Webtoon, a digital sequential storytelling format designed for mobile, is shaking up reading habits by completely deconstructing the traditional structure of comic book pages. Created for smooth vertical scrolling, it fits perfectly with the contemporary practices of connected readers, whether on a phone, tablet, or computer.
In Africa, this new creative medium seems to have found fertile ground. While the traditional networks of comic book production and distribution (publishing houses, specialized bookstores, festivals) remain limited or fragile across much of the continent, webtoon opens a breach and becomes a tool of empowerment for authors, both emerging and established.
Affordable and directly connected to audiences, it gives African creators the chance to beread without going through institutional filters or commercial circuits that are sometimes difficult to access.
This momentum meets the growing appetite of an ultra-connected African youth eager for cultural content that resonates with their own realities. Stories drawing from oral traditions, local legends, contemporary urban experiences, or even futuristic and socially engaged imaginaries are finding unprecedented visibility in this format. The success of webtoon in Africa, therefore, is not just about technological innovation : it also reflects a strong desire to tell stories differently, to reclaim visual and narrative codes, and to propose a distinctive aesthetic that does not merely imitate Asian or Western models.
Behind this enthusiasm lie crucial questions :
- How can this format sustainably structure a creative economy in Africa?
- What models of remuneration and recognition exist for authors?
- In what ways does this aesthetic, designed for digital platforms and immediacy, transform the way stories in images are told and received?
Webtoon thus emerges as a serious avenue for the development of African comics, at the crossroads of technological, cultural, and economic challenges.
Speakers :
- Kim THOUVENIN, producer & founder [Kuri Studio (FR)]
- Franco CLERC, comic books author (MAD)
- Vladimir LENTZY, editor [ONO – Dupuis (FR)]
Moderator :
- Joëlle EPÉE-MANDENGUE, author & founder [Bilili BD Festival (CAM)]
- Jean-Philippe MARTIN, director of publics [Cité internationale de la BD (FR)]
Language: French
Translation: English
Crédit photo de bannière : ©Culture.SIPA
Capacity: 200 - 500 people
