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Filmmakers Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, Hamid Ibrahim, Tolu Olowofoyeku and Marlon West join members of the voice cast, special guests and celebrities to celebrate the original series
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LONDON, UK (24 February, 2024) — Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pan-African Entertainment Company Kugali’s all-new series Iwájú made its UK debut in London today. Host, Yinka Bokinni, welcomed Kugali filmmakers Olufikayo Ziki Adeola (Director/Writer), Hamid Ibrahim (Production Designer) and Tolu Olowofoyeku (Cultural Consultant) alongside Disney’s Marlon West (VFX Supervisor) to the event to celebrate the upcoming original series which will release to Disney+ on February 28.
Attendees at the screening event included Anna Nightingale, Ashley Walters, Charles Venn, Gemma Bird, Jeanette Kwakye, Judi Shekoni, Kriss Akabusi, Mike Edwards, Perri Drayton Smith, Nadiya Bychkova, Natalie Simpson, Okorie Chukwu, Osi Okerafor, Sandro Farmhouse, Theo Ogundipe, Tomiwa Edun, Tracy Ifeachor & Yemi, Tyler Fayose and Zoe Birkett.
Set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, the exciting coming-of-age story follows 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. 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.
All Six Episodes of Iwájú Stream on Disney+ February 28, 2024
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About Kugali
With authenticity and creativity at its heart, Kugali is an African-owned and operated storytelling collective spearheading Africa’s modern emergence into the AAA media landscape. Founded in 2017 by Tolu Olowofoyeku, Olufikayo Adeola and Hamid Ibrahim with the purpose of taking African stories to the world, Kugali Media has attracted recognition from companies like Disney and the BBC, as well as paved the way for a generation of new African storytellers to find their voices in graphic novels. Their most notable achievements include record-breaking crowdfunding campaigns, a slew of award-winning graphic novels and their upcoming Disney+ series in collaboration with Disney Animation, “Iwájú.” For more information, contact@kugali.com.
About Walt Disney Animation Studios
Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Disney Animation continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, including the first fully-animated feature film, 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and 2019’s Frozen 2, the biggest animated film of all time. Among the studio's timeless creations are Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Frozen, Zootopia and Encanto.
About Disney+
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ offers an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.
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