Africa’s storytelling tradition is as old as the continent itself, with myths, legends, and folktales passed down through generations around firesides, in marketplaces, and through songs. Today, filmmakers and animators across the continent are reimagining these timeless stories for the screen, blending ancient wisdom with modern cinematic techniques. From Yoruba legends and Ugandan deities to Kenyan myths and Ghanaian warrior tales, these films and shorts bring Africa’s cultural heritage to life in vibrant, powerful ways.
This list highlights some of the most remarkable African films and shorts rooted in folklore and mythology, showcasing how ancestral tales continue to inspire fresh narratives for global audiences.
1. Aníkúlápó (Nigeria, feature film)
A fantasy-epic rooted in Yoruba tradition, dealing with spiritual powers, myth, forbidden love, and the supernatural. This film reimagines lore within regal courts and spirit worlds.
2. Mami Wata (Nigeria / West Africa co-production)
Explores the story of a water goddess (Mami Wata), faith, modernity, power, and gender. The myth of Mami Wata is central, and the film uses it to explore community, tradition, and the tension between old beliefs and change.
3. Kwaku Ananse (Ghana, short film)
Combines the trickster myth of Kwaku Ananse (part man, part spider) with a semi-autobiographical story. Rich in symbolism, it uses the folklore to explore themes of identity, duality, and wisdom.
4. Anyango and the Ogre (Kenya, short film from African Folktales, Reimagined)
Directed by Voline Ogutu, this short film is based on a childhood folktale. It explores the story of 13-year-old Otis who must protect his younger siblings from a monstrous creature that lives inside their home, adapting traditional folklore for modern audiences.
5. Liyana (Eswatini / South Africa)
Although partly documentary-style, Liyana uses an animated fable within its narrative. Children create a mythic heroine in their story to face real-life adversity blending folklore, imagination, and real trauma. A powerful example of myth within modern storytelling.
6. Detor: The Rise of a Warrior Hunter (Ghana, 2024)
This is a Ghanaian fantasy film inspired by mystical tales passed down through generations. The plot follows Detor, who, inspired by his father’s mystical stories and prophecy, sets out on a journey to become a warrior hunter fulfilling a destiny rooted in myth.
7. Mikolo (Nigeria, 2023)
A family fantasy film by Niyi Akinmolayan. Though not entirely traditional myth, Mikolo incorporates magical creatures (Irumole) and folkloric elements (forest beings, enchanted amulets) rooted in local belief systems.
8. Lisabi: A Legend Is Born (Nigeria, 2025)
Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, this is a historical-fantasy film inspired by the legend of Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala, the Yoruba folk hero who led the Egba people in revolt against oppressive rule. The film brings together myth, leadership, culture, and epic storytelling rooted deeply in Yoruba tradition.
9.The Figurine: Araromire (Nigeria, 2009)
Directed by Kunle Afolayan, this supernatural thriller draws from Yoruba folklore and myth. Two friends discover a mystical sculpture from an abandoned shrine that sculpture is tied to the goddess “Araromire,” which blesses those who possess it with good fortune for seven years. But after that grace period, things take a dark turn. Why it fits: It balances myth, moral consequences, and supernatural horror, showing how folklore can shape conflict and character in vivid, cinematic ways.
10. Nambi (2023, Uganda)
Directed by Peter Mukiibi, Nambi is based on the Ugandan folk tale of Kintu. The story follows a goddess from the heavenly realm who descends to live with Kintu on Earth, defying her father’s (Ggulu’s) wishes.