Someone on the Facebook page asked if there were any African coloring books for adults so I have been searching for the ones that have gotten the best reviews. You can explore more Black artists’ coloring books here.
Coloring Books Depicting Black People & Places
24 Shades of Business
24 Shades of Business celebrates the beauty of melanin and black girl magic featuring CEOs and entrepreneurs. Click to Order from Amazon US, UK Europe or Canada
Naturally Cute Coloring Book
This 50-page coloring book includes natural hairstyles including Afros, braids, locks, short fades, curly twists, and more. The illustrations do have some thick black lines and are on the simpler side but there’s lots of detail to the different hairdos depicted. *Top Seller 2018*
Naturally Cute Too
Naturally Cute Too has 50 pages that celebrate the beauty of natural hair and the power of sisterhood amongst black women. Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada
Africa Coloring Book
This is the first coloring book from Alisa Calder. It contains African women, animals and other scenes printed on one side of the paper. Click to Order the Africa Adult Coloring Book
African Glamour Coloring Book
There are 31 pictures in the African Glamour that include beautiful head wraps and gowns decorated with patterns in traditional African designs. The background includes animals, plants, and ornaments. The pages are perforated and printed on one side only for easy removal like all Creative Haven Coloring Books.
Click to Order Amazon US, UK & Canada
Back in the Days Coloring Book
Illustrated by Jamel Shabazz depicting his life in Brooklyn in the 60’s.
Click to order Back in the Days
Soulful Colouring Book
I recently received the book Soulful Colouring from the creator Sophia Jackson and it is a nice professionally published book that comes in either hardcover or paperback. Each page has an affirmation or mantra from SoJay along with an illustration that depicts the ideas of the quote.
Click Here to Order Soulful Colour
Color My Fro: A Natural Hair Coloring Book for Big Hair Lovers of All Ages
In “Color My Fro”, 31 big-haired fairies, mermaids, warriors, models, cheerleaders, and fierce divas grace the pages of this coloring book celebrating the beauty of black women and natural hair. At each turn of the page, a new natural hair-inspired illustration greets you.
Click here to Order Color My Fro Amazon US, UK or Canada
African Leaders
Coloring and Activity Fun Book by J.D.Wright
Kwanzaa Coloring Book
Black Heritage Coloring Book
This book includes information on Book T. Washington, Black U.S. Leaders
Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, The Underground Railroad, Martin Luther King, Jr., NAACP, Thurgood Marshall, Tuskegee Airman and the Emancipation Proclamation.
Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada
Great Africans in America Coloring Book
This Dover Coloring Book depicts the lives and achievements of notable Africans spring to life in this carefully researched and finely rendered coloring book. Spanning over 150 years of American history, the volume pays tribute to figures in civil rights, music, sports, politics, literature, government, and other areas. Click here to purchase Amazon
Famous African American Women
The contributions of African women to education, civil rights, literature, the performing arts, athletics, and other areas are documented in this carefully rendered coloring book. Forty-five illustrations highlight the achievements of such notable women as Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelou, Hattie McDaniel, Toni Morrison, Ella Fitzgerald, Leontyne Price, and Shirley Chisholm. Captions. Written by Janet Baine Kopito & Cal Massey (Illustrator) Click here to order from Amazon US UK or Canada
The Colorful Adventures of Zoe & Star: An Activity and Coloring Book
Illustrated by Crystal Swain-Bates you will meet Zoe & Star, two adventurous Black girls who just love to have fun! Follow them throughout over 45 fun-filled coloring and activity pages that inspire creativity, promote self-confidence, and celebrate diversity.
Activity pages include fill-in-the-blank exercises (for example, “You are beautiful just the way you are”), thought-provoking questions (“If you could fly anywhere in the world, where would you go?”), and fun pictures to complete (“Design Zoe and Star’s dresses for the ball!).
A native of Atlanta, GA, Crystal Swain-Bates is an author and the owner of Goldest Karat Publishing, a boutique publisher that aims to fill the diversity gap in traditional publishing by providing readers with high quality books featuring characters of African descent. Crystal’s children’s books include “Big Hair, Don’t Care”, “Naturally Me!”, “Supermommy”, “The Colorful Adventures of Zoe & Star”, “The Colorful Adventures of Cody & Jay”, and the natural hair inspired coloring book “Color My Fro“. Crystal holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Florida State University and is an avid world traveler. Click here to Order Zoe & Star
Famous African Women Paper Dolls
Skin Tone Coloring Supplies
- LYRA Color-Giants Unlacquered Colored Pencils, 6.25mm Cores, Set of 12, Skin Tone Colors
LYRA Fleshtone Pencils at Blicks Art Supplies - Derwent Academy Watercolor Pencils, Skintones, Metal Tin, 12 Colors
- Prismacolor Portrait Set of Colored Pencils 24 Colors
- Crayola 8 Count Washable Multicultural Colors Conical Tip Markers
- Tombow Skin Colored Markers
Coloring Books depicting African animals and scenes
African Designs a Creative Haven book illustrated by Marty Noble
Thirty-one large, ready-to-color illustrations, all adapted from traditional African designs, reflect the continent’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. Carefully rendered from authentic artifacts are a Moorish textile pattern, an Ashanti carved door panel, an antelope-shaped wooden headdress from Mali, and more. Pages are perforated and printed on one side only for easy removal and display. Specially designed for experienced colorists, African Designs and other Creative Haven® coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment. Each title is also an effective and fun-filled way to relax and reduce stress. Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada
Traditional African Designs Coloring Book Illustrated by Gregory Mirow
African art, with its striking and imaginative themes, has had a tremendous influence on contemporary art and design. The motifs in this rich collection of traditional African designs reflect the vigor and spirit of this dynamic and expressive art form. Click here to purchase Amazon US
African Plains Coloring Book illustrated by Dianne Gaspas-Ettl
This coloring book documents the flora and fauna of the African plains with 41 realistic scenes (including four double-page spreads), meticulously researched and accurately rendered by artist Dianne Gaspas-Ettl, depict a variety of wild animals in their natural habitats. Click here to purchase Amazon US
Wild Animals Coloring Book illustrated by John Green
This coloring book isn’t strictly African but many of the wild animals depicted are native to Africa. Detailed, accurate, ready-to-color illustrations depict 47 species from around the globe. Click here to purchase Amazon US
Vive Le Color! Africa Coloring Book by Abrams Noterie
Each illustration is accompanied by a brief caption describing the habits of the species; many depict the animals as they might appear in their natural habitat — lions drowsing in the heat of the African veldt, a leopard lying in ambush on a limb, a giant panda contentedly munching bamboo, a polar bear and her cub surveying their icy domain, and more. Several double-page spreads depict exciting scenes of predator-prey relationships: muskoxen warily eying a pack of wolves, a mountain lion stalking mountain goats, and others.
- 72 Top-bound detachable single-sided coloring pad is perfect for the right- and left-handed
- Single-sided with backboard
- Click here to purchase
In Memory of Cecil the Lion – Beloved Friends in Africa
In memory of Cecil, we in Hong Kong gathered a group of artists to create this exquisite coloring book about Africa’s precious animals. Every book you buy is a contribution to their welfare. 10% of every sale is donated to WildCRU, University of Oxford, in support of their continuous efforts towards animal protection.
This book is an ode to creatures like Cecil. It is filled with intricate sketches that soothe as you color them. Best of all, by buying a copy, you have made a difference! You can see more information on their Facebook page here.
Animal Kingdom: Color Me, Draw Me illustrated by Millie Marotta
Many of Millie Marotta’s images in “Animal Kingdom” are found on the continent of Africa and this book is one of the best selling of 2015. Enter her captivating animal kingdom, featuring everything from beautiful birds to fantastic fish, delicate dragonflies to elaborately decorated elephants. Give a rooster plumage, adorn a tortoise’s shell, create a backdrop for a ram, and more inspiring creative fun. The high-quality paper makes it perfect for color pencils. Click to Order Animal Kingdom Here.
If you are new to coloring or just want to dive in a little deeper be sure to read our expansive supply recommendations along with our tips and tricks articles.
*How to Get Started with Adult Coloring Best Colored Pencils
*Best Gel Pens
*Best Markers that Don’t Bleed Through the Paper
* Background Supplies
*Coloring Tutorials
*13 Tips & Tricks for Colorists
These books are also all available from Dover Publications here
If you know of any other Coloring Books that fit this category, please feel free to add them in the comments below. You can also visit the “Woman of Color” page here.
Thanks very much for this list. I didn’t know these books existed.
You are quite welcome Ingrid, one of the members of the Facebook group asked if there were any African Coloring Books so I went on a quest. 🙂 I’m glad you found us.