“Mama K’s Team 4”: A New African Animated Series Coming to Netflix

Mulemdema explains that this idea was inspired by the lack of representation and diversity in anime that she grew up watching on TV.

“By 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 way. More importantly, I want to illustrate that anyone, anywhere can be a superhero”she confided to Animation Magazine in 2019.

Four years later, the sensational anime series is finally ready to be released worldwide on the streaming platform.

Designed by Cameroonian artist Malcolm Wope, the show follows four teenage girls living in the futuristic version of Lusaka, Zambia’s capital.

When recruited by a retired secret agent to help save the world, they must balance their secret identities and battle supervillains with their homework and the daily dramas of teenage life.

“Team 4 Soup” with stars Zowa Ngwira, Namisa Mdlalose, Kimani Arthur, Nancy Sekhokoane, Pamela Nomete and John MacMillan.

Speaking about the highly anticipated series, Melissa Cobb, VP of Original Animation at Netflix, said: “As well as giving African writers a global platform to be heard on, we are thrilled to bring this powerful and entertaining new anime 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 and ambitious characters they look up to.”

The animated series is produced in South Africa by Triggerfish Animation Studios and British family entertainment production company CAKE.

“Having hosted four multi-award-winning BBC Christmas specials in England including Oscar-nominated Revolting Rhymes, Triggerfish is delighted to bring an African capital to life on Netflix,” said Vanessa Ann Sinden, Development Producer of Triggerfish.

This series was written by several writers including Nigerian Omotunde Akiode. It has an impressive catalog which includes “Tinsel”, “Dear Mother”, “Spider”, “Ajoche”, “MTV Shuga Naija”, “Lasgidi Cops”, “Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes” et “Jungle Book”.

Translated by Sandra Manuella Koffi