African
Browse our collection of African kids books, fairy tales, poems, bedtime stories, short stories and novels. Use the filters to narrow your choices, or read our full article for inspiration.
Read African Folktales Online
This collection of African folktales brings together stories of family bonds, clever animals, and cultural traditions. In Udea and Her Seven Brothers, a young girl searches for her lost brothers and faces dangers, reuniting with them after defeating a powerful enemy. The tale Why the Hippopotamus Lives in the Water explains how the turtle’s wit led the hippo to a new home. Stories of animal trickery include Why the Elephant Has Small Eyes, where Tortoise deceives the greedy Elephant, and The Leopard and the Ram, which recounts how a misunderstanding creates a natural divide. For tales of courage and protection, Dembe and the Park Rangers highlights a gorilla’s bravery in defending his family from poachers, while The Forgiveness Walk reflects a Nigerian community’s New Year’s tradition of reconciliation, as friends and neighbors seek peace in the new year. These stories showcase resilience, wisdom, and the values embedded in African folklore.