From Lusaka to the world, Netflix’s first African animated original proves that authentic stories, not blockbuster budgets, are the real superpower.
“You don’t need Marvel-level budgets to captivate kids just relatable heroes, real culture, and endless imagination.”
When Supa Team 4 deployed its animated “girl squad” on Netflix in July 2023, it did more than launch a show. It planted a flag: African kids deserve stories where they see themselves as superheroes and those stories deserve a global stage.
Africa’s First Original Animated Series with Soul
Created by Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema, Supa Team 4 is Netflix’s first original animated series from the continent. The show premiered globally in July and its second season dropped in December.
Co-produced by Triggerfish Animation Studios (South Africa), CAKE Entertainment (UK), and animated at Superprod Studio (France), it’s a truly pan-African and international collaboration.
Set in a near-future Lusaka, the series follows four teenage girls: Komana, Monde, Temwe, and Zee recruited by ex-spy Mama K to save the world while juggling school, friendships, and hyper-cool gadgets.
Character + Culture = Magic
The vibe of Supa Team 4 blends retro ’90s R&B and hip-hop girl group energy with futuristic African style. Imagine Power Rangers meets Afrofuturism, but with relatable teens at its core.
Voice casts include African stars like Pamela Nomvete, Zowa Ngwira, Namisa Mdlalose, Nancy Sekhokoane, and international talents like John Kani and Kimani Arthur. The theme song? It’s by Zambian rap star Sampa the Great, mixing flair and cultural pride.
Why Supa Team 4 Matters
Representation with respect
This isn’t token Black characters or cookie-cutter heroes it’s African teens in their homes, schools, and streets of Lusaka, reflected with authenticity and pride.
A breakthrough for African animators
Mulendema’s pitch came from a pan-African talent search in 2015 and finally broke through in 2023, a turning point for African creatives.
Authenticity in action
The characters’ struggles with homework, teamwork, and identity feel lived-in. And as one fan put it, the art style is “cute mix of CGI with cartoon and painterly elements … body diversity is celebrated.”Reddit
Power, Progress, and Polyphony (Online Buzz)
On Reddit, fans called Supa Team 4 both visually charming and meaningful describing it as a magical-girl show with “African girl power and culture.” Others celebrated its cultural progress:
“Young Zambians want to make Lusaka an African animation hub, Reddit.
“It celebrates African girl power and culture … childhood fantasies of its all-female writing team, Reddit“.
These reactions prove it’s not just a show it’s inspiring a generation.
Where It’s Headed Next
Netflix’s VP of Original Animation, Melissa Cobb, says they’re proud to add Mulendema’s “unique vision” to global storytelling. Triggerfish’s success with Supa Team 4 also opens doors for future African-led animation projects like Kizazi Moto and Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes funded through similar talent labs.
The Bigger Picture
African animation is no longer a dream it’s happening. From Supa Team 4 to Disney’s Iwájú, our stories are being created, animated, and celebrated on global platforms.
What’s special here is how Supa Team 4 balances heart, culture, action and possibility without needing a Hollywood budget.
Final Message: What’s Your Superpower?
What character do you want your own children to grow up with? When African kids see themselves in capes, science labs, and superhero origin stories, it reshapes possibility.
Supa Team 4 isn’t just a show it’s a promise: our stories deserve center stage.
What do you think?
- Which character resonated most with you and why?
- Would you like a Supa Team 4-style show set in Lagos or Abuja?
- If you could write one episode, what would the girls learn or fight?
Drop your ideas our next superhero might be yours.
