Iwájú

This was unexpectedly really good! It had really clean animation and the story line was great. I love how they merged present and future realities both the hardships and opportunities. I also really enjoyed seeing the culture (at least I imagine it's actually the culture) of Lagos, Nigeria. From the language to the food it felt authentic while also giving us that futuristic vibe! My favorite part was the tech and imaging things like that actually happening in the very near future. Additionally, while it's unfortunate, they touched on a huge issue that is seemingly ignored by the masses and that is human trafficking/abduction of children. I am glad I watch and that the creators brought it about and Disney put it on the platform...fingers crossed for a season 2!!

This animated children's show is set in Lagos and follows the adventures of Tola, a ten year old girl with a heart of gold. The show focuses mainly on class differences between the islanders and the mainlanders. Over the years, Disney has always been able to do a nice job of highlighting cultures from around the world (Coco, Moana, Mulan, Aladdin, etc.). In Iwaju, they celebrate the Nigerian culture, not only on screen, but also by featuring a mostly Nigerian cast and crew.

If you do plan to watch this show, just remember that it is a children's show meant for children. If you are expecting the next great animated series, you will be disappointed. Although I enjoyed the story and feel that this is a good show all around, there were moments where I did lose interest for a little bit. Overall, I would rate this show a 6/10.

If you are looking for an easy quick watch (6 episodes 25 mins each) that the whole family can enjoy, I recommend checking this one out on Disney+.

Thank you!

Great show....absolutely authentic. Proud of the show, proud of the creators and grateful to Disney for the opportunity to showcase an African story.

Watched it and was aesthetically pleasing to watch and authentic in its rendering of a quintessential Africa (Nigerian & Lagos) story.

Kudos to the Disney team, writers and Director/Producers. They were able to project a different and real view of an African story that is unique but has universal implications and appeal as well.

This will go a long way in shaping young artists, animators, sketch writers and graphics and VFX professionals outlook on how to imagine, create and execute such inspirational storytelling.

It's always nice to see things that reflect our culture on the big screen and after watching the whole series at a sitting also watch the making and enjoyed seeing what went into it. I was curious as to the theme but listening to the making put that in context.

I hope to see more things like this using artistes from the cultures represented. Nigeria is a multifaceted country and hope to see more content showcasing the many different cultures like Hausa, Igbo, itshekiri, ibibio, etc. However, this is a good start. I also loved the fact that this was a work that took almost 4 years to realize. That's not normal for Nigerian movies and it shows.

Thank you and looking forward to seeing more representation. It's important.

Such a cute show and nice storyline. I think I enjoyed this as much as my daughter did. I really appreciate Disney for streaming this and letting it stay true to its origins. It's always refreshing to see other countries being represented in the media here in America.

I really like how they used Nigerian actors to tell a Nigerian story, and kept the dialect accurate to the country. I think Disney should be open to doing more projects like this in the future. I think it would be nice for the younger generation (the one my daughter is in) to be able to see multicultural representation on major platforms, such as Disney.