Once known for one of the world’s earliest iron-smelting traditions, Lejja offers a profound narrative about the resilience of indigenous knowledge, its erasure and its enduring impact on contemporary society.

More than a historical retelling, Ajụjụ delves into the living memory of Lejja — its people, rituals, and evolving sense of identity in a rapidly modernizing world. Through compelling interviews with cultural historians, professors, and the Eze (King) of Lejja, the series weaves together academic insight with intimate, ground-level storytelling. Rich cinematography captures both the quiet dignity of Lejja’s landscapes and the dynamic interplay of heritage and contemporary life, revealing how questions of the past shape the visions of the future.

As Executive Producers, Culture Lab Africa worked closely with the creative team to guide the project’s strategic direction — from narrative development to visual tone of the first part of this series — ensuring that the film’s storytelling honored both the intellectual depth and emotional resonance of Lejja’s legacy. Our involvement supported the refinement of the documentary’s structure, cultural framing, and outreach approach, helping position Ajụjụ as a vital piece of contemporary African storytelling rooted in authenticity and creative excellence.

Ajụjụ is both a meditation and a provocation — an invitation to question what we inherit, what we preserve, and what we choose to reinvent.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: CULTURE LAB