In The Beginning

Creation stories from around the world, dramatised for radio. An immersive audio adventure back to the beginning time…

Why are we here, how did we get here and who are we anyway? These profound questions have given rise to creation stories, shared across cultures and societies to help us humans make sense of the world and there are many commonalities between these stories. In the Beginning brings ten of these ancestral tales to life.

These stories transport us through the cosmos, into dreamtime, down a golden chain and through nature’s arc where we meet animals, gods and spirits - the makers, shapers and creators

There’s a summer storm and it’s been raining all day, on and off, then on again. The children are inside with Hawa, our storyteller. She has been gathering creation stories since the beginning of time, from every corner of the earth. Where will she take us today?

For more information visit http://www.inthebeginning.world

Credits

Researched, written and directed by Lucia Scazzocchio & Hawa Kahn

Presented by Chizzy Akudolu, narrated by Nicole Davis

Cast: Chizzy Akudolu, Rosie-Marie Christian, Darren Hart, Arnie Hewitt, Hawa Khan, Paul Marlon, Katherine Mosely, James Price, Narinder Samra.

Children: Quinceo Parkes, Omara Parkes, Della Parkes, Sierra Kaitell, Gabriel Kaitell

Casting Director: Hawa Khan

Audio production and sound design: Lucia Scazzocchio

Additional research: Leona Fensome

Original music: Gail Tasker

Cover Art: Delphine

A Sonomatopoeia / Social Broadcasts production. Created for Fun Kids and Supported by the Audio Content Fund.

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Episodes

Arrogance of Fam

This story from the Fang people is about the creation of the first human Fam who was given absolute power. This power went to his head as he destroyed the earth and disrespected the other animals that have been created. In the beginning Membere (who is 3 gods in one) creates elephant, leopard and monkey and then decides to create man to rule over them, the first man is called Fam and he is given ultimate power over the animals as well as being immortal. He starts building, burning and destroying...

Sep 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 10

The Corn People

This story from the Maya people explains how humans were created out of corn after several attempts using different materials and how the creator gods Tepeu and Gucumatz made sure that humans did not have the constant access to supernatural vision. Gucamatz (The Maker and Tapeau (The Feathered spirt) imagine the world, plants and animas into being. As supreme beings they need to be worshiped so they try to get the animals to praise them but that doesn’t work. They then create clay people but the...

Sep 07, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 9

Where the Sun and the Moon Came From

This story from the Taíno people begins with a great flood forcing everyone to hide in caves, even the Sun and the Moon. This story explains why the Sun and the Moon rise and set at different times. In the beginning there is a great flood. Many people hide in caves to escape the flood and so do the Sun and the Moon. The Sun kicks the Moon out as there isn’t enough space in the cave they are sharing. The moon goes up to the sky and find that it's much more spacious. The Sun misses the moon so goe...

Aug 31, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 8

The Council of the Orishas

These two stories from the Yoruba people describe how humans were created, the coming of a great flood and how Oshun, the goddess of fertility made sure women have a voice. The Orishas are the gods who live in the sky. Obatala (creator of mankind) decides to go down to create the earth - he is given a gold chain, a shell, a hen and a black cat. He then attempts to makes humans but gets drunk on palm wine and makes them all wonky. He has to start again. Once the earth is populated, Olukun, god of...

Aug 24, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Legend of the Milkyway

This story from Estonia describes how the amazing milky white group of stars we call the Milky Way (or bird path in Estonian) came from the adventurous goddess Lindu's wedding veil, carried by birds The goddess Lindu lives in the sky with her father Uru. She loves adventure and can't stay still for long. Uru sends her down to earth to look after the birds. The North Star, Moon and Sun propose to her but she thinks they’re all too boring as they stay in one place and she needs more. Northern Ligh...

Aug 17, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 6

The Cosmic Hug

This story is from the Māori people explaining how the earth and the sky were separated so that light could enable forests and plants to grow, followed by animals and humans. In the beginning there is nothing but the cosmos. Rangi (Ranginui) the sky father and Papatua (Papatūānuku) the earth mother hold each other in a tight embrace. Papatua gives birth to 70 sons who are caught between their mother and father with very little space and no light. They have to find a way out. Eventually, led by T...

Aug 10, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Pangu Creates the Earth and Nuwa Creates Humans

These are two stories form ancient China describing how the world was created and how humans were made. In the beginning there is nothing but a cosmic egg. Pangu emerges from this egg and the upper part becomes Yin the sky and lower part becomes Yang the earth. He begins to form the earth with the help of Phoenix, Dragon and Tortoise but becomes exhausted and his body becomes the earth itself. Later, Nuwa a goddess with a fish tail comes down to earth but is lonely as she has no one to talk to. ...

Aug 03, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Coyote and Silver Fox

In this story we learn how the earth is created and how domestic relationships sometimes have to be managed. In the beginning there is nothing but water. Silver Fox is lonely and thinks Coyote into being. Together they sing the world into existence and go down to live on it. They live in harmony together except for the fact that Coyote is always hungry and Silver Fox keeps going out to get things to eat but he gobbles everything up and never shares or saves food. She eventually gets fed up of hi...

Jul 27, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Hainuwele the Coconut Girl

In this story we hear where root vegetables (tubars) and root spices came from and how people with good and evil hearts are separated. The god Ameta finds a coconut one day, he plants it and a lovely girl Hainuwele (coconut girl) grows from the ground. She has the amazing gift of being able to poo precious items. This instills jealousy amongst the villagers who decide to get rid of Hainuwele. She becomes the root of all root plants and spices and her leaves are made into a guilt gate and with th...

Jul 20, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 2

The Great Drought

This story tells how there was a terrible drought followed by a lethal flood. There's a terrible drought and all the animals get together and realise that all water is being held inside a giant frog called Tidilick, the only way to get the water out is to make the frog laugh. They decide to hold a talent contest 'Get Out of Drought'. The Kookaburra tries and fails, the Frill Lizard tries and fails, the Crane tries and fails and finally the Short Finned Eel succeeds and Tidilick the frog laughs s...

Jul 13, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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