Following its pilot episode released in November 2024, the Nigerian animation lab, Ekanem Stories, has released another episode of its animated series, E Dey Happen. Titled The Beju Prayer, the episode follows the titular character, Beju, as he navigates the dull intricacies of a job he dislikes while pursuing his true passion as a content creator, producer, and artist. True to the standard that E Dey Happen has set with its prior release, the episode sees Beju deal with the weight of expectation from his boss, his Christian upbringing, as well as the problems that Lagos constantly throws in the way of his aspirations.
“I had to sit down with Beju a lot,” Eris Ekanem, the anthology’s lead writer says. “His character is inspired by a friend of mine who has battled depression for more than half of their life. I just wanted to highlight a character who is going through it because at some point we cannot ignore how the country affects our mental health. The opportunity he gets at Serial Salad is his long-held dream and he makes an effort towards achieving it but when he finally meets his heroes, he’s not allowed to try. I wanted to highlight the hustle, drive, and longing that young people in Nigeria [have].”
It’s a reality that Ivie Lesso, the anthology’s animator can understand: [“For me he’s just a soft boy and I relate to him because he’s trying to do something for himself that nobody is helping him with”] she says. “He sees that he can contribute to this place but not getting to be interviewed is just gutting. When I started out animating, I used to apply to companies hoping they’d hire me. I wasn’t as good as I am now but I thought I could learn from them. I wasn't on the level they needed me to be so they didn't hire me.”
At the end of The Beju Prayer, Beju does not get his dream job at Serial Salad, setting up a torrid inner conflict that pits his subconscious against him.
ABOUT E DEY HAPPEN
Primarily inspired by the experiences of young people figuring out their way through Nigerian institutions, E Dey Happen is an animated series about the realities of being youthful and aspirational in the world’s most populated black country. E Dey Happen takes its title from the famous Nigerian phrase that forewarns the absurdities of life in Nigeria.
PRESS
Independent Arts is incubating the first season of the show. For press or partnership requests, please reach out to Williams Ogah (williams@independent-arts.org).