1. Tortoises Leopards Springboks Monkeys Hares Once there was a terrible drought in the land of the animals. It didn’t rain for a very long time. No rain meant nothing grew. There was no food. Oh, we are so hungry. Listen. The lions are calling us to a meeting.

4. LionsHow will we survive this drought?

5. AnansiLook. It’s the king and queen from the neighbouring kingdom.

6. King & Queen All animals King Queen Hello everyone. Hello! We see that you are without food. We have brought you this special tree. It will make fruit all year round in any kind of weather. You just need to say its name and it will make fruit. Its name is Oo-wun-ga-le-ma.

7. King & Queen All animals King Queen Hello everyone. Hello! We see that you are without food. We have brought you this special tree. It will make fruit all year round in any kind of weather. You just need to say its name and it will make fruit. Its name is Oo-wun-ga-le-ma.

8. All animals King & Queen Hooray! Thank you! Goodbye!

9. Tortoises Anansi Lions Anansi Leos & Springs Now we will be saved. Lions, say the name of the tree. What? We thought you were going to remember it. No. What about the other animals. We don’t remember it.

10. Monkeys Hares Anansi Oh no! What will we do? Don’t worry. We are the fastest runners. We will go to our neighbours and ask for the name of the tree. Thank you, hares.

11. TortoisesThe hares ran quickly. They ran through the forest, along the river, over the mountain and straight to the neighbouring kingdom.

12. King Hares Queen Hares Hello, hares. What brings you to my court? Kind king and queen, please help us. We have forgotten the name of the tree. Ah, I see. The name of the tree is Oowungalema. Thank you!

13. LeopardsThe hares ran back down the mountain, but when they passed the river they slowed down. The water looked so cool after their long run. They stopped for a drink.

14. SpringboksAfter their drink of water they felt tired, so they had a nap. When they woke it was hours later.

15. Monkeys Lions Hares Look, the hares have returned. Great! They can say the name of the tree. Oogalooga. No, that’s not right. Oongaboonga. Oh dear, we’ve forgotten!

16. Leopards Anansi We shouldn’t have sent the hares. They cannot remember names. We will go this time. Thank you, leopards. We shall wait for you.

17. TortoisesThe leopards wan swiftly through the forest, along the river and over the mountain. They got there very quickly.

18. Queen Leopards King Welcome, leopards. Did the hares forget the name of the tree? Yes, they did. Now you must tell us the name. Very well. The name of the tree is Oowungalema.

19. SpringboksThe leopards wasted no time. They ran back down the mountain. As they went through the forest, some monkeys saw them. The monkeys began calling them names.

20. MonkeysLeopards are so ugly! They think they can climb trees, but we’re the best climbers. Try and catch us, kitty-cats.

21. HaresThis made the leopards angry, so they chased the monkeys. Chasing the monkeys made them forget the name of the tree.

22. Lions Leopards Anansi Springboks The leopards are back. Do you know the name of the tree? No, we do not. This will not do! Who do we send next? We will go. We are fast and we don’t listen to the monkeys.

23. TortoisesSo the springboks skipped through the forest, along the river and over the mountain. They moved quickly.

24. Springboks King Queen Dear king and queen, please tell us the name of the tree. It seems you animals are very forgetful. The tree’s name is Oowungalema.

25. HaresThe springboks thanked them and sprang back, down the mountain and through the forest. In the forest one tripped over a root and fell. The springboks were moving too fast. They all fell over each other, bumping their heads. The name was lost again.

26. Lions Tortoises This is silly. Can no one return with the name? Yes. We can.

27. Leopards Springboks Monkeys Hares You? Don’t be silly. Yeah, you’re too slow. You’ll never make it. You won’t be able to remember the name.

28. Anansi Tortoise 1 Tortoise 2 Tortoise 3 Give them a chance! You’ve all tried and failed. Now let them try. We must go carefully. We must focus. We must keep repeating the name.

29. LeopardsSo the tortoises set out on their journey. It took them a long time to go through the forest and up the mountain, but at least they stood before the king and queen.

30. Queen Tortoises King Tortoises Queen Well, well, who has come to see us? We have, dear queen. And what can we do for you, little ones? We want to know the name of the tree. I see. Perhaps you will remember. The name is Oowungalema.

31. HaresSo the tortoises kept repeating the name of the tree as they walked over the mountain.

32. SpringboksWhen they went through the forest, the monkeys came and called them names.

33. MonkeysHey, tortoises, you’re so slow. We bet you can’t catch us.

34. HaresThe tortoises ignored the monkeys. They walked through the forest.

35. Anansi Lions Lions, look! The tortoises have returned. Let’s hope they have remembered the name.

36. TortoisesOowungalema!

37. Monkeys Leopards Hares Springboks All animals There is fruit on the tree! We have food to eat! We will not starve! The tortoises have saved us! Hooray!