The cast members include Serah Johnson, Okey Jude, Samuel Kugbiyi, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Stella Damasus, Ike Ononye, and Shaffy Bello.
By Hope Ibiale
The creators of the anticipated animation, Iyanu, have unveiled the key voice cast members for the series. The cast members include Serah Johnson, Okey Jude, Samuel Kugbiyi, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Stella Damasus, Ike Ononye, and Shaffy Bello.
Johnson will lead the cast as Iyanu, while Jude and Kugbiyi will join her as her friends Biyi and Toye. Etomi-Wellington and Chukwujekwu will voice Olori and Kanfo, respectively. Damasus joins the cast as Sewa. Ononye and Bello will voice Elder Alapani and Emi – The One Mother.
Iyanu is a superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland. The film draws inspiration from Nigerian culture, music, and mythology. Drawing deeply from the Yoruba people, the animated series follows a teenage orphan girl, Iyanu, who spends her days studying history and ancient arts but craves living a normal life. One day, she unknowingly triggers her divine powers. With newly discovered superpowers, Iyanu joins forces with two other teenagers, Biyi and Toye, as they embark on a remarkable journey to fight the evil plaguing her homeland. The series is slated for release in the US on Cartoon Network and Max in 2025.
Iyanu is a Lion Forge Entertainment production and it is an adaptation of Dark Horse Comics/YouNeek Studios’ graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Nigerian creator and producer, Roye Okupe.
Brandon Easton serves as the show’s showrunner, and Roye Okupe serves as the executive producer, writer, and director on multiple episodes. Other executive producers include David Steward II and Matt Heath from Lion Forge Entertainment, Erica Dupuis of Impact X Capital, Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe.