In continued celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, let’s play a game. Thinking out loud, name five female comic book or animation characters you know. No cheating—pause and do it before reading further.

.

.

.

Done? Now, ask yourself: how many of them were from African comic book and animation titles?

 If you managed to name at least one, well done. If not, grab a drink and some popcorn, because we’re about to introduce you to a selection of remarkable African female characters you should know.

JINX (by SPOOF Comics)

First on our list is Jinx, a mysterious and resilient teenage girl with an innate connection to the supernatural. Born with abilities she barely understands, she has spent most of her life as an outsider, feared for the strange occurrences that seem to follow her. Whether she is a harbinger of chaos or a reluctant guardian of spiritual balance remains a question even she struggles to answer.

Jinx is fiercely independent, sharp-witted, and deeply intuitive. Years of being ostracised in orphanages and foster homes have made her guarded, but beneath her tough exterior lies a yearning for belonging. She is rebellious, questions authority, and refuses to accept things at face value. Despite her cynicism, she has a deep well of empathy, especially for those who, like her, feel unseen or misunderstood.

Jinx made her first appearance in JINX #1, published by SPOOF Comics in 2017. Since then, she has become one of the most enigmatic characters in the SPOOF universe, blending horror, fantasy, and African spiritualism in a way that challenges genre boundaries.

Uju from Celestial Eyes (by The Machine)

Next is Onwanuju, an occult detective with a full blue moon in her eyes. Her style and character strike a delicate balance between mystery and madness. Addicted to vaping, she is cynical, impatient, introverted, and recklessly fearless—diving headfirst into battles against supernatural entities without hesitation.

Armed with powerful spellcasting abilities, she uses her vape as a conduit for her magic. Her exceptional combat skills make her just as lethal with a blade as she is with her incantations. Whether facing evil spirits or the undead, Onwanuju is a force to be reckoned with—so long as she gets paid.

Chayoma (by PEDA Comics)

From the Great Lakes Kingdom of Kitara comes Chayoma, a character born into a clan steeped in witchcraft. Though her heritage burdens her, her innate nobility eventually leads her towards redemption. Chosen and mentored by the Jangura, she becomes aware of her destiny as foretold by the Mlezi. This revelation propels her into a mission with far-reaching consequences, where magic, duty, and self-discovery intertwine.

Simi from Hadu (by Smids Animation)

Introducing one of the most recent trailblazers in African animation: Simi, the spirited protagonist of HADU, an award-winning animated short. Simi is a young girl with an unshakable passion for cooking. Though her early attempts often result in burnt meals, she refuses to give up on her dream.

Inspired by her witty grandmother and a cherished cookbook, Simi embarks on culinary adventures that teach her about heritage, culture, resilience, diligence, and passion.

Dreamweaver (by VX Comics)

Njide Akwaeke, an 18-year-old girl from Enugu, carries a secret—she is the youngest-ever Kpakpando, Guardian of the Dream Realm. Gifted with the power to weave and control dreams, she is humanity’s last line of defence against the Nightmare Dibia, a dark force twisting dreams into nightmares.

By day, Njide is a high school senior navigating friendships, exams, and the weight of an ordinary life. By night, she fights in a shifting world where imagination is a weapon and fear is an adversary. As the boundaries between dreams and reality blur, she must embrace her destiny or risk both realms falling into eternal darkness.

Anaki (by Zebra Comics)

The union between randy gods and human women gives rise to the Balemba-kids with special gifts. The last of them, Anaki, struggles to survive in the face of the deadly Inquisition tasked with wiping out all evidence of the gods' descendants.

Anaki has been on Kickstarter 4 times and has been fully funded 4 times as well. It was one of the top IPs that got a lot of readers before the launch of the Zebra Comics app and is still one of the most-read comics.

OGO (by Symphonii Studios)

OGO, known as The Veilkeeper, is a spiritual guardian chosen by the Order of MMANWU to protect the vessel of Jele. Once a mortal commoner, she sacrificed herself to stop a great evil and was recruited into the Order. She learns that the role of the Veilkeeper has been passed from one individual to another, from one generation to another. As the current Veilkeeper, she guides Jele with wisdom, using abilities like Spirit Walking, Ancestral Summoning, and Spiritual energy control.  Bound by duty, she ensures Jele fulfills his destiny while shielding him from unseen dangers until he can reach his full potential.

.

.

.

We won’t overwhelm you with more details—just take a look at what you’ve been missing: Barikisu (Epoch Comics), Ireti, Aje, Tatashe, Jean, Jane, and Gina (Comic Republic), Malika, Fury, Firefrost (YouNeek Studios), and many more.

Watch this space or subscribe to our newsletter for more spotlights on African comic book and animation titles.