Director: Hamid Ibrahim
Set against the elevated skylines and street-level markets of a reimagined Lagos, this 2024 animated series pairs coming-of-age drama with speculative technology.
What is Iwaju (Iwájú) about?
Tola, a teenager caught between the privileged world her family occupies and the working-class streets she still feels connected to, finds her life upended when a small robotic companion pulls her into events far larger than her own household. As alliances shift and old assumptions about class and safety start to crack, Tola has to decide how much of the comfortable life she was raised into she's willing to question. Rendered in a distinctive comic-panel visual style, the story threads together family tension, social division, and a fast-moving sci-fi plot without losing sight of its teenage protagonist.
Cast & crew
Simisola Gbadamosi voices Tola, with Dayo Okeniyi, Femi Branch, Siji Soetan, and Weruche Opia filling out the principal voice cast.
Context & significance
Directed by Hamid Ibrahim and produced across Canada, the UK, and the US, the series runs roughly 136 minutes across its season and pairs a comic-book-inspired art style with a Lagos setting rarely seen in animated science fiction. The show's focus on inequality and inherited privilege gives its futuristic backdrop a grounded social edge, distinguishing it from more conventional adventure animation aimed at the same age group. The voice cast draws heavily on Nigerian and West African talent, reinforcing the show's commitment to a specific, lived-in sense of place rather than a generic sci-fi city.
Where & how to watch
Iwaju is available on K-Time with a free account login, offered with Persian dubbing and Persian subtitles so viewers can choose whichever suits them. The platform's Farsi-first design keeps language switching simple across every episode.