In The Beginning

Hosted ByHawa

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

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


All 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…

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 i…

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. Guc…

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.
Gu…

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 …

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…

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) deci…

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) dec…

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 Ur…