"Tales My Ghanaian Grandmother Told Me" was the title I chose for my book of children's stories. No other title had occurred to me which unified four different tales. I did think at the time that this title might be misleading. So I included a Preface for my young readers in which I made it clear that the stories were not traditional tales retold but my own original creations. But in reality who reads a Preface!

There was a brief phase when I was disappointed that my originality was likely to pass unacknowledged. Then, to my surprise I accepted the role of Traditional Story Teller with equanimity. How many Story Tellers in times past must have created stories which were subsequently passed on with no reference to or interest in the person who created them. It is the tales themselves which are of primary importance.

The Anansi traditional tales were taken by Slaves from Ghana to the southern United States of America and to the Caribbean. Anansi, who is a spider, symbolizes the Trickster and amorality. He can be both a hero and a villain. He does what is necessary in each situation in life.

The Brer Rabbit tales would also seem to have an African origin as the hare appears in stories from many parts of Africa.

And yet I could still feel a question trying to form itself at the back of my mind. The question when it finally presented itself was "are my stories really in the format of traditional African tales. The answer I decided is both "yes" and "no".

My primary aim in writing "Tales My Ghanaian Grandmother Told Me" was that children enjoy the stories and learn about another culture. I know that to them, it really does not matter an iota, whether they are truly traditional or not.

Like traditional stories they are set in times past and encompass and emphasis morality and a belief in Universal Spiritual Truths. There is a difficult quest to be undertaken to ensure a positive outcome of the situation. As in traditional tales the origin of an invention is explained. "Journey to the Chest of Gold" involves both fact and fantasy in explaining the use of gold dust as currency in the Akan region of Ghana. "Fingers of Fire" provides an accuate account of a manufacturing process as well as incorporating a fantasy element. In "Akua's Foolish Wish" inanimate objects speak."The Wicked Curse of Nibobobo" deals with the consequences of a witch's curse.

Like countless traditional tales my stories portray a simpler society with its emphasis on maintaining good community relations rather than upholding individual freedom. The attitude toward authority and age is another important element.

However, any adult who understands the genre will immediately realize that mine are contemporary stories written in a traditional style. My stories are meant for children which was not the case in times past when both adults and children formed the audience. No African traditional stories that I know of portray children as the hero's and heroines. Nor are they assigned the role of innovators and instigators of momentous change.

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