“Iwájú”, when Disney+ showcases a futuristic Lagos thanks to the pan-African studio Kugali
“Iwájú” is the name of the first animated series entirely “made in Africa” broadcast by Disney+, the American streaming platform.
Produced by the pan-African studio Kugali, “Iwájú” which means “the future” in Yoruba relates the setbacks of a little girl from Lagos, Nigeria.
This is the first time in a century of history that Disney has collaborated with another animation studio, and this one is African.
“Iwájú”, series broadcast by Disney+, produced by the pan-African studio Kugali.
©Disney
By: Olivier Rogez Follow
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Tola, ten years old, lives in Lagos Island, the wealthy district of the Nigerian megacity.
With his friend Kole, 13, who lives in Mailand, the poor town, they will try to thwart the activities of a criminal specializing in kidnappings for ransom.
Inspired by a real news story,
Iwájú
depicts a futuristic Lagos where street vendors are aboard drones and cars fly to escape traffic jams.
Designed by the Kugali studio founded by Ugandan Hamid Ibrahim and Nigerians Olufikayo Ziki Adeola and Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku,
Iwájú
was initially a simple futuristic comic book.
In 2019, Hamid Ibrahim presented this comic during a television report, brazenly claiming that his work would “
kick Disney’s butt
”.
Jennifer Lee, creative director at Disney, saw the report and contacted the Ugandan.
From there the idea of a six-episode animated series was born.
For the Kugali studio, the stakes are enormous.
He sees the immense international market opening up.
While Disney, for which this is the first collaboration with a foreign studio, is getting a little closer to the African video-on-demand market.
Today sub-Saharan Africa has 7 million paying subscribers to VOD platforms.
There will be 16 million in five years.
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