An ambitious Africanfuturist animated feature is gaining momentum on Kickstarter, and it deserves your attention. Crocodile Dance reimagines the Mami Wata origin story through Roukia, a Hausa griot from Northern Nigeria who must reclaim her voice to break a generational curse. Set in Itesi, a fictional neon-lit coastal town inspired by Lagos and Badagry, the project brings together some of the most exciting talents in African animation.

The creative team includes Emmy-nominated director Shofela Coker (Moremi in Disney’s Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire) and Annie Award-winner Nadia Darries (Star Wars: Visions – Aau’s Song), who serve as co-directors. Producer Ingrid de Beer of Lucan Animation in Cape Town, story editor/EP Shobo Coker (New Masters, Bronze Faces), art lead Harrison Yinfaowei (Eyes of Wakanda), and consulting producer Peter Ramsey (Spider-Verse) round out the powerhouse team behind the project.

Crocodile Dance has already earned significant recognition in the animation industry, winning Best Performance Prize at Annecy MIFA 2025, Best Animation Pitch at Création Africa Forum in Lagos, and Best Animation Project at the NFVF Award during Durban FilmMart. These accolades signal that industry professionals recognize the project’s potential to break new ground in African animated storytelling.

Since launching on Kickstarter on November 11th, the campaign has generated over $25,000, demonstrating strong support from backers who believe in the vision. But the team needs continued momentum to bring this Africanfuturist tale to life. You can view the project trailer and learn more about the campaign on their Kickstarter page. If you’ve been waiting for African animation that honors cultural specificity while pushing creative boundaries, this is a project worth supporting. Back Crocodile Dance on Kickstarter and help bring Roukia’s story to screens worldwide.