Iwájú or “the future”, when translated roughly in the Yoruba language (literally “front-facing”), is a collaboration between Disney Animation Studios and Kugali Media, founded by Tolu Olowofoyeku, Ziki Nelson, and Hamid Ibrahim. This partnership is indeed groundbreaking and marks Disney’s first foray into African storytelling, showcasing a commitment to amplifying diverse voices and narratives.
How "Iwájú" Started
Photo Credit: IMDB
“Iwájú” began with a simple but powerful idea: to tell African stories on a global stage. In 2019, Disney’s executive, Jennifer Lee, stumbled upon a BBC News article discussing Kugali Media, a British-based company founded by African artists, with a mission to “kick Disney’s arse” (in their own words) in the realm of storytelling. They meant no disrespect, only that they would take up the mantle to tell African stories in a way never before undertaken.
Intrigued by their vision and determination, Lee reached out to Kugali Media to explore the possibility of a collaboration. What was originally planned as a series of shorts, quickly expanded in scope, leading to the creation of a full-fledged animated series. Directed by Olufikayo Adeola, “Iwájú” represents Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first foray into the original animated series.
The Story of "Iwájú"
In futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, “Iwájú” transports viewers to a world where advanced technology exists against the traditional backdrop of the city. The sci-fi series follows the journey of two protagonists, Tola and Kole, as they navigate the complex social dynamics of their divided city.
Tola, a privileged resident of the wealthy island, and her best friend Kole, a resident of the mainland, find themselves drawn together by circumstances beyond their control. As they embark on a quest that challenges the status quo and confronts deep-seated inequalities, Tola and Kole must navigate a landscape fraught with danger and intrigue.
Photo Credit: Comexposed
Dashing through the bustling streets of Lagos and the towering skyscrapers of the city’s elite, “Iwájú” explores themes of class, innocence, and the pursuit of justice in a society teetering on the brink of change. The language used is mainly English with a mix of the Nigerian Pidgin-English to spice things up and give it that indigenous flair.
Themes and Representation
At its core, “Iwájú” is more than just a science fiction series; it’s a celebration of African culture and identity in a futuristic setting. It is Lagos, albeit through a different lens This Lagos of the future, is technologically advanced but still maintains the spirit of the people and the place, which has the slogan Eko oni baje (which means ‘Lagos will not spoil’).
There’s no Westernized version of Africa to see and this is all thanks to the attention to detail of Disney’s employees and the other brilliant creators, who worked on the series. From urbanization to cultural preservation, “Iwájú” offers a nuanced exploration of social issues that resonate with audiences worldwide, not shying away from exploring dark themes thus giving a balanced and realistic picture.
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To keep things on track, the composition of the series’ soundtrack is just mind blowing. An original score was written by Ré Olunuga, who revealed he felt a connection with the characters. Olunuga has previously worked on “Rise”, “Girl”, Coming from Insanity, and “Up North”.
The Voice Cast
Disney and Kugali stuck to the script of keeping things original. There was none of that training of foreign actors to sound local, instead the voice actors who were cast, were either Nigerians or of Nigerian descent.
Simisola Gbadamosi as Tola Martins
Dayo Okeniyi as Tunde Martins
Femi Branch as Bode DeSousa
Siji Soetan as Kole Adesola
Weruche Opia as Otin
Toyin Oshinaike as Godspower
Bisola Aiyeola as Happiness
Sodiq Yusuff as Sunday Adelekan
By centering African characters and perspectives, “Iwájú” empowers African creators to reclaim their stories and shape the future of African storytelling. This collaboration between Disney and Kugali media represents a significant step towards greater inclusivity and representation in mainstream media.
The Future of African Narratives
“Iwájú” , which was released on February 28, 2024, has lived up to its promise to redefine the boundaries of storytelling and representation in mainstream media. Since its debut, there has been widespread delight and excitement from Africans on the continent and in the diaspora, as well as people of African descent, to finally witness authentic African representation. And as a Nigerian living in Lagos, the significance is not lost on me. “Iwájú” offers a vision of Africa that is both familiar and fantastical, and has ushered in a new era of African storytelling, making the title “Iwájú” (the future) symbolical of things to come.
Photo Credit: Disney Animation and Kigali Media
Iwaju: A Day Ahead, was released on Disney+ and is the behind the scenes footage of the making of Iwaju. Here we witness how the passion of the Kugali founders who birthed the story, make their dream become a reality.
What We Don’t Like About Iwájú
While “Iwájú” has us jumping with excitement there’s just one thing that makes us turn our mouths down. Disney + is not available in Nigeria. You would think it would be a no-brainer that Nigerians living in Nigeria should be able to watch it. I hope Disney+ takes the cue and works on making its entry into the Nigerian market.
However, we take consolation in the fact that it will be available to view on Dstv. According to Okay Africa, “Iwájú” will air on the Disney Channel on DSTV (Channel 303) in two-week stretches between late April and early May. In the week of April 22, a new episode will air daily until April 26, while there will be a special marathon on Saturday, April 27. In the following week, there will be a repeat broadcast of the six episodes from April 29 to May 4, and a second special marathon on Sunday, May 5. There will also be a special stream on Africa Day on May 25, which will feature Iwájú.
REFERENCES
Walt Disney Animation Stusios: Iwájú | Official Trailer | Disney+ – YouTube
Ms Mojo: Everything You Need to Know About Disney’s Iwájú – YouTube
Cyn’s Corner: Iwájú: This is how you tell a “diverse” story | Series Review
Okay Africa: How to Watch ‘Iwájú,’ Kugali and Disney’s New Animated Series, in Africa – Okayplayer
