Adesua Etomi to Star in Pilot for African History Inspired Animation ‘Malika: Warrior Queen’

Following the release of the two-part comic, Roye Okupe and YouNeek Studios are set to bring the story of the pre-colonial warrior, Queen Malika to life with an animated pilot starring Nollywood’s Adesua Etomi as Malika.

Via: YouNeek Studios

The plot follows the story of Malika, a prodigy who after inheriting the crown from her father and reuniting the Kingdom of Azzaz has to fight off growing enemies within her council as well as the treacherous Ming Dynasty threatening to wipe out her entire empire.

Via YouTube: YouNeek Studios

Executive Produced by Niyi Akinmolayan of Anthill Studios and director of trail blazing flick Chief Daddy, the animation will run for just fifteen minutes with three scenes starring voices of Femi Branch, Deyemi Okanlowon, Blossom Chukwujekwu, and Sambassa Nzeribe.

Via: YouNeek Studios

In a chat with Okay Africa, US based Roye Okupe explains YouNeek Studios’ vision for Nollywood and animation

      What I envision and what I would love is to be able to come in on the animation end of things. A lot of times when you talk about animation in Africa and Nigeria specifically, it’s talked about something separate from Nollywood. And that’s not the narrative that I want us to drive. I think there’s a lot of room for collaboration—which we’ve done with this Malika short—and that’s what I hope it can represent is bridging of the gap between Nollywood and the very little, but fast growing, animation industry in Lagos, Nigeria. And even the comic book industry as well since the Malika animation is based on a comic book. If you look at the relationship between Nollywood and the comic book industry here in the US, it’s massive.

Be sure to visit YouNeek Studios’ Kickstarter campaign here. You can check out the first 60 seconds of Malika: Warrior Queen below