A Story, A Story: Ananse tales to Live By with Dr. Akua Duku Anokye

Ananse the Spider, a trickster hero of Ghana, is one of the most important characters of West African and Caribbean folklore. Ananse’s tales are told to not only explain the origins of the Akan people, but used to reinforce the belief system that enriches their society. Not just found in Ghana, these stories are likened to Brer Rabbit and John Tales in the American South. Here in Arizona, the stories are compared to Coyote stories of Native lore. Hear these stories and connect them to everyday experiences and the lessons learned.

This program is cohosted by Mesa Public Library – Main Branch. This is an in-person event.

Akua Duku Anokye, Associate Professor of Africana Language, Literature, and Culture, Associate Director of the School of Humanity Arts and Cultural Studies, Director of New College International Initiatives, office of Interdisciplinary Global Learning and Engagement (IGLE). Past chair of the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC), and currently Chief Reader for the College Board’s Advanced Placement English Language and Composition, she was named 2021 Outstanding Speaker of the Year by AZ Humanities. Her research focuses on African Diaspora orality and literacy practices, folklore, storytelling, and oral history. Most recent research focuses on African Diasporic women activists as community mothers.