THE POWER OF LOCAL STORYTELLING IN NIGERIAN ANIMATION

Storytelling has always been at the heart of Nigerian culture. From moonlight tales shared in village squares to the vibrant Nollywood industry, our stories have shaped how we see ourselves and how the world sees us. Today, Nigerian animation is carrying that tradition into a new frontier, proving that local storytelling is not only powerful but also timeless. One of the biggest strengths of Nigerian animation is its ability to capture the everyday realities of our people and present them in ways that resonate with both local and international audiences. When a child hears Pidgin English in an animated short or sees familiar Lagos danfos racing across the screen, the story immediately feels closer, more relatable and more memorable. It is this cultural authenticity that makes Nigerian animation stand out in a sea of global content. We have already seen how powerful this can be in works like Ladybuckit and the Motley Mopsters which reimagined childhood lessons through a uniquely Nigerian lens. More recently, the Disney and Kugali collaboration Iwájú placed Lagos on the world stage with a futuristic tale rooted in Nigerian culture, further proving that our stories are not only relevant but also globally appealing. Audiences are responding with pride. Social media reactions show that Nigerians feel deeply connected to animated stories that reflect their lives, their languages and their values. For a long time, animation was seen as something “foreign,” but local storytelling has changed that perception. By anchoring stories in our realities, Nigerian animators are not just entertaining, they are building cultural exports, creating educational tools and inspiring a new generation of creatives. The power of local storytelling lies in its truth. It shows that animation does not need to imitate Hollywood or Japan to succeed. It simply needs to be authentic, rooted in our identity and bold enough to let the world see Nigeria through our eyes and as the Nigerian animation industry continues to grow, one thing is certain, our stories will travel further than ever before.