For the first time, Disney in collaboration with African Storytelling company produced a series titled ‘Iwaju’ which is set in Africa, Nigeria in Lagos State precisely.
ABOUT IWAJU
The series, IWAJU is a unique, exciting animated series set in Futuristic Lagos, Nigeria.
Importantly, it stars Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend Kole, a self taught expert who embarks on an adventurous journey to discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different realms.
Also, Iwaju debuted on February 28, 2024 on Disney +
Although, IWAJU will be available to watch in Nigeria from April 22nd on Dstv channel 303.
WHAT LED TO THE BIRTH OF IWAJU?
Kugali-Media launched a successful fundraising campaign in 2019, in order to finance the graphic novel Anthology Kugali, which features African creators from all around the continent.
However, the book became so popular that it got the attention of the BBC who interviewed the Kugali Co-founders – Cultiral Consultant-Toluwalaken Oluwofoyeku, Director Olufikayo Adeola and Production Designer Hamid Ibrahim.
During the interview, the team was asked if they had desires of becoming the next Disney.
Surprisingly, Ibrahim responded – “We will kick Disney’s ass in Africa”
Similarly, in a zoom call with Toluwalaken and Adeola, Ibrahim recounts his statement about Disney. He further stated;
“Many people thought I was joking, but I was pretty serious. Disney felt very repetitive (at the time). I wondered why they didn’t explore African stories, because Africa has some of the diverse stories in the world”
Nevertheless, the statement blew out of proportion and ultimately caught Disney’s attention. This prompted a creative executive at Disney to send them a request on LinkedIn.
But Ibrahim felt Disney was coming for them.
Later, they realised the executive who was Elsa Bocuzzi, the senior executive on the Disney animation development team, was sent to the Kugali-Media after Jennifer Lee, Chief creative anime officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios had seen the interview BBC had with the Kugali-Media.
This contact and the Pan- African Sci-fi animated series – Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, led Disney to accept a concept centred on a young African girl. And voila IWAJU was produced.
Hence, The Kugali team conceptualised Iwaju while Disney helped develop it and later picked it up when it became a full idea.
WHO ARE THE VOICE CAST ON IWAJU?
Nigerian actors took over the voice roles in Iwaju.
The series featured the voices of Simisola Gbadamosi as Tola, Dayo Okeniyi, Femi Branch, Siji Soetan and Wereuche Opia.
See the video below
And here;
IWAJU is the first of its kind. Having African story tellers and Walt Disney Animation combine their strengths, it is no doubt that IWAJU will worth all its hype.
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