Iwájú (episode)

"Iwájú" is the premiere episode of the Disney+ series Iwájú.
==Synopsis==
Set in futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, this original animated series tells the exciting coming-of-age story about Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and her tech-savvy friend, Kole. On her tenth birthday, Tola visits the mainland for the first time and also receives a surprising birthday gift from her father, Tunde.
==Plot==
Tunde Martins is a scientist hard at work trying to develop a protective pet of sorts in the form of a lizard that has the ability to fight and protect its host. The project is a response to a recent string of kidnappings that Tunde himself is in fear of due to his own daughter Tola. However, whenever he activates a large full body defensive mode, the lizard glitches out.
Tola has just turned ten and wants to have as much fun as she can, as well as set up the day for her father who is just returning to their hometown of Lagos, Nigeria. Tola manages to convince her family's driver Godspower, or Uncle G as she calls him, to take her into the city so that she can greet her father. Lagos is split into tow halves, the rich side, and the poor side, with Tola interested in the latter due to all the strange things she has never seen before.
Tola happily arrives at the airport to see Tunde, but he is more upset at the fact that she was by herself as he worries about her getting kidnapped. Unbeknownst to them, a man named Bode DeSousa observes them from the sidelines. While in the car, Tunde shares bread with Tola who asks if they can visit his hometown of Ajegunle, but he appears apprehensive about it. Upon returning home, Tunde apparently ignores Tola's entire setup for her birthday, much to her disappointment.
While outside, Tola runs into her friend Kole, who is taking out their trash. As they happily catch up, Tola attempts to play off the fact that Tunde clearly was not thinking of her birthday, but Kole promises to do something fun with her in his stead. Later that evening, Tunde's investors have given up on his lizard project and inform him to simply give it to his daughter, after he realizes that it was her tenth birthday. The lizard, named Otin, proves to give Tola a very mixed response.
Elsewhere, Bode uses his technology to look at photos of Tola and Kole together and upon seeing the latter utters, "My boy."
==Cast==
*Simisola Gbadamosi as Tola Martins
*Dayo Okeniyi as Tunde Martins
*Femi Branch as Bode de Sousa
*Siji Soetan as Kole Adesola
*Weruche Opia as Otin
*Toyin Oshinaike as Godspower
*Bisola Aiyeola as Happiness
*Sodiq Yusuff as Sunday Adelekan
*Ireti Doyle as Mrs. Usman
*Kehinde Bankole as Mama Kole
*Kemi Lala Akindoju as Mama Bode
*Francisco Polo as Ejiro
*Olufikayo Adeola as Young Bode
*Shaffy Bello as Madame
*Chioma 'Chigul' Omeruah as Chioma, Mama Toyin, Mainland Woman, Hawker, Lackey
*Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku as Hawker, Lackey, Airport Beggar, Mainland Citizen
*Nabil Abdulrashid as Hawker, Lackey, Pilot, Rasheedat Robot
*Obi Maduegbuna as Hawker, Lackey, Airport Beggar, Newscaster, Phone Operator
===Additional voices===
*Onochie Madu Nwoko
*'Kay Peevoice' Akpogho Edeogho
*Elo Edeogho
*Princess Sherin .O. Griggs
*Oluwatofunmi Jacobs
*Rashidat Olayinka Jacobs
*Lola Kazeem
*Abdul Mohammed
*Tochukwu Derrek Nwoko
*Joy 'Bosslady' Ogbekene
*Oma Orhiunu
*Queen Esther Odenigbo
*Remi 'The Reptile' Olutimayan
*Semilore Taiwo
==Trivia==
*In the promotional media kit, the episode was listed as "Kugali", which is the name of the production company that produced the series. The word itself means "to care".
*Tola tells Godspower, "I laugh in the face of danger", a nod to The Lion King.
==Gallery==
Iwájú stills (1).jpg
Category:Series premieres
Category:Iwájú episodes
Category:Birthday productions