TWO-PART SPECIAL OF YOUTUBE ORIGINALS "SUPER SEMA," AFRICA'S FIRST KID SUPERHERO ANIMATED SERIES, PREMIERES TODAY ON WORLD BOOK DAY

ALL-NEW CHARACTER VOICED BY OSCAR-WINNING ACTRESS LUPITA NYONG'O

TUNE-IN TODAY, APRIL 23 @ 8AM PT / 11AM ET ON SUPER SEMA'S OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL

WHAT: Just in time for World Book Day today, Africa's first kid superhero is on a mission to save all the books that have been taken by the evil Tobor! YouTube Originals delivers a two-part special with Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o as the voice of Mama Dunia in the new animated series featuring a young superhero African girl named Sema. The newest adventures of this free-to-stream series are available today, Friday, April 23 at 8:00AM PT / 11AM ET, on Super Sema's official YouTube channel.

Fueled by STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) super powers, the series follows the world-changing journey of an extraordinary young African girl, Sema, who lives in the neo African-futuristic community of Dunia.

In the first episode of the two-part special, "Not So Super Sema, " all of the books in Dunia go missing and Tobor promises to destroy them by midnight. Sema rallies Dunia to stand up against Tobor, but he laughs in her face and she must figure out how to save Dunia's future.

In the second episode of the special, Sema feels defeated after trying everything to win back all the books from the evil clutches of Tobor without success, and she is ready to pack away her super costume and give up being Super Sema. A desperate visit to The Great Tree conjures up the spirit of her mother Mama Dunia (voiced by Lupita Nyong'o), who rekindles her sense of self-belief. Sema realizes giving up is not an option. Super Sema is back, and this time she means it!

WHEN: Friday, April 23 @ 8am PT / 11am ET

WHERE: Super Sema's Official YouTube Channel

MORE: From Kukua, a multidisciplinary media and technology startup that combines entertainment and education to inspire today's generation of children, Super Sema was written by four-time BAFTA winner Claudia Lloyd (Charlie & Lola, Mr. Bean, Tinga Tinga Tales) and directed by Lynne Southerland, the first female African-American director for Disney (Mulan II). Lupita Nyong'o is Executive Producer.

About You Tube Kids & Family Originals:

"Super Sema" joins a growing roster of YouTube Originals focused on kids and family, including the award-winning "Lockdown," and recent hits such as "Pinkfong Wonderstar," "Kid Correspondent," "Sherwood," "We Are Savvy," "Hyperlinked," "Fruit Ninja Frenzy Force, "Kings of Atlantis" and DanTDM "Creates A Big Scene." Shows on the YouTube Originals for Kids & Family channel can be found here.

About YouTube Originals:

YouTube Originals are award-winning, creative and engaging scripted and unscripted series and films across music, personalities and learning for fans all over the world. Spotlighting both YouTube creators alongside Hollywood's biggest stars, YouTube Originals provide an experience that only YouTube can offer. By tapping into the platform's growing global community, fan engagement product capabilities, and innovative content mixed with pioneering live-streamed specials, there is truly something for everybody. Fans experience YouTube Original content through ad-supported YouTube as well as YouTube Premium, a subscription service that offers access to YouTube Original series and movies, a streaming music platform, and an uninterrupted, ad-free experience across all of YouTube. YouTube Originals are available in nearly 80 countries worldwide.

About Kukua:

Founded by Lucrezia Bisignani in 2015, Kukua is a Nairobi-based children's edutainment startup with an award-winning female team working at the intersection of technology, entertainment and education. It's first franchise, Super Sema, was introduced to children in Africa through literacy apps, available on both iOS and Android. In 2019 Kukua launched Sema's Lab, the first African kids' DIY and science experiment series. The Super Sema animated series is the franchise's most exciting development to date, and will be accompanied by real science and DIY experiments that children can do at home.