Africa is not just a single place; it is a vast, breathtaking continent comprised of 54 unique countries, thousands of languages, and a kaleidoscope of cultures. For many of us, our first introduction to the landscape came through movies like The Lion King, singing “Hakuna Matata” and marveling at the Pride Lands. But beyond the animated savannahs lies a rich history of art, music, storytelling, and craftsmanship that has influenced the world for centuries.
Exploring African heritage through art is one of the best ways to teach children about diversity and global history. It allows them to touch, create, and understand traditions that are vibrant and alive today.
In this guide, we have curated 15 traditional African crafts for kids. These projects range from musical instruments to ceremonial masks and textile art. They are designed to be educational, fun, and respectful of the diverse cultures they represent.
Why Teach African Art?
Before we dive into the glue and paint, it is important to understand the why. African art is rarely just for decoration. Historically, art in many African cultures serves a function. It might be spiritual (masks), communicative (textiles), or functional (pottery). By making these crafts, children learn that art is a language.
Recommended Reading to Pair with Crafts
To make this a full unit study, we recommend pairing these activities with wonderful books that celebrate African stories:
- Too Small Tola by Atinuke
- Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country by Atinuke
- The Water Princess by Susan Verde
- Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunnane
- Ayo’s Adventure: Across the African Diaspora by Ain Heath Drew
The Crafts: Creating and Learning
Here are 15 distinct crafts inspired by different regions and traditions across the African continent.
1. Paper Village Huts (inspired by Ndebele Architecture)
The Ndebele people of South Africa are famous for their colorful homes painted with striking geometric patterns.
- The Lesson: Discuss how shapes and colors can communicate status or celebrate events.
- The Craft: Use cardstock or paper cups as the base. Cut a cone shape for the roof and attach it to the cylinder. The most important part is the decoration. Have the kids use black markers to draw bold black outlines of triangles, rectangles, and zig-zags, then fill them in with bright primary colors (red, blue, yellow). Arrange them together to create a village.
2. DIY Mbira (Thumb Piano)
The Mbira is a traditional instrument of the Shona people in Zimbabwe. It consists of a wooden board with staggered metal tines played by the thumbs.
- The Craft: You can make a simple version using a small wooden block or a sturdy jewelry box. Secure bobby pins of different lengths over a pencil (acting as a bridge) using strong tape or staples. When you pluck the bobby pins, they make a sweet, plinking sound.
- Educational Moment: Talk about how music is central to storytelling and history in Zimbabwean culture.
3. West African Style Cardboard Masks
Masks are perhaps the most iconic African art form. In many West African cultures, masks are not merely costumes; they are spiritual vessels used in rituals and dances.
- The Craft: Instead of buying plastic, upcycle! Use flattened cereal boxes or cardboard tubes. Cut out long, oval face shapes. The key feature of many African masks is symmetry and exaggeration. Use bold colors, raffia (dried grass) for hair, and geometric shapes for eyes and mouths.
- Note: Emphasize that these are inspired by the style of the art, honoring the aesthetic without appropriating specific sacred rituals.
4. Kente Cloth Paper Weaving
Kente cloth comes from the Ashanti people of Ghana. Legend says the weavers learned their skills by watching a spider weave its web.
- The Craft: This is excellent for fine motor skills. Take a black piece of construction paper and cut slits across it (leave the edges intact). Cut strips of red, yellow, and green paper. Have the children weave the strips “over and under” through the black paper.
- Color Meanings: Teach the kids that colors matter: Gold = status/wealth, Green = renewal, Black = maturity/spiritual energy.
5. Maasai-Inspired Paper Plate Necklaces
The Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania are renowned for their intricate beadwork, particularly the wide, flat collar necklaces worn by women.
- The Craft: Cut the center out of a paper plate so it fits around a child’s neck. Cut a slit in the back so it can be put on. Use paint, colored pasta, or actual beads to create concentric circles of color around the plate. The brighter, the better!
6. The Talking Drum (Djembe)
Drums are the heartbeat of African music. The Djembe, originating from West Africa, is meant to gather people together in peace.
- The Craft: Tape two disposable cups bottom-to-bottom (or use a clean yogurt tub). Cover the top with a balloon (cut the neck off the balloon and stretch it over the cup) to create a taut skin. Let the kids decorate the “body” of the drum with tribal patterns using markers or paint.
7. Rain Sticks
In arid regions, calling for rain was a vital ceremony.
- The Craft: Use a long cardboard mailing tube or paper towel roll. Insert nails or toothpicks through the sides of the tube (adult supervision required). Pour in a mix of rice and dried beans. Seal the ends. When you tilt the stick, the beans hit the obstacles inside, sounding exactly like falling rain. Decorate the outside with earth tones.
8. Anansi the Spider
Anansi is a folktale character from the Akan people of Ghana. He is a trickster and a storyteller who is known for his wisdom.
- The Craft: Create a spider using a pom-pom for the body and black pipe cleaners for the eight legs. This craft is best done while reading an Anansi story, connecting literature with art.
9. Egyptian Cartouche
Moving to North Africa, we explore Ancient Egypt. A cartouche is a nameplate, usually for a pharaoh.
- The Craft: Cut oval shapes out of gold cardstock or yellow paper. Print out a chart of Hieroglyphs (the ancient Egyptian alphabet). Have the children translate their own names into symbols and draw them vertically on the cartouche. Punch a hole at the top and add string to make it a necklace or bookmark.
10. Tinga Tinga Painting
Tinga Tinga is a painting style that originated in Tanzania in the 1960s. It is characterized by bright, enamel-like colors and cartoonish, surreal animals.
- The Craft: This is a painting project. Ask kids to paint their favorite African animal (giraffe, leopard, bird) but use unnatural, super-bright colors. Use dots to create texture on the animal’s skin. It’s vibrant, fun, and very modern.
11. Adinkra Potato Stamping
Adinkra symbols are visual symbols with historical and philosophical significance originally created by the Gyaman people of Ghana.
- The Craft: Cut potatoes in half. Carve simple Adinkra symbols into the potato (like the Gye Nyame or simple geometric shapes). Dip them in fabric paint and stamp them onto a tote bag or t-shirt.
- The Lesson: It teaches that symbols can represent complex ideas or proverbs.
12. Galimoto (Recycled Wire Cars)
In Malawi, children are incredibly resourceful. A “Galimoto” is a complex toy car made entirely out of wire and scrap materials.
- The Craft: Using soft, bendable crafting wire (pipe cleaners work for younger kids), challenge children to twist and shape the wire into a vehicle shape. Use bottle caps for wheels. This is a great STEM challenge that highlights engineering skills.
13. African Sunset Silhouette Art
This captures the beauty of the landscape—the Savannah.
- The Craft: Have kids paint a paper background in gradients of warm colors: yellow at the bottom, turning to orange, red, and purple at the top. Once dry, use black paint or black paper cutouts to create silhouettes of Acacia trees and animals like elephants or lions against the sunset.
14. Beaded Safety Pin Bracelets
Beadwork is prevalent across the continent, often used as currency or status symbols historically.
- The Craft: Thread small seed beads onto safety pins (in specific color patterns, like the South African flag). Thread the beaded safety pins onto two pieces of elastic cord (top and bottom) to create a “cuff” style bracelet.
15. Mancala Game Board
Mancala is one of the oldest known games to still be widely played today. Variations are played throughout Africa.
- The Craft: Use an empty egg carton (12 holes). Cut off the lid but keep the ends to use as “stores.” Paint the carton in earthy colors. Use dried beans, pebbles, or beads as the game pieces.
- The Activity: Once made, teach the kids how to play! It is an excellent game for counting and strategy.
Respectful Crafting: A Note for Parents and Teachers
When engaging in cultural crafts, it is essential to avoid cultural appropriation or stereotyping. Here are three tips to ensure your crafting is respectful:
- Be Specific: Instead of saying “This is an African mask,” say “This is a mask inspired by the traditions of West Africa.” Acknowledge the specific country or tribe if possible.
- Focus on Meaning: Explain why the item exists. Is it for rain? For music? For storytelling? Context transforms a craft into a history lesson.
- Avoid Stereotypes: Africa is not just mud huts and wild animals. It has modern cities, universities, and contemporary art. Ensure children understand that these traditional crafts represent heritage, much like how quilting represents American heritage, but they don’t represent the entirety of modern African life.
Conclusion
Creating traditional African crafts with your children is a vibrant, hands-on way to explore a continent that is often misunderstood. From the geometric precision of Ndebele homes to the rhythmic joy of the Djembe drum, these activities build a bridge of understanding and appreciation.
So, gather your recycled materials, your brightest paints, and your curiosity. Let’s celebrate the rich heritage of Africa, one craft at a time!
Which craft will you try first? Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are these crafts suitable for toddlers? A: Some crafts, like the Paper Plate Necklace (Massai collar) and the Djembe drum, are perfect for toddlers. Others, like the wire Galimoto or intricate weaving, are better suited for school-aged children.
Q: Where can I find materials for these crafts? A: You likely have most of them at home! These projects rely heavily on upcycling—cardboard boxes, egg cartons, paper plates, and beans. For specific items like beads or feathers, a local dollar store or craft shop is sufficient.Q: How can I fit this into a school curriculum? A: These crafts fit perfectly into Social Studies (Geography/Culture), Art classes (Pattern/Texture), and even Music class (Rhythm/Instruments).