A Day at the Museum with Bredda Anansi

Written by Fern Bishop

At Island SPACE, we had a fun day filled with stories of mischief and redemption when tales of Bredda Anansi were shared with kiddies at the museum on June 25. Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors- Victoria Mutual Building Society, Western Union, Bell’s Dental Solutions, and Bethlehem Pre-School, as well as the Florida Division of Arts and Culture- we were able to bring this wonderful cultural event to the people of South Florida. 

 Anansi [AKA Anancy, Ananse, Nanzi, Brother Anancy, Bredda Anansi:The King of All Wisdom Narratives],  is one of the most important folklore characters in Caribbean culture. His stories date back to our African ancestors and are filled with wisdom and humanity. In many of the stories Anansi brings great knowledge and enlightenment to the world.

Auntie Dawn of Caribbean Edge Kids, Auntie Audrey of Louise Bennett-Coverley Heritage Council, and Auntie Freda of Lauderdale Lakes Library shared a few adventures of Anansi and his cohorts, and children joined in the telling of the exploits of this part man, part spider.  Through these tales, many of us relived our childhood in the various misdeeds of Anansi, with nods all around as Anansi and his friends survive many moral and physical dilemmas.

After the storytelling, kids and parents alike participated in traditional Caribbean games such as ludo, dominoes, and various card games. The games were made that much sweeter by the delicious snacks provided by Grace Foods.

The fun didn’t end there! The celebration moved inside the mall where Broward Mall hosted festivities to celebrate “Colors of Caribe.” Island SPACE featured music by a live DJ, and dancer Shantavia Curry, adorned in a stunning Bahamian costume, regaled us with the joys and movements of Caribbean junkanoo. We also had conga lines, limbo bending, musical chairs, and interactive games for the youngsters. There was fun for the entire family.

Explore Anansi stories here: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Jamaica_Anansi_Stories