In a world where African stories are often flattened into clichés, Iyanu: The Wonder Child does something rare and puts Yoruba mythology at the heart of a high-stakes, global animation adventure. And it is doing this on the biggest possible stage: HBO Max and Cartoon Network.

 This animation, created by Nigerian graphics novelist Roye Okupe and adapted from his original comic series, Iyanu, is not just another kids’ cartoon. It is a bold representation of African stories and culture that is worthy of the spotlight and makes a bold declaration that African stories and people deserve to be seen.

A Story Rooted in Africa

Set in a mythical Yoruba-inspired Kingdom called Yorubaland, Iyanu follows a teenage orphan who discovers she has hidden divine powers. As evil threatens to consume her world, she embarks on a journey that blends tradition, rebellion, and self-discovery. Think Avatar: The Last Airbender but soaked in the history, language and spiritual texture of Nigeria.

The animation is lush and vibrant, but it is the storytelling that carries weight. Ancient deities, sacred forests, incarnations, this is not African fantasy through a Western filters. It’s built from the soil, rhythm, and the spirit of home.

Made in Nigeria, but watched worldwide

Here’s the twist that makes Iyanu even more special: It is not just a Nigerian animation, it is also made in Nigeria.

The animation was co-produced by YouNeek Studios founded by Roye Okupe, Lion Forge Animation, and a host of Nigerian artists who worked from Lagos, proving that world-class storytelling doesn’t need to leave its continent to soar.

It’s also the first African Animated Series to be picked up by HBO MAX and cartoon network, opening a major door for the country’s growing animation industry. That kind of platform? One would say it is more than visibility, it is a platform.

The Man behind the magic

Roye Okupe, the brain behind Iyanu, is part of a growing wave of Nigerian creative. Born in Lagos and now based between the United Sates and Nigeria, Okupe began Youneek Studios in 2015 to create African superhero comics. With characters who reflect the names, struggles, and strength of our everyday lives.

“Iyanu is a love letter to my daughter where she could learn about her history and her culture, I have always had the dream of telling this type of fantastical story from an African perspective,” He said in his past interview.

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Why it matters

It isn’t news that sometimes youth creativity gets stifled by a lack of funding or infrastructure, Iyanu proves that imagination still breaks through. The series arrives at a moment when Afrofuturism and Afro-methodology are gaining traction. Global audiences are craving stories that come with history and cultural depth and Iyanu feeds that hunger in a way that stay true to its root.

Beyond the cultural representation, there is also serious economic potential here which could mean jobs for young illustrators, animators, voice over actors, and tech creatives. It could mean a full creative economy built in the Naija Magic.

What’s next for Iyanu?

Season one is just the beginning. Fans are already holding for the futures seasons, merchandise, and even spin-offs from the Youneek Universe, which includes other Nigerian heroes like Malika and E.X.O. There’s potential for comic to screen adaptation pipelines, gaming crossovers, and serious cultural export power.

Iyanu is worth watching not just because it is Naija made but because it is good.

Now streaming on HBO Max and airing on Cartoon Network

Meiza Nigeria