From Lion King to Iwaju: Hamid Ibrahim of Kugali Media on Building African Worlds That Travel - ep 28

In this episode, I speak with Hamid Ibrahim, creator and production designer of Iwaju, the groundbreaking Afro-futuristic series produced in collaboration between Kugali Media and Disney. We dive into his journey from portrait artist, to Hollywood VFX work on films such as The Lion King, Dumbo and Doctor Dolittle, to building one of the most important African creative IP houses of our time.

Hamid shares the origins of Iwaju, how a BBC interview unexpectedly led Disney to their door, and what it took to build a futuristic Lagos that resonated globally. We talk about African IP, ownership, investment, the realities of raising funds as an African founder, and why authentic stories still matter in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

If you care about African storytelling, animation, technology, creativity or the future of global IP, this conversation offers valuable insight.

Highlights:

• How Kugali Media caught the attention of Disney

• The making of Iwaju and its cultural impact

• African IP as a global asset

• The business realities behind storytelling

• AI and what it can and cannot replace

• Why meaning and authenticity still matter

• Building creative businesses without a roadmap

Guest Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamidibrahimportfolio

Instagram (Kugali): https://www.instagram.com/kugalimedia

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hamid-ibrahim-564892a7

Twitter: https://x.com/hamid_portfolio

My Links:

About Stella: https://stellaonithewriter.com/about

Podcast Website: https://talkingtechwithcreatives.com/episodes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingTechWithCreatives

Substack: https://stellaoni.substack.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-oni-065788140