Nigeria’s Creele Animation Studios, co-founded by Nissi Ogulu, unveils SOPO, a 3D-animated Afrobeat-inspired short film celebrating music, legacy, and African creativity on the global stage.
Set to premiere this year, SOPO (meaning Connect in Yoruba) is more than just another animated short, it’s a celebration of music, identity, and generational legacy, told with the kind of heart, rhythm, and authenticity that only African creators can deliver.
The film, produced and directed by Nissi Ogulu, Nigerian singer-songwriter and co-founder of Creele Animation Studios, reimagines fragments of Afrobeat history through a deeply personal lens.
Inspired by “Dis Fela Sef! The Legend(s) Untold”, a memoir written by Benson Idonije, Fela Kuti’s longtime friend and first manager, the film retells the rise of a musical movement but through the story of Oyejo, a young musician struggling for his father Dotun’s recognition.
As the story unfolds, SOPO moves from generational tension to emotional reconciliation, painting a heartfelt picture of ambition, artistry, and the bridge between old and new.
It’s a story about sound and soul, about fathers and sons, and about how connection “SOPO” remains at the core of human experience.
Ogulu describes SOPO as “a visually stunning and historically rich chronicle of the birth of a movement.”
And she’s right the film pulsates with the energy of Afrobeat, blending rhythm, rebellion, and raw emotion into a cinematic experience that feels both nostalgic and new.
Produced entirely in Lagos, Nigeria, SOPO features an impressive lineup of talents. The film’s original score is composed by Afrobeat artist Made Kuti, carrying forward the Kuti family’s legacy of music and activism, while Bose Ogulu world-renowned talent manager and executive producer brings her industry expertise and vision to the project.
Behind the scenes, Creele’s Business Manager, John Etienne, emphasizes the studio’s mission to bring African animation to the global mainstream.
“Nollywood is already the third-largest film market in the world,” he notes. “At Creele, our mission is simple to produce African animation for a global audience. Incredible stories are waiting to be told, and it would be unfair to keep them hidden.”
Following its private premiere in Lagos, SOPO is set to embark on an international festival tour, with plans already in motion for a limited theatrical release in Nigeria.
Negotiations are also underway with streaming platforms eager to distribute the short globally.
From its lush animation to its heartfelt storytelling, SOPO isn’t just a film, it’s a movement. It connects past and present, rhythm and silence, parent and child.
It’s a story about the power of art to heal, to inspire, and to connect just as its name promises.
As the world prepares to experience SOPO, one thing is clear: African animation has found its voice, and it’s singing louder, prouder, and more powerfully than ever before.
From rhythm to roots, SOPO reminds us that every beat tells a story. What part of Africa’s story do you think the world needs to hear next?