The son of America's richest Black billionaire just secured $30 million for his Nigerian mythology franchise

Lion Forge Entertainment, the studio founded by David Steward II, son of America's richest Black billionaire David Steward, has closed a fresh wave of international distribution deals for Iyanu, its animated series rooted in Nigerian mythology, extending the franchise's reach as the company scales up production following a $30 million investment.

Lion Forge announced new distribution agreements this week covering Canada, where Iyanu will premiere on CBC Gem in August, the Middle East, where MBC will carry the series starting in October, and the Pan Baltics region in Europe through Duo Media Networks' Kidzone Max, where it has already begun airing. The deals extend a franchise that is now airing its second season on Cartoon Network and HBO Max in the United States after its debut season became what the company describes as a cultural standout with strong ratings and engagement across platforms.

The expansion follows a $30 million investment in Lion Forge led by HarbourView Equity Partners, with Steward II's family office and investment firm Polarity participating in the round. Steward II and Polarity remain Lion Forge's majority owners. HarbourView chief executive Sherrese Clarke said the investment reflects confidence in Lion Forge's ability to build global franchises from authentic storytelling. "This is a unique moment in the kids and family space and Lion Forge is seizing an opportunity to lean into its ability to tell compelling stories authentically and cultivate global franchises at scale," Clarke said.

Iyanu is adapted from Roye Okupe's graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder, published by YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics, the publisher behind The Umbrella Academy and Hellboy. Okupe, who was born and raised in Nigeria, created the series and serves as showrunner. It follows a teenage orphan who discovers her divine powers and her destiny to protect the ancient kingdom of Yorubaland, drawing on Yoruba culture, Nigerian mythology and an entirely Nigerian voice cast led by Serah Johnson in the title role.

Season two premiered on Cartoon Network on March 21 and HBO Max the following day, introducing ten new episodes built around a conflict between Iyanu and Queen Adura, a new antagonist leading a faction called the People of the Deep. "Season two raises the stakes in every way, emotionally, visually and narratively, as Iyanu steps fully into her role as protector of Yorubaland," Steward II said when the season was announced. The franchise has since expanded into feature films, with the prequel movie Iyanu: The War of Twin Princes debuting on Cartoon Network on July 11, exploring the origins of Queen Adura and the conflict shaping the second season.

The series has picked up two NAACP Image Awards, for Outstanding Children's Program and Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special, and won the MIPAfrica Inclusive Lens Award in the Older Kids category. It airs internationally on Showmax across 44 African countries, ITVX in the United Kingdom, ABC iview in Australia under a deal Lion Forge closed with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and across the Middle East and North Africa on Ejunior Kids TV and STARZPLAY.

Steward II, who also serves as Lion Forge's chief executive, has built the company into one of the most prominent Black-owned producers of children's and family entertainment in the United States, with an Oscar win for the short film Hair Love already on its résumé before Iyanu's success. His father, David Steward, holds an $11.4 billion fortune built through World Wide Technology, the IT services company he founded in 1990, and is recognised by Forbes as the wealthiest Black American. The younger Steward has built an entertainment and media career entirely independent of his father's technology empire, with Lion Forge's expanding slate, now including The Wingfeather Saga, a separate fantasy franchise that recently secured its own distribution renewal in France through Canal Plus, positioning the studio as a multi-franchise operation rather than a single-show production house.