IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, NO...IT'S AN AFRICAN KID HERO: THE TYPE OF HERO ARCHETYPES FOR AFRICAN KIDS ANIMATION THAT OFFER MORE TO ANIMATION

When we think of heroes in animation, we often picture the same familiar formula, which includes,
A young character gains powers, defeats a villain, saves the world, with a few jokes and explosions along the way.

It's a story kids everywhere enjoy, but it raises a deeper question:
What kind of heroes are African kids learning to admire, and are they the ones they truly need?

With African children growing up in a continent full of challenges and possibilities, the kind of heroes we put on screen matters more than ever. These characters shape how kids view strength, purpose, identity and their place in the world.

Let’s rethink what makes a hero, African-style.

The Problem With the One-Size-Fits-All Hero

Mainstream media has conditioned us to think heroes must be, exceptionally powerful, lone warrior, morally flawless, chosen by destiny or often solving problems through force

But African societies, both traditionally and today, often value community, wisdom, humility, and resilience just as much as physical power.

Why, then, do we keep copying hero types that don’t reflect the values our kids actually live and learn?

5 Hero Types African Kids Need to See More Of

The Everyday Hero

Not every hero needs to save the world. Some just make life better one small act at a time. Examples include:

- A boy who defends a new classmate from bullying

- A girl who finds a way to help her mom’s market stall succeed

- A child who stands up to a dishonest adult, respectfully but bravely

Why it matters:
African kids need to see that courage isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s just about doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

This also reflects traditional storytelling, where the smallest person in the village often changes everything

The Creative Problem-Solver

We need more heroes who use brains over brawn , especially in communities where creativity and innovation are survival tools. Examples include:

- A tech-savvy kid who builds gadgets from scrap

- A group of kids who solve everyday problems using local knowledge

- A girl who paints murals to unite a divided neighborhood

Why it matters:
This kind of hero reflects real African resilience, solving problems with limited resources and a lot of ingenuity.

It also encourages critical thinking, STEM curiosity, and imagination

The Culture Keeper

Africa is rich in history, tradition, language, and spirituality. Kids deserve heroes who embrace that, not run from it. Examples include:

- A boy who protects a sacred site from destruction

- A girl who learns to speak her grandfather’s language to unlock ancient wisdom

- Siblings who must reenact a folktale to save their village

Why it matters:
In a world pushing Western ideals, this hero reminds kids, that, your roots are powerful. Your past is worth protecting.

This helps preserve identity and fosters pride in heritage.

The Flawed-but-Growing Hero

Not every hero has to be perfect. In fact, kids learn more from characters who make mistakes and grow. Examples include:

- A kid who lies, faces consequences, and learns to take responsibility

- A jealous friend who almost ruins a plan, then makes it right

- A lazy boy who learns discipline through a challenge

Why it matters:
It teaches kids that failure is part of growth. You don’t have to be perfect to be good. You just have to be willing to learn.

This builds emotional intelligence, forgiveness, and real self-worth

The Team Player

Too often, animation glorifies the “solo hero” trope. But African culture often celebrates collective effort over individual triumph. Examples include:

- A neighborhood football team that saves their field from being sold

- Siblings with different talents who must work together to succeed

- A story where every kid in a class helps solve a shared problem

Why it matters:
African children grow up in community settings. Animation should show that real strength comes from unity, not just uniqueness.

This also encourages cooperation, empathy, and leadership.

Why Hero Types Matter

The heroes kids admire become mirrors and maps, this essentially means, it forms, mirrors of who they are and maps for who they can become

If we only give them super-powered fighters, we teach them that only the “strongest” matter.

But if we show them many kinds of strength, we give them space to find their own.

What African Animation Can Do Differently

We have the opportunity and responsibility, to define heroism on our own terms.

That means, we can let grandmothers be heroes too, make space for quiet kids, shy kids, gentle kids to lead,writing conflict that’s resolved through wisdom, not just action and allow cultural context to shape what “heroism” looks like

Because African stories don’t need to copy the Marvel formula. They can build something even richer, rooted in the values our children live by every day.

Conclusion

African kids don’t need heroes with superpowers.
They need heroes with purpose.
They need to see bravery in kindness, strength in empathy, and power in teamwork.

And when they do, they’ll stop waiting for a savior, and start believing that they already are one.

Who were your childhood heroes? And what kind of hero do you think African kids need most today? Drop a comment, your story might inspire someone else’s animation.