African Emoji

Putting African expression into emoji.

AfroStickers started as a personal response to the near-total absence of African faces and gestures on mainstream messaging platforms. I wanted to build a set that felt like home—characters inspired by Nairobi matatu crews, West African aunties, East African slang, and the tiny gestures that make conversations feel alive.

The project quickly grew beyond artwork. AfroStickers launched as a standalone app, featured on Afropunk and the BBC, and even reached local TV in Kenya. It proved that positive African stories resonate when they’re told by the people who live them.

Making everyday African expressions recognizable

The stickers draw on familiar people and moments—grandmas throwing shade, boda boda riders weaving through traffic, lovers exchanging “achana na mimi” eye-rolls.

The sticker app ships with themed packs for celebrations, everyday replies, and expressive reactions.

From a familiar expression to something you can send.

AfroStickers brought illustration and product design together around a small, everyday act: replying to someone. The characters needed to do more than look recognisably African. Their gestures and humour had to carry a feeling that someone would reach for in a real conversation.

Taking the collection into a sticker app gave the artwork a life beyond the portfolio. The app assets and launch materials helped introduce it, but the central idea stayed simple: make more room for African expression in the places where people already talk.

My contribution

Concept, illustration and product design.

Recognition

Coverage from BBC, Afropunk and Kenyan television.