A new children’s animation initiative, Keko Africa, has officially launched, drawing attention from parents, educators, and young audiences across Africa with its focus on identity, heritage, and joyful learning. Damilola Solesi, founder of Smids Animation, announced the initiative via an Instagram reel, calling on families to watch, subscribe, and share the content designed to inspire a generation of proud young Africans.

Keko Africa is produced by Smids Animation Studios, one of Africa’s most decorated and respected animation houses. Founded in 2010, Smids has spent more than fifteen years crafting content that bridges culture, creativity, and education. Over that time, the studio has gained international recognition and accolades, including multiple awards for its animated short film Hadu, which has won Best Animation honours at major film festivals, underscoring the studio’s capacity to tell stories that resonate both locally and globally.

“It is a place for kids to learn about African history through songs, stories, and culture”, said Dami. “This is bigger than cartoons. It is an opportunity for kids to learn in a way that makes them proud”, she added.

At its core, Keko Africa blends fun with cultural context. The series follows a lively group of young explorers, including Dera, Kito, KamKam and Thandy, alongside Grandpa Juma, as they travel across Africa discovering its wonders, histories, heroes, and hidden treasures. Each episode integrates catchy songs, colourful animation and age-appropriate educational narratives that celebrate African heritage in a way children can enjoy and relate to.

Smids Animation’s leadership has emphasised that this project was born from a widely shared desire to see children “see themselves, their heroes, and their culture reflected on screen”, a gap the team believes Keko Africa is uniquely positioned to fill. The goal is to make stories of bravery, creativity, kindness and cultural pride not only entertaining but accessible to families and learning environments across the continent.

The initiative has been met with enthusiastic support from the online community, with comments on social media underscoring the immediate connection families feel toward the content and its purpose. Viewers highlighted the program’s potential to enrich young minds with knowledge of their heritage while keeping them engaged through music, storytelling and animation.

Operating from Lagos, Smids Animation Studios continues to expand its portfolio, balancing culturally rich storytelling with world-class animation craftsmanship. Keko Africa joins other pioneering Smids projects and community programmes aimed at nurturing talent and fostering cultural pride, reinforcing the studio’s mission to shape positive and meaningful perspectives in children’s media.

This launch represents a significant step in the evolution of African children’s entertainment, one that places cultural identity, joy and curiosity at the centre of young learners’ experiences. “Together, let’s raise the next generation of explorers”, concluded Dami.

Written and Edited by; Mujeeb Jummah

Source: Smids Animation

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