What Is Folklore?

Folklore is a body of stories, beliefs, traditions, and customs passed down from generation to generation. These stories often explain natural events, human behaviour, morality, or social customs.

Every culture has its own version of folklore. In Europe, a good example is the collection of folklore from the Brothers Grimm. In Asia, tales of dragons, demons, and spirits echo through centuries. But Africa is different.

What Makes African Folklore Special?

African folklore is vast. It’s not tied to one people, one language, or one worldview. Each region, tribe, and village holds its own treasure of stories. From the Zulu kingdoms in the South to the Berber clans of the North, from the Yoruba myths in the West to the Swahili legends in the East—Africa contains an endless reservoir of narrative potential.

African folklore is full of shape-shifters, tricksters, animal spirits, warrior queens, gods, and epic migrations. Unlike many folktales from the West, African stories are rarely black and white. Heroes make mistakes. Villains might have reasons for what they do. The line between the natural and the supernatural is always thin.

You won’t run out of ideas here. You will run into new ways to see the world.

Now imagine these stories, visualised in the form of comics, webcomics, or animated shorts. That’s exactly what one company in Cameroon has been doing—Zebra Comics.

Why Folklore Matters in Storytelling Today

In a world overwhelmed by content, stories that feel real and grounded in cultural history stand out. Whether you’re scrolling webtoons on your phone or flipping through a graphic novel, stories that pull from authentic roots grab attention.

They also travel well.

Folklore doesn’t age. It evolves. When adapted well, it feels new—whether it’s told on paper or screen. It gives storytellers a roadmap. It gives readers something that feels personal, even if it comes from a different part of the world.

So, where do we see this happening in comics right now?

Look to Africa.

The Rise of African Webcomics

Webcomics are digital comics optimised for scrolling on phones. Webtoons, a format that started in South Korea, are a type of webcomic made to be read vertically, panel by panel.

African creators are now getting into this space.

Platforms like Zebra Comics are proving that African comics and African webtoons can match the best of the world. And they’re using African folklore as fuel.

Let’s take a closer look.

Zebra Comics: Building African Stories for the Digital Age

Zebra Comics is a digital comics company based in Cameroon. It publishes comics and webtoons that draw heavily from African stories, myths, and settings.

But Zebra does more than publish. It empowers.

Here’s how:

1. Publishing Comics That Reflect African Identity

Zebra Comics has built a catalogue full of stories that reimagine African folklore for modern readers. Their stories are grounded in real culture but told with high visual quality, modern pacing, and global appeal.

A few examples:

• “Anaki” follows the journey of a young witch who discovers her spiritual heritage, inspired by West African mysticism but in a sci-fi world.
•  “Beasts of Tazeti” draws from multiple African traditions to create an Afrofuturistic Mortal Kombat-like tournament rooted in clan dynamics.
• “Njoku” channels ancient Bakweri mythology into a story about gods and destiny.

Each of these comics stands on its own. But together, they show a commitment to building African stories with depth, grit, and purpose.

2. Opening the Platform to Other Creators

Zebra Comics isn’t just telling its own stories. It’s opening the door to others.

The Zebra platform allows African creators to publish their comics and webtoons. This model supports self-publishing while giving creators access to tools, feedback, and an audience.

This changes the game.

It allows creators from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and beyond to bring their own folklore to life.

Zebra is not just a company. It’s a stage for African storytelling.

3. Helping Creators Make a Living

Telling stories is one thing. Surviving as a storyteller is another.

Zebra Comics helps its creators monetize their work. Through ad-based viewing, subscriptions, and direct support, creators can start earning from their stories.

Zebra also provides data insights. How are readers engaging with your webtoon? Where do they drop off? What art style gets the best reaction?

This kind of information is rare in the African comics space. But it’s essential if you want to grow a global brand.

Why African Folklore Works So Well in Webtoon Format

Folklore stories are often episodic. They unfold in short arcs with vivid imagery and tight tension. That makes them perfect for webtoons.

Each scroll delivers a surprise. Each panel reveals something new. This pacing keeps readers hooked.

Zebra Comics understands this.

They use cliffhangers, visual rhythm, and local idioms to keep their comics fresh and gripping.

For example, in “Wrong Dial,” a mystery webtoon with supernatural themes, the pacing mimics oral storytelling. Short setups. Sudden twists. A question always waiting at the end.

These stories aren’t just inspired by folklore. They use its logic. And it works.

Why You Should Care

If you’re a reader, there’s a whole new world of African webtoons waiting for you.

If you’re a writer or artist, folklore can help you find stories that feel powerful and fresh.

If you’re a teacher or researcher, African webcomics are a growing field for studying how oral tradition adapts to digital form.

If you’re in film or animation, these comics are ready to be adapted.

Zebra Comics is already exploring multimedia directions. They’re looking at animated shorts, merchandise, and localised versions of their titles.

What You Can Do Next

Go to www.zebra-comics.com or download the mobile app (iOS and Android). Browse their catalogue. Read a few episodes. Pay attention to how the characters talk, how the art feels, and how the stories move.

Think about how each webtoon pulls from something old and turns it into something new.

You’ll discover that Africa is not short on imagination. It’s overflowing with it.

And folklore is the thread that ties it all together.

Final Thoughts

Folklore isn’t stuck in the past. It’s moving—one panel at a time.

Through comics, webcomics, and webtoons, African creators are telling their stories in ways that feel modern, authentic, and global.

Zebra Comics is leading that charge.

Now it’s your turn. What stories will you tell? What stories will you read?