Welcome Iwájú, set in the beautiful futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, the 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.
As seen in the colorful trailer above, Iwájú is a mix of creative alchemy, that blends the rich cultural tapestry of Lagos with imaginative leaps into the future. We are introduced to Tola, a young child given an iguana for her birthday. On a trip to Lago, Nigeria, she and Kole take in the beautiful sights of the city and the carious street markets. However, something goes array and not everything is not what it seems, including the pet iguana. There’s scenes of fighting, high-tech machinery and a possible spy mission.
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.
First announced at D23, the collaboration has been described as “nothing short of magical” by Adeola. “The heartbeat of my hometown resonates through every scene, and I am thrilled for the world to experience this unique fusion of tradition and futurism.”
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.
In addition to the trailer release, the soundtrack will be available digitally on March 1st. 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.”
Lastly, 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 February 28th, to coincide with the debut of the Disney+ series.
