The Nigerian Filmmaker Who Helped Bring African Stories to Disney

Tolu Olowofoyeku grew up loving video games and animation, but he rarely saw African characters and stories represented in the worlds he enjoyed. Years later, he helped change that by building an African creative company that eventually worked with Disney.

Olowofoyeku and his childhood friend Fikayo founded Kugali Media in Lagos, Nigeria. The company was created to tell African stories through comics, animation and games.

A Dream to Tell African Stories

As a young creative, Olowofoyeku noticed that many of the animated stories and games he loved came from outside Africa. He wanted to create entertainment that reflected African cultures, cities and experiences.

He and his team began developing their own ideas despite having limited resources. Their work gradually attracted attention beyond Nigeria.

From a Bold Interview to Disney

Kugali gained international attention after Olowofoyeku and his colleagues spoke to the BBC about their ambitions. Their confident comments about challenging major entertainment companies eventually caught the attention of Disney.

The two companies later began working together on Iwájú, an animated series set in a futuristic Lagos.

A New Kind of African Animation

Iwájú follows a young girl named Tola and her friend Kole as they explore a futuristic version of Lagos. The story combines African culture with science fiction and technology.

The production became the first Disney animation series set in Nigeria and was created in collaboration with Kugali Media.

Creating Opportunities for Other Filmmakers

For Olowofoyeku, the goal extends beyond creating one successful series. He wants African creators to have more opportunities to develop and distribute their own stories rather than having to leave the continent to build international careers.

Kugali has continued working across comics, animation and games while encouraging young African creators to develop original ideas for global audiences.

A Story About Persistence

Olowofoyeku’s journey began with a simple frustration: not seeing enough stories that reflected the world he knew. By building a creative company with friends and continuing to develop their own work, he eventually helped bring an African story to one of the world’s biggest animation platforms.

His experience illustrates how independent creators can use their own ideas and local perspectives to reach audiences far beyond their home country.

Sources

• BBC World Service — “The Nigerian film-maker who took on Disney and made history,” September 30, 2026.
• BBC World Service, Outlook — Interview with Tolu Olowofoyeku and coverage of Kugali Media, September 30, 2026.
• Disney+ — Official information about Iwájú, the animated series created in collaboration with Kugali Media.