Disney Animation/Kugali New Series “Iwájú” To Air Across Africa

series features music by renowned Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga
plus, a new game inspired by the series, “Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef,” coming to iOS and Android 28 February

Following the debut of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pan-African Entertainment Company Kugali’s Iwájú on Disney+ on 28 February 2024, the all-new original animated series will be heading to Disney Channel across Africa.

Iwájú will air* across Africa on Disney Channel—distributed on 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.

Director 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.”

Says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa:

“Iwájú is a true celebration of the creativity and storytelling excellence that is at the heart of Disney, bringing the immense talent and creative vision of home-grown filmmakers to the world. With the distribution of the series on Disney Channel, the release of the Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef mobile game and the Iwaju Original Soundtrack Score, we are excited to give audiences across Africa the chance to experience this ambitious and uniquely innovative series.”

A first-of-its-kind collaboration with Pan-African entertainment company, Kugali, Iwájú is an original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos and tells the exciting coming-of-age story of Tola (voice of Simisola Gbadamosi), a young girl from the 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. Iwájú streams exclusively on Disney+ Feb. 28, 2024, in a six-episode event.

Also debuting Feb. 28 on Disney+ is Iwájú: A Day Ahead, a documentary special filmed across three continents that shares the story of the founders of the Pan-African entertainment company, Kugali, who made their dream a reality creating an original animation series with Walt Disney Animation Studios. Created by the ABC News Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios team that brought you “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2,” the documentary shows anything is possible when talent meets opportunity. Iwájú: A Day Ahead is directed by Megan Harding and executive produced by Amy Astley and Beth Hoppe.

Kugali filmmakers — including director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, production designer Hamid Ibrahim and cultural consultant Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku—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, Femi Branch and Weruche Opia.

Soundtrack Available Digitally 1 March
The series’ authentic African-influenced music is by renowned Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga, whose credits include music for the 2022 Disney+ original movie “Rise” and the BBC film “Girl.”

“I rarely bring my own emotions into writing a score,” he said. “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. In addition to Tola’s adventurous spirit, Kole’s ingenuity and the many other fun and beautiful emotional threads explored in Iwájú — the score is steeped in my own very deep love for Lagos and its multiplicitous layers. 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.”

Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef Game Available 28 February 
Also revealed today is an all-new game inspired by the animated series. Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef will 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 will be available for iOS and Android on Feb. 28, to coincide with the debut of the Disney+ series. ​

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