not have others to fill.

There are no humans,

Who walk this earth alone.

—Ayi Kwei Armah, Fragments (1971)

Crying For Nothing

A good name is better than gold

— Asante Proverbs

NOTHING, WAS A HARDWORKING MAN, who lived in a beautiful house, next to Ananse’s more humble lot.

Both Ananse and Nothing were bachelors, long after their peers had married and started families.

Nothing longed for a wife and children of his own, but he was very shy, and had great difficulty talking to women. Whenever he tried, he stammered, mumbled and twitched so much, most of the women thought he was a simpleton.

Instead of romance, he usually got pity. He stopped trying, and just worked harder, hoping that his efforts would impress the ladies and their families.

As for Ananse, he had a sweet tongue, and was as charming as charming could be with the ladies. But none of them wanted a trickster for a husband.

Some evenings, Ananse and Nothing would get together over a pot of palm-wine, and lament their unmarried state. One day Ananse said to his friend,

Nothing, we are able bodied men who deserve good wives. We have no chance of finding wives here in our little village. Let’s go to the big town and try our luck.

Nothing agreed and the very next morning, they set off together. Both men were in their best outfits. Nothing was dressed in a beautifully woven rich kente cloth. His head-dress and sandals were of the highest quality leather, decorated with gold ornaments. He looked like the the rich man that he was.

In his well-worn cotton cloth wrap and ordinary sandals, Ananse looked quite shabby by comparison. He was not at all pleased by the contrast.

About halfway to the town, Nothing asked Ananse to wait for him while he found a spot in the bush to relieve himself.

Nothing, you cannot relieve yourself in your fine heavy cloth, Ananse said. It will stink and no woman would come near you. Let us exchange clothing. My lightweight cloth will air out much faster.

Thank you Ananse. You are generous to think of my interest, Nothing said, and they exchanged their cloth wraps.

While we are at it, give me your bag to hold for you. Let us exchange sandals too. If you have an accident and get something on them, they will be hard to clean out here in the bush.

Nothing agreed. Thank you Ananse. Please hold my head-dress for me as well, just in case.

Nothing went off and relieved himself. When he got back, Ananse was waiting for him, wearing his beautiful head-dress, cloth and sandals. As soon as Ananse saw him, he held his nose and said,

"Nothing you stink! We cannot exchange clothing until the stink comes out of my