Nigerian and Lagos-based Creele Animation Studios has revealed its upcoming 3D short film Sopo, which draws inspiration from the early life of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.
Directed by Nigerian singer-songwriter and co-founder Nissi Ogulu, the film is based on Nigerian broadcaster and music critic Benson Idonije’s 2016 memoir Dis Fela Sef! The Legend(s) Untold. Idonije was Fela’s first band manager and friend.
According to a Deadline exclusive, Sopo tells the story of Oyejo, a young musician struggling to gain his father’s approval. Despite their rift, music brings them together, leading to a heartfelt reconciliation.
Sopo, has just completed production and will premiere in a private screening in Lagos in May, followed by a festival tour and limited theatrical run in Nigeria.
Creele Animation Studios is also in discussions with distributors and streaming platforms for an international release.
The project’s business manager John Etienne revealed that the studio is set to develop the film into a feature. “We are already in discussions with prominent producers and financier to expand this into a feature film imminently, alongside other projects currently in development with announcements coming sometime in Q2/Q3 2025,” he said.
Nissi Ogulu, who is also Idonije’s granddaughter and the sister to Afrobeat music star Burna Boy, said: “Sopo is not just an animated film, it’s a visually stunning and historically rich chronicle of the birth of a movement. This project is a celebration of our roots and an exploration of the transformative power of music,” she said.
The film features music and an original score by Made Kuti, Fela Kuti’s grandson and an Afrobeat singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist.
Talent manager Bose Ogulu, who is also Nissi and Burna Boy’s mother and manager, serves as an executive producer. “We believe in the future of African animation. Sopo is just the beginning of our journey to redefine storytelling and make it accessible to all,” she said.
