How to Watch ‘Iwájú,’ Kugali and Disney’s New Animated Series, in Africa

After months of anticipation, Iwájú, the animated limited series helmed by Kugali Studios and Disney Animation, will be premiering on Disney+ on February 28. The six-episode show follows the adventures of the wide-eyed, privileged Tola and her poorer best friend Kole.

Operating in 107 countries across 12 territories, Disney+ will be taking Iwájú to a wide audience across North America, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific, and many other territories. However, for a show that centers a Nigerian story, Iwájú will not be immediately available to watch in Nigeria because Disney+ isn’t available in the country. This has already caused grumbles on social media from Nigerians who are disappointed that a sci-fi show set in Lagos, Nigeria can’t be watched on-demand locally.

On X (formerly known as Twitter), user @temtoyourscreen stated, “Disney created an animation film that’s Nigerian inspired called “Iwaju.” But guess what? Disney+ is not available in Nigeria.” X user @artnerdx hoped the release of Iwájú would mark the launch of Disney+ in Nigeria, adding that, “I guess I expected too much, but looking forward to the series regardless; need to rep my friends who worked on this historic project.”

Currently, Disney+ is available on the continent only in South Africa and four countries in North Africa. There is no news about upcoming expansion plans for Disney+ into Nigeria and more African countries, which means Iwájú won’t be available on-demand in most of Sub-Saharan Africa in the near future. However, there’s an alternative that will enable Nigerians and more Africans to watch the show.

Iwájú will air on the Disney Channel on DSTV (Channel 303) in two-week stretches between late April and early May. In the week of April 22, a new episode will air daily until April 26, while there will be a special marathon on Saturday, April 27. In the following week, there will be a repeat broadcast of the six episodes from April 29 to May 4, and a second special marathon on Sunday, May 5. There will also be a special stream on Africa Day on May 25, which will feature Iwájú.

The times for these airings on DSTV have yet to be shared; OkayAfrica will share updates as soon as we get more details.

Thematically layered, Iwájú touches on financial class relations, the scourge of kidnapping, familial bonds, childlike curiosity and more. Set in a futuristic version of Lagos, the distinct cultural and visual hallmarks of the commercial capital of Nigeria are deeply embedded in the series. Its voice cast consists of Nigerian actors, including Nollywood veteran Femi Branch as the villain Bode, and newcomers Simisola Gbadamosi and Siji Soetan as Tola and Kole, respectively.

“I’m very proud to say the voices you’re going to hear are homegrown,” casting director Kemi Lala Akindoju says in the documentary feature, A Day Before: The Making of Iwájú. “She’s pretty much me in animated form,” Gbadamosi says of her character Tola. The central gambit of Iwájú is authenticity, a distinctly Nigerian story executed on a world-class level.