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These traditional African crafts for kids teach us about the rich and colorful heritage of the African continent! Play games, create art and have fun!

I was 10 when The Lion King was first released, and I was hooked! I don’t remember how many times I watched it after that, I just remember that I could sing ‘The Circle of Life‘ continuously without missing a beat!

Another bonus of watching the Lion King was that it introduced me to the gorgeous African landscape, so beautifully recreated by Disney in the movie. Not to mention the coolest ever ‘bros’ – Timon and Pumba – and their iconic catchphrase – Hakuna Matata!

While my Swahili is limited to these two words, my interest in Africa has only grown, and the more I learn, the more I realize that there’s so much more to know. And the best way is as always, books!

Books about Africa for Kids

• 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 and Erin K. Robinson

So as the next edition of The Lion King rolls around, let’s take this opportunity to learn more about Africa with some traditional African Crafts for kids. Make, learn and have fun!

15 Traditional African Crafts for Kids to Make

1. Painted African Houses

Krokotak has a beautiful project that’s so easy to make! Make a bunch of these houses and you’ll feel like you’re in a village in Africa! This project is quite open-ended ended and kids can color in any patterns they like.

2. Paper Roll African Mask Craft

When speaking of African crafts for kids, you can’t miss the famous African masks! African masks may be treated as decor elements in many places, but in Africa, specific masks are used for special occasions and rituals. Check out the instructions for making these toilet paper roll masks at Dzieciaki W Domu.

3. African Thumb Piano

This is the ‘Mbira’, an African instrument where the metal tines are played using the thumbs. Make your own mini version of this piano using bobby pins with the help of this project from Thrifty Fun.

4. African Djembe Drums

Djembe means ‘to Gather in Peace’, and these drums are usually used to spread some peace and happiness among the people. Mainly from West Africa, this drum is shaped like a goblet. Make different versions of this drum like in this project from Dzieciaki W Domu.

5. African Mask Collage Project

Here is another African mask craft, this time from Eco Kids Art. This project is more true to size, since African masks are generally quite large, you can go ahead and make a big collage. Have fun with different art materials to create a gorgeous mask!

6. DIY African Collar Necklace

Necklaces are an important part of African culture, and each tribe has a different version. In some places, the style and length of the necklace indicates whether a woman is married or not. The necklaces are truly works of art, and you can create your own with this paper plate craft from Education.

7. Kente Cloth Craft

We love it when our African crafts for kids help us learn about cultural symbols like Kente. Kente is a kind of cloth made by weaving strips of cloth together, like a basket. Kente is popular in Ghana and features colorful prints, where each color has a specific meaning, making this garment truly special. Kitchen Table Classroom recreates this art by weaving with paper instead of cloth.

8. African Dolls Recycled Craft

If you’re looking for African crafts for kids, you can’t miss these African dolls from Ekla Blog!! Just look at that headgear – so intricate, too! They’ve done a Japanese version on the blog, too, and you can get the instructions to make these dolls from there.

9. African Achi Game

Kids all over the world have their own board games, and if Tic Tac Toe is popular in some parts of the world, in Ghana it’s Achi! Aunt Annie shows us how to make and play this board game, which is as colorful as it is fun!

10. DIY Mancala Game

Mancala is the African name for a game with beads and small holes, a game that’s also played in several other parts of the world. This is a game that’s been around since the 7th century, and now you can make it at home, right now! Check out how to with instructions from Crayola.

11. African Paper Plate Mask

One of the easiest ways to make an African mask is with a paper plate, and First Palette shows us how to do it beautifully!

12. African Sunset Shadow Tracing Art

I’m sure one of the things that came to mind as soon as you heard about African crafts for kids was the African safari!  Did you know that the word safari originally came from the Arabic word ‘safar’, which means journey? Well, Taming Little Monsters shows us how to recreate a sight you might see on such a journey!

13. African Trading Beads

Next on our list of African crafts for kids is something you may not have heard of – trading beads. Trading beads have a long history in Africa, considering it was a major point on a shipping route that connected Europe, West Africa and the West Indies. Traditionally, the beads were made of wood, shells or bone, but Crayola shows us how to make them with paper!

14. Washi Tape African Rain Sticks

What would you do if you were a farmer facing an impending drought? Well, if you lived in ancient Africa, you’d make a rainstick by filling hollow cactus or bamboo tubes with beans or pebbles and use it to summon rain. Well, even if you’re not a farmer, you can still make your own rainstick with this project from Oriental Trading.

15. Adinkra Cloth Pattern Printing

Kitchen Table Classroom introduces us to the ‘adinkra‘, a traditional African textile with symbols printed in a grid pattern. In the old days, the patterns were printed using a carved gourd, and it was reserved for royalty. Today, it’s for everyone, and you can make your own print patterns!

I’m sure these African crafts for kids have triggered a thirst for more knowledge about Africa and its culture! With so many countries and tribes, each one has its own distinct heritage, and its so interesting to learn about them all! Here’s to learning happily and without worry – Hakuna Matata!