Our story
The idea behind ZULA Tribe was born in December 2022, inspired by a very personal journey. The lack of representation and an intersectional approach in his child's life experiences led to frustration for a father who couldn't find suitable books for his daughter.
Our first project became a reality in 2024. Since then, the Tribe has grown, connecting families, creatives, and communities through books that celebrate identity, empathy, and belonging.
As Alain Missala, founder of ZULA Tribe, realized that many other parents were struggling with the same challenges, an idea took shape: to create a place where every child could find themselves in the stories they read.
2022
2024
2023
In 2023, we brought together a community of passionate creatives—authors, illustrators, and educators—to develop inclusive and diverse stories for children.
The Steps Towards Change
In our conversations with families, educators, and community leaders, it quickly became clear: the need for representation goes far beyond characters and images. It concerns culture, religion, identity, language, lived experiences, and diverse realities. Equally important is equitable access—stories should not only reflect children's realities but also be accessible to everyone, regardless of language or financial barriers.
That's why we started translating books into seven languages and have been sharing stories from all over the world with children from a variety of backgrounds ever since.
We also wanted to break down barriers for creatives. Many QTBIPoC authors and illustrators are systematically excluded. By actively involving them, we address the root of the problem: "Who tells the stories?"
This is how the ZULA Original Books came to life.
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These books are not only published but also donated to children, schools and community spaces — so they reach exactly where they are needed.
What started in Berlin is now a growing community that reaches families and spaces throughout Germany and even communities outside of Europe.
With every book distributed and every story told, we remain true to our promise to promote inclusion, empathy, and belonging for all children.
