How illustrators bring history to young readers

Ask a 12-year-old what they think of history class, and you might hear: "Dates." "Boring." "So many names." "Why do I need to know what happened in 1892?"

Now show the same child a comic where a young warrior from Dahomey's famous women's army fights to protect her kingdom, or a picture book where Queen Nzinga outsmarts Portuguese diplomats, or an animated film set in ancient Mali. Suddenly, history becomes a story — with faces, emotions, colours and action.

That's the power of illustration.

How do illustrators bring African history to young readers — and why does it matter who draws the past?

Why pictures help children learn history

Research in education and psychology suggests that combining words and pictures helps people understand and remember information better than words alone. Educational psychologist Richard Mayer calls this the "multimedia principle": people learn more deeply from words and pictures than from words alone.

For children, illustrations:

• Make abstract ideas concrete (what did a royal palace look like?).
• Create emotional connections to characters.
• Help readers who struggle with long texts.
• Make reading more fun.

In many experiments, learners who received words plus relevant pictures performed better on problem-solving tests than those who received words alone. (Richard E. Mayer, Multimedia Learning, Cambridge University Press)

Why it matters who draws the past

For a long time, many images of African history were drawn by outsiders — often through colonial eyes. Africans were shown as "primitive," passive or exotic. Kings and queens, scientists, traders and inventors were rarely drawn with dignity.

When African illustrators draw African history, they can:

• Show accurate clothing, hairstyles, architecture and tools.
• Present historical figures with complexity and dignity.
• Include perspectives that were ignored — women, children, ordinary people.
• Make children proud of their heritage.

"Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." — African proverb, popularised by Chinua Achebe

Illustrators are among those "historians" now — visual ones.

Real examples of African illustrated storytelling

• "Aya of Yop City" (Aya de Yopougon): a graphic novel series written by Ivorian author Marguerite Abouet and illustrated by Clément Oubrerie. Set in 1970s Abidjan, it shows everyday life, family, humour and friendship. It won the prize for best first album at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2006 and was adapted into an animated film.
• Kugali: a Nigerian-founded company creating comics and animation inspired by African cultures, which partnered with Disney on the animated series "Iwájú" (2024). See How creative teams work across African borders.
• "Kirikou and the Sorceress" (1998): an animated film by French director Michel Ocelot, inspired by West African tales, with music by Youssou N'Dour. It became hugely popular with children across francophone Africa.
• African Storybook and similar projects: illustrated picture books in many African languages.

Many African illustrators also publish historical comics and picture books about figures such as Sundiata Keita, Mansa Musa, Queen Nzinga, Yaa Asantewaa, Shaka, Béhanzin and the Agojie (the women soldiers of Dahomey).

Joke break: A comic artist drew Mansa Musa — famously one of the richest people in history — giving out gold on his pilgrimage. A young reader asked, "Can you draw him visiting my house?" The artist said, "Only if you promise to share."

How illustrators research history

Drawing history accurately takes serious research:

• Read books and academic sources.
• Study museum objects and photographs (for clothing, weapons, jewellery, architecture).
• Talk to historians, elders and cultural experts.
• Visit historical sites (like the Royal Palaces of Abomey).
• Look at traditional art forms (bas-reliefs, appliqué, sculptures) that show how people saw themselves.
• Check details: hairstyles, fabrics and tools changed over time and between regions.

Sometimes, sources are limited. Illustrators must make careful choices and be honest in notes about what's known and what's imagined.

Benin's history in pictures

Benin has an amazing visual history that illustrators can draw from:

• The bas-reliefs of the Royal Palaces of Abomey, which were a way of recording history in images.
• Abomey appliqué tapestries, with symbols for each king (for example, the shark associated with King Béhanzin).
• The Agojie, the women soldiers of Dahomey, who inspired the 2022 Hollywood film "The Woman King" (and debates about its historical accuracy).
• The story of Béhanzin's resistance to French colonisation.
• The history of Ouidah and the slave trade.

These stories can be told in comics, picture books, animations, posters and games. See What a museum can teach beyond its walls.

Difficult histories for young readers

Some history is painful: slavery, colonisation, war. How should illustrators show it to children?

• Focus on human stories: resistance, survival, courage, family.
• Avoid graphic violence for young readers; suggest rather than show.
• Give context so children understand causes and consequences.
• Include hope and agency: people fought back, preserved culture and rebuilt.
• Work with educators to match content to age.

Illustration as a career

Illustration is a real career in Africa's growing creative economy:

• Children's books and educational materials.
• Comics and graphic novels.
• Animation and games.
• Advertising and branding.
• Editorial illustration for magazines and websites.
• Museum and heritage projects.

Digital tools make it easier to work for clients anywhere. But illustrators must also learn business skills: pricing, contracts, copyright. Read How to price creative work without guessing.

How schools and parents can use illustrated history

• Build classroom libraries with African picture books and comics.
• Ask students to create their own comic about a historical event.
• Compare illustrations: how do different artists show the same event?
• Visit museums and then draw what they saw.
• Invite illustrators for workshops.

See Learning beyond exams: projects children remember.

An illustrative classroom project

In an illustrative secondary school in Abomey (illustrative), a history teacher asked students to create a six-page comic about King Béhanzin. Groups visited the Royal Palaces, interviewed a guide, researched clothing and weapons, and drew their stories.

One group focused on a battle. Another told the story from the point of view of a young Agojie soldier. Another showed a market day in the royal city. At the end of term, the comics were displayed at the school and shared with parents.

The students learned dates and facts — but also asked deeper questions: Why did the French attack? How did people resist? What happened to the palace treasures? Illustration turned history into inquiry.

Tips for young illustrators who want to draw history

If you love drawing and history, here's how to start:

• Pick one story you love — a king, a queen, an inventor, a market, a festival.
• Research before you draw: read, visit, ask elders, look at museum objects.
• Make a "reference board" with photos of clothing, hairstyles, tools and buildings from that time and place.
• Sketch many small thumbnails before your final drawing.
• Think about emotion: what should the reader feel on this page?
• Show your work to someone who knows the history and ask for corrections.
• Credit your sources at the end of your book or comic.
• Share your work online and in local exhibitions.

Remember: accuracy and imagination can work together. Where history is uncertain, be honest in a short note.

Illustration and digital media

Illustrated history isn't only printed. Young readers find stories on phones, tablets and screens:

• Webcomics published episode by episode on social media.
• Animated shorts on YouTube and TikTok.
• Educational games with illustrated characters.
• Virtual museum experiences where illustrations guide visitors through history.

These formats reach readers who might never open a textbook. They also let illustrators test ideas quickly and build audiences before publishing a full book. See How to design useful technology for low connectivity to make sure digital stories load on basic phones.

Joke break: An illustrator posted a comic about Mansa Musa's famous journey to Mecca. A reader commented, "Please draw part 2: Mansa Musa pays my school fees." The illustrator replied, "Part 2 is under research. Very expensive research."

Drawing the future of the past

History isn't only about what happened. It's also about who tells the story and how. African illustrators are reshaping how young people see their past — with accuracy, pride, creativity and humour.

When a child opens a book and sees a hero who looks like them, from a kingdom they can visit, drawn by an artist from their own country, something powerful happens. History becomes theirs.

Keep reading: What stories should African children grow up hearing?, The value of keeping African stories in local languages, and our Art & Culture section.

Questions

Why are illustrations useful for teaching history to children?

Pictures make ideas concrete, create emotional connections and help children understand and remember information better than text alone.

What are good African comics for young readers?

Examples include "Aya of Yop City" by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie, and comics and animation by Kugali. Check age suitability.

How do illustrators make historical drawings accurate?

They research books, museum objects, historical sites, traditional art and talk to historians and elders.