It’s the first week of December, so it’s time for what has now become our annual celebration of writers and publishers from Africa as part of Reading Africa Week, first launched several years ago by Catalyst Press. This year, we decided to extend our own celebrations throughout the entire month of December, so let yourself be transported to the continent with reviews of great new books and a series of interviews with a publisher, a literary agent, an activist librarian and an author. To kick us off, today our regular contributor Ayo Oyeku talks to Beserat Debebe, a dynamic young Ethiopian who has created and founded a new bilingual comic book series, Etan Comics, that introduces us to a world of daring African superheroes.

AYO OYEKU: Thanks for joining us on the blog today. Would you like to kick it off by telling us how it all started?

Beserat Debebe: It started with a love for animated stories from a young age. I grew up in Addis Ababa watching a lot of imported cartoons. After coming to the US, I learned that the movies I loved came from comics. Comics helped me learn about American culture. Then I learned about Japanese culture through manga. I often craved Ethiopian stories told in a similar way. After a few years in the corporate world, I realized I would have to wait a very long time if I wanted to see such stories created by mainstream brands, so I took the initiative to make them myself.

AO: You have a background in aeronautical engineering. How does that work with what you’re doing today?

BD: Art and aeronautics are similar in that they both require imagination, problem-solving, math, and design. Their difference lies in how each is interpreted. Engineering is grounded in facts. It’s objective. Meanwhile, art is subjective. One piece of art can mean one thing to me and something else to you.

AO: Can you tell us more about your journey in starting Etan Comics.

BD: As I mentioned, I was drawn to art and animation from a young age. I sketched and doodled. I wrote short stories to make my friends laugh. I became serious about it after I started Etan Comics. The internet, books, videos, and podcasts were my university. I also have a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration.

AO: Where do your stories come from? Tell us about the creative and research process invested in your comic projects.

BD: I draw from my experience and African history. I spent a lot of time learning about African history. Then I use stories to share our culture, values, and perspectives.

AO: Could you tell us more about Jember, your first graphic novel?

BD: Jember was my first story. It is about letting go of what others think of you and finding your self-worth. I wanted to answer the question “What if a talented young graduate who is feeling hopeless and defeated because he can’t get a job gets superpowers in a society that doesn’t like supernaturals? Would he use it to help himself? Does he need to help others even when they don’t want his help?”

AO: How important are African superheroes to the world of graphic novels and comics? What would you say is the essence of African representation in the global space?

BD: Black kids deserve to feel proud of their rich African heritage. And they can only do that when they know about their rich heritage. Not just what they hear about Africa on the news. There is a significant lack of African literature in the world of graphic novels and comics. This leads to a one-sided, often negative, narrative about Africans. That leads to the misunderstanding of Africans. These misunderstandings result in Black kids being seen as dangerous or violent, uneducated, or put in a box (athlete, entertainer, etc…). It also leads to Black kids feeling shame in their identity and feeling like they don’t belong in society. African superheroes and African comics are powerful tools in reconnecting them with their heritage. The more connected they are the more capable they feel, the bigger their dreams, the richer their life experiences, and the wider their impact

AO: What has the general response to your comics been like? Tell us about the sales, reviews, awards and everything beautiful…

BD: Our books have been nominated for Best Graphic Novel Awards and featured on BBC, OkayAfrica, ComicsBeat, etc. Our artists, Stanley Obende and Toyin Ajetunmobi, have also won multiple international awards. We’ve had close to $200,000 in sales just from Kickstarter, gained more than 65,000 followers on social media, and more.

AO: Can you tell us more about Sensi’il?

BD: Sensi’il is an Ethiopian term for comics and manga. It’s derived from two Ethiopian words. Sensel which means chain and Si’il which means art. Together, they mean chained art or sequential art. Just like how Japanese manga made me and the whole world fall in love with Japanese culture, we intend to make people fall in love with Ethiopian and African culture with Sensi’ils.

AO: What’s next from the Etan Comics Universe?

BD: We just published our massively successful African Comics Anthology, Long Distance. We are excited to get that beautiful book in people’s hands. Our next project after this is our highly anticipated HAWI Graphic Novel. In the long term, we plan on investing more in African talent and working with the best out there to publish world-class African graphic novels and animation. Stay connected with us at www.etancomics.com and the Etan Comics Newsletter for more.

AO: Finally, if you were a comic superhero, who would you be?

BD: Naruto. He is goofy, full of heart, powerful, always gives his best, and doesn’t give up. I think life becomes more enjoyable and fulfilling when you have such an attitude.