Ekanem Stories Unveils Second Episode of E Dey Happen, The Beju Prayer

Following its pilot episode released in November 2024, the Nigerian animation lab, Ekanem Stories, has released another episode of its animated series, E Dey Happen. Titled The Beju Prayer, the episode follows the titular character, Beju, as he navigates the dull intricacies of a job he dislikes while pursuing his true passion as a content creator, producer, and artist. True to the standard that E Dey Happen has set with its prior release, the episode sees Beju deal with the weight of expectation from his boss, his Christian upbringing, as well as the problems that Lagos constantly throws in the way of his aspirations. 

“I had to spend a lot of time understanding Beju,” Eris Ekanem, the anthology’s lead writer says. “His character is inspired by a friend who has battled depression for most of their life. I wanted to spotlight someone navigating these struggles because, at some point, we can’t ignore the impact of our environment on mental health. The opportunity at Serial Salad is his dream, and he takes a step toward it, but when he finally meets his idols, he doesn’t even get a chance to try. I wanted to capture the hustle, ambition, and yearning that define young Nigerians.”

It’s a reality that Ivie Lesso, the anthology’s animator can understand: “To me, he’s just a soft boy trying to carve out something for himself without any help,” she says. “He knows he has something to offer, so not getting the interview is crushing. When I started animating, I applied to so many companies, hoping to get hired. I wasn’t as skilled as I am now, but I believed I could learn from them. Unfortunately, I wasn’t at the level they needed, so they didn’t hire me.”

By the end of The Beju Prayer, Beju’s dream of working at Serial Salad remains out of reach, setting the stage for an intense internal battle between his ambitions and self-doubt.