Nigerian animation is winning this year
An African superhero animation is coming soon to screens near you
With only two months into the new year, things are shaping up to be a good year for Nigerian cinema, with news of partnerships and collaborations with multimedia behemoths Netflix and Sony TV already in the works. But growing alongside the need for new Nigerian-based stories on our television screens, is the need for children and adult animation told from distinctly African lenses.
Earlier this year, Nissi Ogulu’s 3-D animation movie ‘The Satchel’ was released for streaming on Youtube, the film adapted the Yoruba mythology, depicting Yoruba deities, Obatala and Oduduwa, (sons of Olodumare, the supreme being), as they battle for the power to create the earth with the all-powerful Satchel. Ogulu’s aim is to share authentic African stories and promote our magnificent culture; it seems she is in good company as we’re now getting more animated stories about Nigerians – from Nigerians – which are set to roll out later this year.
Finally the word is out! One step closer! Let’s get it!!!
pic.twitter.com/0JbqL9DkjO
— Obi Arisukwu (@ObiAris) February 10, 2021
Announced yesterday, HBO Max has ordered a number of new adult animated series which are currently in development. One of said series’ will be Obi, an animated project co-created by Obi Arisukwu and Arthur Harris (The Last OG). The new series is said to be about a 30-year-old Nigerian man chasing his dream to become an artist while navigating adulthood with his friends. It will be produced by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, Michael Schreiber for Studio71, and David Devries, and is an original adaptation of co-creator, Obi Arisukwu’s popular Instagram comic strip.
Also announced this week is exciting news that Dark Horse, the publisher behind series such as Hellboy and The Umbrella Academy, has acquired the rights to publish Roy Okupe’s YouNeek Studios’ library, as well as to publish new tales in the future, in an unprecedented deal. According to the Washington Report, Dark House is set to publish the filmmaker’s ten-comic African superhero universe into an animation about Africa’s folklore and mythological powers.
This is notably the first time Dark Horse Comics has ever distributed an entire library of African superheroes – and it’s also the first time the publisher has added a non-franchise Black character to its library since the Eisner and Hugo Award-winning LaGuardia series by Nnedi Okorafor back in 2018. According to reports, Okupe is also said to retain 100 percent intellectual property rights over his characters and have creative control over his titles. Dark Horse is set to roll out the first four titles of Okupe’s original graphic novels, Iyanu- Child of Wonder, E.X.O., The Legend of Wale Williams, and Malika, on Sept. 7, Sept. 21, and Oct 19, respectively.
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Featured image credits: Twitter/ObiAris, Roy Okupe
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Fanti Carnival Returns to Lagos This Easter with a Vibrant Celebration of Afro-Brazilian Culture
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the...
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the streets of Lagos Island alive with colour, music, and culture. With roots dating back to 1890, the Lagos Fanti Carnival is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most vibrant cultural traditions, celebrating the deep ties between Nigeria and Brazil through a dynamic fusion of Afro-Brazilian heritage and modern creativity.
This year’s edition is supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, in partnership with Robert Taylor Media and the Brazilian Descendants Association of Lagos. Together, they aim to honour the legacy of the Afro-Brazilian community in Lagos — descendants of formerly enslaved returnees who shaped the city’s culture, religion, and architecture.
The carnival procession will kick off at 12:00 PM, starting from Old Defence Road and will end at the JK Randle Centre, with accreditation beginning at 10:00 AM. Attendees can expect a stunning showcase of traditional costumes, Afro-Brazilian drumming, dance, and performances from local creatives reinterpreting heritage for a new generation.
Whether you’re drawn to the dazzling pageantry, the live performances, or the chance to connect with a rich cultural history, the Fanti Carnival is an unmissable event this Easter.
Tickets are now available, and more information can be found via the official Fanti Carnival website or their social platforms.
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Vlisco’s “The Garden Of Sisterhood” Campaign Comes To Life in New “MAYANGA” Video
A celebration of creativity and cultural
Dutch textile brand Vlisco recently unveiled its latest campaign ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood,’ as part of its women’s month celebration. The campaign, which looks to extend Vlisco’s rich legacy in African fashion and its ongoing celebration of creativity and cultural storytelling, takes inspiration from Congolese musical icon Fally Ipupa’s latest single, “Mayanga.” The song’s accompanying music video was shot in the Ivory Coast, and seamlessly balances Ipupa’s signature soulful Rumba music with intricate floral motifs and soft, elegant colour palettes that celebrate the strength and individuality that blossoms through community.
In addition to Fally Ipupa, Vlisco also tapped up Ivorian fashion designer Loza Maléombho and Nigerian director Daniel Obasi to contribute to ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood’ campaign. Maléombho’s unique designs and Obasi’s striking storytelling helped contribute to actualising Vlisco’s distinct aesthetic and vision of merging heritage, creativity and fashion.
In a statement discussing the collaboration with Vlisco, the Congolese superstar described it as a beautiful experience. “They understood my vision of working with talented artists and honouring the beautiful women who wear Vlisco fabrics. By creating exclusive designs for me and the remarkable women in the cast, Vlisco really brought our artistic vision to life, harmoniously fusing music and fashion,” he said.
Similarly, Marlou van Engelen, the creative director of Vlisco, expressed that it was an honour working with Fally Ipupa. “His song ‘MAYANGA’ perfectly reflects our admiration for the women who shaped us, inspire us, and mean so much to us. For us, it’s not just about fashion; it’s about the stories told through our beautiful prints. And I believe the best stories are always told together,” she said in a statement.
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NATIVE PREMIERE: Rigo Kamp Runs Ahead Of The Pack With The Visuals For “Marathon”
Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun” and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”, the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
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