Afro Mythos

A groundbreaking collection of 75 African myths and legends, beautifully retold and illustrated.

There’s an African proverb that says, ‘until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.’ So here we are, telling our stories.

Myths and legends are powerful. They shape our earliest understandings of the world, and tell us about ourselves, our ancestors, and the fabric of our culture. You know about The Odyssey. You’ve read tales about Venus and Mars. You’ve heard the names of Thor, Odin and Loki. These European pantheons are rightly cherished, their stories endlessly retold and enjoyed. But for too long, the mythologies of Africa – the continent that everyone ultimately comes from – have been buried, distorted or forgotten.

In Afro Mythos, award-winning artists Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi weave seven years of research into a spellbinding collection of stories that have long deserved the spotlight. Their bold illustrations accompany majestic retellings spanning the continent and diaspora, from the Maasai to Yoruba, Zulu to Hodou. Together, these beautiful tales capture a new way of seeing the world. Discover how wisdom spread across the earth, and how humans lost the ability to speak to animals. Learn about seven-headed serpents, gods who cry rivers, and tricksters who reshape fate.

So, are you ready? The stories are waiting. They were always meant to be shared.