Once overshadowed by Sàngó, Ajaka’s story explodes onto the screen in Ajaka: Lost in Rome, a groundbreaking, award-winning animated film now evolving into a series comic book saga.
If you’re a lover of history, anime, or African legends, Ajaka: Lost in Rome is a film that demands your attention.
Everyone knows of Sàngó, the fiery Yoruba god of thunder whose legend still resonates across continents. But how many know the story of his older brother, Ajaka?
Ajaka was once king of the Oyo Empire, only to be deposed by Sàngó and cast aside by history.
Unlike his thunder-wielding brother, Ajaka was almost forgotten, his legacy overshadowed by myths of lightning and fire.
Now, through the power of African anime, that forgotten king roars back to life. Ajaka: Lost in Rome, an animated short from Nigeria’s Spoof Media, reimagines Ajaka’s story with raw energy, award-winning visuals, and a narrative that cuts across history, culture, and identity.
This isn’t just animation. It’s one of the most ambitious African anime projects to date.
A project that has won multiple international awards and ignited conversations about how African stories can shape the global stage.
A Forgotten King, Reborn Through Anime
The premise is both simple and profound. After being betrayed and dethroned by Sàngó, Ajaka is exiled, sold into slavery, and shipped to the Roman Empire.
There, he finds himself thrown into the gladiatorial arenas, forced to fight for his life in a world far from home.
The result is breathtaking: a Yoruba king clashing with Roman gladiators, African mythology colliding with Western history, and a story that resonates with universal themes of resilience and identity.
“With Ajaka: Lost in Rome, we believe this story can start global conversations about identity, history, and the strength of the human spirit,” says Ayodele Elegba, founder of Spoof Media and executive producer of the film.
It’s more than just a retelling of the past. It’s a reclamation. A rebirth of a voice history denied.
The Visionaries Behind the Epic
At the heart of the project is Ayodele Elegba, often hailed as the “godfather of Nigerian comics.”
For Elegba, Ajaka is not just a character, but a symbol of what African animation can achieve when it dares to dream big.
He’s joined by a stellar team of Nigerian creatives:
Collins Momodu, Animation Director, who gave Ajaka’s world its stunning cinematic movement.
Osas Akugbe, Creative Director, whose eye for detail ensured every frame carried meaning and depth.
Wale Olojo, Line Producer, who kept the project tight, efficient, and uncompromising.
John “Bars” Ogbeche, Music Director, who infused the story with a score that blends African rhythms and epic orchestration.
Together, they raised $22,000 in funding to bring the film to life, a testament to both their vision and the growing hunger for African anime.
Awards, Recognition, and What’s Next
Since its release, Ajaka: Lost in Rome has been celebrated as one of the best-animated films to come out of Africa.
It has screened at festivals, picked up awards, and positioned Nigeria as a serious player in global animation.
But Spoof Media isn’t stopping at a short film. The project is expanding on multiple fronts:
A full-length animated series is in development, promising to take Ajaka’s journey deeper into both Yoruba history and epic anime storytelling.
A comic book series is also in the works, ensuring that Ajaka’s saga reaches fans across formats.
For African storytelling, this is huge. Ajaka: Lost in Rome isn’t just a film—it’s the beginning of a new wave of African anime, one that rivals Japanese anime and Western animation in scope, artistry, and ambition.
Why Ajaka Matters
What makes Ajaka’s story resonate isn’t just the action—though the battle scenes are jaw-dropping, filled with sweat, blood, and steel. It’s the cultural weight.
For centuries, African stories have been overshadowed by Greek gods, Norse myths, and Hollywood superheroes.
Now, Ajaka stands as proof that Africa’s legends are just as epic, just as universal, and just as worthy of the big screen.
“Ajaka may have been forgotten by history,” says Elegba, “but through animation, his voice is louder than ever.”
Where to Watch
The short film is available on SPOOFTV Spoof Animation’s official YouTube channel, where thousands have already experienced Ajaka’s world. But be warned: once you watch it, you’ll be left craving more.
Ajaka may have once been a forgotten king, overshadowed by his thunderous younger brother.
Today, he is the face of a movement—an African anime that proves global stories can be told from Lagos as powerfully as they can be from Tokyo or Los Angeles.
And this is just the beginning. The king has returned, and his story is one the world won’t soon forget.