Dallas Filmmaker Launches Animated Series Aimed at Reviving Igbo Language and Culture

DALLAS, TX — For many African families in the U.S., maintaining their native languages and cultural practices can be difficult as children mostly speak English. Ichie Kelechi Eke, a filmmaker from Dallas and a proponent of cultural preservation, aims to tackle this issue with his new series, IHEMBA & KIDS. This educational animated series is crafted to teach children the Igbo language, while also celebrating African traditions.

Now available on the streaming service ROOTFLIX, the series combines engaging storytelling and vibrant animation to foster a sense of connection to ancestral heritage among children, especially those in the diaspora. Eke, who has been active in promoting African storytelling through various cultural initiatives, believes that cultural education should be a regular part of children’s lives, stating, “Their language, history, and cultural identity should be part of their everyday lives.”