‘Iwaju’, a First-of-its-Kind Collaboration Between Disney and Kugali, Premieres on Disney+
After five years of tireless work, the animation team at Kugali Media is finally getting its moment in the spotlight as Iwaju premieres on Disney+.
The animated series was originally picked up by Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2020 as a “first-of-its-kind collaboration” with the Pan-African company.


Photo: Disney
According to Hamid Ibrahim, who co-founded the studio in 2017 with his friends Tolu Olowofoyeku and Olufikayo “Ziki” Adeola, Disney’s decision to purchase the show and offer it on Disney+ is “definitive proof it can be done, and it has been done. And that’s a very, very sweet feeling.”
“My hope is that people get to experience an authentic version of Lagos, but also have fun because this is a sci-fi story that’s futuristic. So, I want them to have fun and lose themselves.”
Africa is at the Heart of the Story
According to Ibrahim, Africa will be at the heart of not only Iwaju but also all the stories that Kigali tells.
“We’re telling an African story, but a lot of viewers do not understand African culture,” he said. “Hopefully (by watching) they get to understand it better.”


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Since Olowofoyeku is the only Kugali executive based in Lagos full-time, the team relied on him to accurately depict the “soul of Lagos.”
“I was there to make sure that everything felt authentic and grounded,” Olowofoyeku said. “The fact that the language, the way the characters talk is 100% Nigerian … I’m very happy about that because there is no scene where you will feel it doesn’t really feel Nigerian.”


© 2024 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
“It’s not about showing the good side or the bad side, it’s about showing the real thing about it,” Ibrahim said, adding they tried to capture “all the little details” of the city to help audiences better understand the nuances. “It also allows us to teach people about the culture. And the more we teach about the culture, the more some things become normal.”
Appealing to Viewers of All Ages
In the end, the team behind Iwaju hopes that the series appeals to viewers of all ages.
“I want (the kids) to pick up the heart. To approach something which seems impossibly difficult and be able to persevere through it and know that there’s going to be setbacks, ups and downs … but to keep pushing through, and you’ll hopefully discover something better,” he said.


Photo: Disney
Iwaju is now streaming on Disney+.