Ditoro (meaning dreams in Setswana) is a poetic photocomic that invites readers into a layered, dream-like exploration of connection, ancestral wisdom, and the unseen worlds that linger between sleep and waking.
The story follows two friends, Mosa, nicknamed Tor by her grandmother, and Koketso, as they share a casual phone conversation but what begins as an ordinary exchange soon takes a surreal turn. Tor slips into a deep sleep and awakens in a vast open field, where reality bends and memory breathes. There, she discovers a trail of blooming flowers leading her to a precious gift left behind by her grandmother.
As she reads the handwritten note and shares the moment with Koketso, still speaking to her from the waking world, Tor is abruptly pulled out of the dream by the sound of an alarm. The gift, the field, the warmth of her grandmother’s words, gone. But not forgotten.
Ditoro is an immersive experience into mythical worlds where memory, dream, and ancestral presence intertwine. It reflects on the power of inherited wisdom, the subtle magic of everyday life, and the grief and beauty that come with remembering those we’ve lost.
This photocomic was created by Kenyaa Mzee, a South African-based artist, with support from a grant by Creatives Garage. As part of our commitment to fostering African storytelling in all its forms, we commissioned Ditoro to explore how visual narratives can blend traditional lore with contemporary formats.
In a time when digital culture often pulls us away from our inner worlds, Ditoro gently calls us back to the self, to the dream, to the ancestors who still speak through flowers, fields, and the quiet spaces we forget to look.