Naya in Makoko
Naya is a happy, quiet, and reserved, 10-year-old who lives in London with her mum, SARAH, and her pet ferret, MUKI. She receives a letter one day – a letter that changed everything, a letter that would take Naya to… MAKOKO.
Naya arrives in Makoko, an area of the Nigerian capital city of Lagos, and she can immediately tell that this place is special. For starters, it FLOATS! That’s right, all of Makoko exists on water – the buildings, including the houses and even Makoko’s school, all float and everyone gets around via boats. It’s like nothing Naya has ever seen – and she takes to it right away. What 10-year-old wouldn’t?!
But Makoko isn’t special just because it floats – it’s special because of the people who live there. Naya meets people unlike any she’s met before.
And don’t forget SUNNY who is fast becoming her BFF and CHI-CHI, FRANKLIN and TAYO, not to mention the other kids at school (you know, the one that FLOATS!). Naya was perfectly happy in London, but she’s never been THIS happy before. She’s never felt such a sense of community, a sense of belonging, a sense of home. Sarah notices the change in her daughter and decides that they are going to prolong their stay, indefinitely. So now, the adventures of NAYA IN MAKOKO can truly begin…
Character Design
Makoko And The Floating School
Our inspiration in setting a unique location for the series was taken from the actual floating school in Makoko, developed by Nigerian architect - Kunle Adeyemi. In the series Naya and her friends will spend a lot of time in this location, and it will be the jumping off point for many of their adventures as well.
The school epitomizes what can be accomplished with a bit of innovation and outside-the-box thinking and how such thinking can make things better for a community.
The series is, of course, set in Makoko and is based on the real Lagos, Nigeria Neighbourhood that is mostly built on water – so much so that it is often referred to as the Venice of Africa. There is a labyrinth of waterways and everyone gets around Makoko via boat – there are water taxis, private boats and even boats handmade from recycled materials that are a fave amongst Makoko’s children.
The real Makoko is classed as a poorer region, but the Makoko portrayed in the series will be a vibrant, thriving community full of innovation, ingenuity, and resilience. The people who live in Makoko may not be rich, but they lead rich lives.