UP, UP AND INTO THE AFRICAN TROPICAL SKIES: DOES THE SUPERHERO GENRE IN AFRICAN ANIMATION FIT A GROWING AFRICAN STORYTELLING VOICE?

When most people hear the word superhero, their minds go straight to Marvel’s cinematic universe or DC’s iconic pantheon.

The capes, cities under siege, secret identities, and epic battles of good versus evil. They all have been part of part of the animation world, and have survived their relevance from the comic books in 1930s/1940s to the screens and games in todays digital world

Therefore, given this strong relevance of their place in storytelling in the animation world, as African animation begins to carve out its own space on the global stage, the question arises.
Do we need superheroes in African animation, and if so, what do they look like?

The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It’s more complex, cultural, and full of exciting possibilities.

Superheroes as a Global Language

Superheroes are more than just blockbuster characters, they’re a modern mythos. As a genre they channel our desires for justice, our fear of chaos, and our yearning for transformation. 

As such, superhero stories offer a universal storytelling framework that audiences across the world recognize and enjoy.

But while superhero tales are globally accessible, they are often culturally specific. The Western superhero archetype usually centers the individual. Someone who discovers their powers and uses them to protect the world, or at least their city, often while grappling with inner conflict.

While Eastern superheroes, most notably in Japan, have a strong tie to values of honor, hard work and strong codes of discipline. They often show their heroes rising through the value of hard work, endurance and perseverance to earn their role of keeping a community or their purpose together.

So where does that leave the African context?

African Heroism: A Different Compass

African notions of heroism are often rooted in community, ancestry, balance, and responsibility, and not in individual exceptionalism. The African hero is rarely a lone wolf. From traditional African history, they are:

- A chosen vessel of ancestral power.

- A protector of land, legacy, or people.

-A restorer of harmony, not just a fighter of villains.

Consider:

• Shaka Zulu – a historical figure elevated to myth, representing leadership, vision, and the burden of greatness.
• Anansi the Spider – a trickster, storyteller, and sometimes flawed hero whose power lies in wit, not brute force.
• Queen Amina of Zazzau – a warrior-queen who embodies both strength and diplomacy.

In African traditions, the line between myth and hero is blurred. The hero is not just someone who can do great things, but someone who embodies ancestral strength, cultural memory, and collective values.

Rethinking the Superhero Trope

What if we took the superhero framework and reshaped it through African worldviews?

Powers from Spirits, Ancestors, or Nature

Instead of radioactive spiders or lab accidents, imagine a child who gains their power through a spiritual rite, or from communion with a forest deity. Powers could be passed down, not discovered.

Community as Catalyst

The hero’s journey doesn’t begin with personal loss, it begins with a community crisis. A village under threat. A forgotten tradition in danger. A climate catastrophe. The hero is called not just to save lives but to restore harmony.

Aesthetic rooted in African tradition

Capes and latex? Maybe not. Imagine instead armor crafted from ancient metallurgy, woven talismans, scarification as symbolic coding, or clothing with literal power passed down generations.

Emerging Examples

Several African creators are already experimenting with new types of heroes:

- Iyanu: Child of Wonder (from Nigerian studio YouNeek Studios): A young Yoruba girl discovers supernatural abilities tied to ancient culture. The hero is deeply African in both origin and design.

- Malika: Warrior Queen (also from YouNeek Studios): Inspired by Queen Amina, this story reimagines political intrigue and war within a lush, fictional African empire, heroic, but not Western in framing.

- Kwezi (by South African artist Loyiso Mkize): A story of a modern African boy with superpowers, navigating celebrity and heritage. It’s Afrofuturist, urban, and deeply local.

These aren’t just "African versions of Superman." They are homegrown heroes with philosophies, conflicts, and aesthetics that challenge the standard mold.

So...Do We Need Superheroes?

Yes, but they need to be ours.

African animation doesn't need to copy caped crusaders. It needs to expand the very definition of heroism:

- From solo saviors to collective defenders.

- From strong might makes right to wisdom, balance, and ancestral duty.

- From global mimicry to cultural originality.

The truth is, Africa is full of superheroes. They’ve just been called different names, from griots, queens, warriors, prophets, tricksters, protectors, and children of destiny. Now, animation gives us a chance to bring them to life in vibrant, meaningful, and powerfully African ways.

Final Thoughts

In the global animation space, superhero stories are unlikely to go away, and they shouldn’t. But as African animators, we don’t have to fit into someone else’s idea of what a hero looks like.

Our African superheroes must be a reflection of our society, and not a reflection of trends.

Instead, we should ask ourselves:
What would a superhero look like if they were born from our stories, our struggles, and our soil?

The answer could reshape how the world sees not just African animation, but Africa itself.

What are some of the kind of heroes you would love to tell stories about in Africa? Let us know in the comments.