Netflix has announced its first original African animated series – Mama K’s Team 4, As part of its growing acquisition of content from Africa. The series is Created by Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema and produced by Cape Town-based Triggerfish Animation Studios and London-based kids’ entertainment house CAKE.
VP of original animation at Netflix, Melissa Cobb said. “In addition to giving African writers a global platform on which to be heard, we are excited to present this powerful and entertaining new animated series that brings Malenga’s incredible and unique vision to life on Netflix. Mama K’s Team 4 has the potential to give a whole new generation of African children the opportunity to see themselves on-screen in the powerful, aspirational characters they look up to.”
It tells the story of four teen girls living in a neo-futuristic Lusaka, Zambia, who are recruited by a retired secret agent still committed to saving the world.
Writer, Malenga Mulendema was one of the eight winners of the 2015 Triggerfish Story Lab initiative, a talent hunt for African storytellers. She says she grew up watching cartoons and wondered why none of the heroes looked like her.
“In creating a superhero show set in Lusaka, I hope to introduce the world to four strong African girls who save the day in their own fun and crazy way. Most importantly, I want to illustrate that anyone from anywhere can be a superhero.”
