Netflix retitles first African animation series Mama K's Team 4 to Supa Team 4, releases first trailer for Afro-futuristic kids show.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has retitled its first African animation series originally called Mama K's Team 4 to Supa Team 4, with the series that will debut on the streaming service globally on 20 July that unveiled its first trailer on Thursday.

Eclipse Communications repping Netflix South Africa was asked about the title change but didn't respond to the media query.

Supa Team 4 was created by the Zambian writer Malengu Mulendema, with South African animation studio Triggerfish and the London-based kids' entertainment specialist CAKE as producers and with animation from Superprod Animation in France.

Besides Netflix's first African animation series releasing in July 2023, Triggerfish is co-incidentally also behind Kizazi Moto also releasing in July on rival Disney+ and is also an Afrofuturistic animation anthology take as Disney's first African animation series for its streaming service.

The 8-episode Supa Team 4 revolves around 4 schoolgirls who transform into superheroes against the backdrop of a neo-futuristic city, Lusaka. 

Instead of being on their way to detention "a fantastical adventure awaits them as they shed their school uniforms and transform into magnificent superheroes" the official Netflix description for Supa Team 4 reads.

"Up against devious villains, the fierce foursome finds themselves at the centre of an epic battle to save their beloved city, Lusaka. With luck and an unbreakable friendship, the girls balance superhero duties, doing chores and finishing their homework."

The Supa Team 4 voice cast includes John Kani, Pamela Nomvete, Zowa Ngwira, Namisa Mdlalose, Nancy Sekhokoane and Sparky Xulu, along with international voice actors John MacMillan and Kimani Arthur.

The Zambian rapper, singer and songwriter Sampa the Great sings the Supa Team 4 theme song. The series is also dubbed in isiZulu with Linda Sokhulu voicing the character of Mama K.

The Supa Team 4 main characters are:

Temwe Chiti (voiced by Kimani Arthur) 

Superhero name: T-Mililo 

Komana Mwinga (voiced by Zowa Ngwira) 

Superhero name: K-Bongo

Zee (Zikomo) Phiri (voiced by Nancy Sekhokoane) 

Superhero name: Za-Mpezi 

Monde Wamunyima (voiced by Namisa Mdlalose) 

Superhero name: M-Kozo

Mama K (voiced by Pamela Nomvete) 

ALSO READ: Netflix commissions its first-ever African animation series, Mama K's Team 4 from Triggerfish Animation Studios in South Africa and set in a futuristic Zambia; now looking for specifically female writers from across Africa to write the scripts.

Netflix commissions its first-ever African animation series, Mama K's Team 4 from Triggerfish Animation Studios in South Africa and set in a futuristic Zambia; now looking for specifically female writers from across Africa to write the scripts.

Netflix has commissioned its first original African animated series, Mama K’s Team 4., produced by the Triggerfish Animation Studios in Cape Town, South Africa as well as CAKE in London in the United Kingdom, following four diverse black girls in a futuristic version of Lusaka, Zambia, trying to save the world after they're recruited by a retired secret agent.

Mama K’s Team 4 was created by the Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema, one of 8 winners in the Triggerfish Story Lab initiative competition in 2015, and are drawn by the Cameroon artist Malcolm Wope, taking inspiration from retro 1990s  R&B and hip-hop girl groups.

Triggerfish Animation Studios and CAKE is now looking for specifically female writers across Africa as part of a pan-African writing talent search to become the writers of Mama K’s Team 4 .

"In creating a superhero show set in Lusaka, I hope to introduce the world to four strong African girls who save the day in their own fun and crazy way. Most importantly, I want to illustrate that anyone from anywhere can be a superhero," says Malenga Mulendema.

Melissa Cobb, vice president of original animation at Netflix, says "In addition to giving African writers a global platform on which to be heard, we are excited to present this powerful and entertaining new animated series that brings Malenga's incredible and unique vision to life on Netflix".

"Mama K's Team 4 has the potential to give a whole new generation of African children the opportunity to see themselves on-screen in the powerful, aspirational characters they look up to."