Disney Partners with Kugali for Middle Grade Imprint

Disney Hyperion has announced a new graphic novel imprint, Kugali Ink, in collaboration with pan-African entertainment company Kugali. The imprint will celebrate African voices and provide visual adventures for middle grade readers. Kugali Ink is set to release its first two graphic novels, Akanni and Runeless, in 2025. Akanni by Jessica Tagbajumi is a science fiction tale following a young freedom fighter, and Bill Masuku ’s Runeless is about two best friends in search of highly valued runes in their runeless society.

Tolu Olowofoyeku , head of publishing at Kugali, said in a statement, “When we combine Kugali’s vision for African storytelling with Disney’s global reach, my hope is that African comic book characters will become household names both across the continent and around the world—inspiring young African artists to discover the many career paths that are possible in storytelling, comics, and animation.”

Kugali Ink is the second partnership between Disney and Kugali, with the animated series Iwájú, produced by Disney, debuting on Disney+ next year.