Zainab Balami

Zainab is an animation producer, scriptwriter and Founder of Zazou Production Works, a UK boutique studio dedicated to creating, developing and building internationally scalable brands around original IPs in children’s animation.

She is the creative producer of The Adventures of Zaza, the studio’s flagship animated series, developed in partnership with Golden Globe-winning actor and producer David Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon and the Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated Argo Films, led by producer Richard Johns.

Zainab also serves as a script consultant with Gobelins Paris on a UNESCO–Michel Lafon initiative, contributing to the development of globally benchmarked storytelling grounded in cultural integrity. Beyond production, she collaborates with organisations advancing Africa’s animation ecosystem, equipping emerging creatives with world-class skills, mentorship and industry access to elevate high-quality, home-grown content for African children.

Working at the intersection of creative production and cultural policy, Zainab champions storytelling that supports child development, strengthens cultural identity and fosters sustainable creative industries globally.