A futuristic version of Lagos, Nigeria is the setting of upcoming African animated series on Disney+, Iwaju.

Iwaju tells the story of two kids, Tola and Kole, who grow up on opposite sides of a city sharply divided by “the haves and have-nots”. Their friendship is tested by Bode, a tech pioneer whose futuristic advances hide a criminal underworld he runs with an iron fist.

Other characters in the upcoming series, which will be released in 2023, include a robotic salamander named Otin.

Iwaju is a collaboration between pan-African entertainment company Kugali and Disney+. It is the first co-production between Disney Animation and an outside studio.

The London-based entertainment company, Kugalia focuses on telling stories inspired by African Culture using comic books, art and augmented reality. The stories created by the team “respect the history, embrace the present and imagine the future of Africa”.

Written and directed by Kugali co-founder Ziki Nelson, Iwaju will explore themes of innocence, class and challenging the status quo.

Kugali

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She writes about entertainments and storytelling of all kinds.