Pan-African entertainment company, Kugali and global entertainment company, Disney Animation Studios recently held the world premiere of its new series, ‘Iwaju’ in Lagos, Nigeria at the Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX Lekki.
According to the producers of the series, ‘Iwájú’ will air across Africa on Disney Channel, distributed on the DStv platform (Channel 303) this April and May, giving viewers across the continent an opportunity to view the series in territories where Disney+ is not available.
Speaking at the premiere, Filmmakers and the Director of the movie, Olufikayo Ziki Adeola said, “We created ‘Iwájú’ as a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria, and an ode to the rich legacy of African storytelling. We’re proud to share this series and hope that it inspires more Africans across the world to share their stories and shape our collective narrative.”
The series soundtrack is African music by a Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga, whose credits include music for the 2022 Disney+ original movie ‘Rise’ and the BBC film ‘Girl’.
Speaking on the music he said, “I rarely bring my own emotions into writing a score. I tend to inhabit the emotions of the characters or subjects and then translate them into music. In this case, it couldn’t be avoided.
“It also includes many treats and winks for anyone familiar with or curious about the film music lexicon of Nollywood. Being invited by Ziki and the amazing teams at Disney and Kugali to help tell this beautiful coming-of-age story that explores themes of family, friendship and ingenuity has been an amazing adventure in itself.”
The series is set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, the exciting coming-of-age story follows Tola (voice of Simisola Gbadamosi), a young girl from a wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole (voice of Siji Soetan), a self-taught tech expert, as they discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds.
Kugali filmmakers take viewers on a unique journey into the world of “Iwájú,” bursting with unique visual elements and technological advancements inspired by the spirit of Lagos. Produced by Disney Animation’s Christina Chen with a screenplay by Adeola and Halima Hudson, “Iwájú” also features the voices of Dayo Okeniyi, Shaffy Belo and Weruche Opia.
According to reports,
an all-new cooking game inspired by the animated series. “Disney Iwájú called ‘Rising Chef’. The game is set to take players into the world of “Iwájú” and allow them to explore authentic African delicacies through this fast-paced and accessible cooking game that celebrates the culture and cuisine of Nigeria.
Developed by Maliyo Games in collaboration with Disney and Kugali, “Iwájú: Rising Chef” will allow players to advance their culinary skills, become the best chef in Lagos, and take over the fanciest restaurant in town. “Iwájú: Rising Chef” is available for iOS and Android from Feb. 28 to coincide with the debut of the Disney+ series.