Netflix understands that not only does it have to come with fire due to competition from tons of other streaming services, but also that Africa is the future! The brand has taken a global approach to entertainment by adding a line up of African-focused entertainment, and it looks like they don’t plan to stop any time soon. That’s where Mama K’s Team 4 comes in.
Mama K’s Team 4 is a coming soon to Netflix, and it will be the brand’s first African-centered animated series. Mama K’s Team 4 centers around four teenage girls living in the futuristic African city of Lusaka, Zambia (Lusaka is the capital of Zambia in real life) who get recruited by a retired secret agent to help save the world. Mama K’s Team 4 joins the growing roster of Netflix shows geared toward children and families.
The series will be produced by Cape Town’s Triggerfish Animation Studios, as well as London’s Cake Entertainment. Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema, who is among eight winners in 2015’s Triggerfish Story Lab initiative, is the show’s creator. Malenga grew up watching cartoons, like a lot of children, but never quite saw heroes who looked and lived like she did.
“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,” Malenga tells Netflix.
Melissa Cobb, vice president of original animation at Netflix, is thrilled to be a part of this opportunity, stating that Mama K’s Team 4 has the potential to give a new generation of African children the opportunity to see themselves on-screen and even behind the scenes. Cameroonian artist Malcolm Wope is behind the visuals, which draw inspiration from hip-hop and R&B girl groups from the ‘90s, so this is going to be major.
“After animating four multi-award-winning BBC Christmas specials set in England, including the Oscar-nominated Revolting Rhymes, Triggerfish is delighted to bring an African capital city to life on Netflix,” says Vanessa Ann Sinden, Triggerfish’s development producer via press release. “Female writers from Africa who have had their work produced for either TV, film or theatre can find out more about the Writers Lab and how to apply from the careers page of our website, www.triggerfish.com.”
Stay tuned.
