Anthill Studios Unveils ‘Temi & The Labalaba Band’, children’s entertainment programme

Africa’s foremost Nollywood production company, Anthill Studios, has officially unveiled its much talked about family sitcom, Temi & The Labalaba Band (TATLB), which is rapidly gaining popularity on YouTube and receiving acclaim across media platforms.

The new series has garnered endorsements from numerous Nigerian celebrities and stakeholders drawn from Nigeria’s creative industry, including notable Nollywood stars, media personalities, and industry regulators.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, has recognized the show as an important advancement in Nigerian arts and culture, supporting the country’s vision of becoming Africa’s creative, cultural, and entertainment capital.

TATLB narrates the musical story of Temi, Barry, Rasak, Mina and Boniface. Their band, set up by 12-year-old Temi with her friends, aims to boost patronage of her grandmother’s restaurant as a significant drop in sales and the imminent threat of eviction by the landlord hung over the business.

In the remarkably produced show, Mama B’s restaurant is a middle-class establishment in the heart of Lagos, serving mostly traditional meals alongside the usuals. It also serves as a relaxation spot where locals gather to watch football and fraternize. It was the place for everyone to drop by for a taste of Nigerian delicacies. It would have been a very sad situation for such a community watering hole to close shop.

Rather than consign themselves to a gloomy fate, the band became a pleasant supplement that helped bolster the restaurant with music and dance, in addition to delicious food and bonding.

The show, comprising a total of 13 episodes with 27 minutes per episode, is broadcasting primarily on YouTube where it’s quickly amassing a dedicated following. It will also be available on terrestrial and cable stations, as well as on streaming platforms Netflix and Amazon Prime. The series is delivered in three foremost global languages – English, French, and Portuguese.

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Hussein, described the comedy sitcom as a deep-sighted creation to bolster interest in Africa-focused children’s videos while nurturing future leaders of the Nigerian film industry.

Despite becoming a clever intervention to rescue a flailing business, The TATLB story also showcases African culture, friendship, family, and education, said the Film Director and Anthill Studios founder, Niyi Akinmolayan, who noted that the film highlights the struggles that parents face in the task of raising their families and how the children’s love and support can help overcome challenges and strengthen family bonds.

He said TATLB was designed as a wholesome substitute to non-African shows being aired on the continent, a sort of future Disney for Africa, powered and promoted by Africans. It is the first of sitcoms from the Anthill Family’s stable, a platform dedicated to children’s programming.

“Largely ignored by the industry and country at large, children’s programming needs to be revived and prioritized to offer wholesome and exciting content that enriches the minds of the younger generations,” Akinmolayan said, adding that such content does not only entertain but also inspires, empowers, and ignites curiosity in children.

He further stated that TATLB is part of a mission by Anthill Studios, through its arm, Anthill Family, to reshape the landscape of children’s and family cinema, by reminding parents of the transformative power of experiences that awaken their children’s curiosity and ignite their sense of adventure and leadership.

“With Temi & The Labalaba Band, we promise you laughter, tears, and enlightenment, and most importantly, a renewed sense of family bonding and empowerment,” the Anthill Studios boss said.

In her comments, Temi Ajamolaya, who plays the band leader, said she was motivated by a desire to become a child actor and singer in the future. The mission to rescue her character’s grandma’s restaurant, she added, was particularly touching as it symbolized what is attainable with family affection and hope.