Iyanu: Screening & Fireside Chat with Creator Roye Okupe

Join us for a special pre-festival event featuring an exclusive screening of Iyanu, the animated series inspired by West African mythology. Iyanu follows a young orphan who discovers her magical powers and a destiny to save her world—rooted in the rich traditions of Yoruba culture. Brought to life by creator Roye Okupe, this powerful story blends fantasy, heritage, and heroism in a bold new way.

Following the screening, stay for a fireside chat with Roye Okupe, Founder of YouNeek Studios and Creator, Executive Producer, and Karama Horne, aka @theblerdgurl, Integrated Marketing Lead at Lion Forge Entertainment. Stick around afterward for a book signing to follow the program.

Presented in collaboration with Lion Forge Entertainment

Runtime: 62 minutes

Accessibility requests can be made by e-mail YWNjZXNzaWJpbGl0eSB8IG55cGwgISBvcmc=.

The Schomburg Centennial Festival is a celebration of culture and community, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This year's event melds together programming and activations from our Literary Festival and our Black Comic Book Festival, in celebration of the Schomburg Center's 100th Anniversary.

We are convening communities of book lovers to interact with their favorite authors and comic book creators on 135th Street between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards in Harlem, New York. The festival will feature readings, panel discussions, workshops, storytime for children, cosplay, photo activations, vendor marketplace, mobile library, and more. We will close the day with an old-school block party featuring D-Nice, Slick Rick, and The Soapbox Presents! Learn more here or visit schomburg100fest.org.

FIRST COME, FIRST SEATED Events are free and open to all, but due to space constraints registration is requested. Registered guests are given priority check-in 15 to 30 minutes before start time. After the event starts all registered seats are released regardless of registration, so we recommend that you arrive early. We generally overbook to ensure a full house.

GUESTS Please note that holding seats in the Langston Hughes Auditorium is strictly prohibited and there is no food or drinks allowed anywhere in the Schomburg Center.

E-TRANSPORTATION NYPL policy prohibits electric transportation devices (e.g., motorbikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards) from being brought into or stored at library sites for any length of time, as this is the best way to keep our spaces & people safe.

AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING Programs are photographed and recorded by the Schomburg Center. Attending this event indicates your consent to being filmed/photographed and your consent to the use of your recorded image for any all purposes of the New York Public Library.

PRESS Please send all press inquiries (photo, video, interviews, audio-recording, etc) at least 24-hours before the day of the program to Leah Drayton at bGVhaGRyYXl0b24gfCBueXBsICEgb3Jn.

Please note that professional video recordings are prohibited without expressed consent.

Also check out other Festivals in New York, Arts events in New York, Literary Art events in New York.