Kulu, the little pangolin who captured the whole world’s imagination, is singing his way to the Emmys and BAFTAs!
South Africa (20 April 2026) – The musical score for Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey has just been nominated for both an Emmy Award and a BAFTA!
Composed by Anne Nikitin and brought to life by instrumentalist Sky Dladla and vocalist Zolani Mahola (former vocalist of Freshlyground), the soundtrack blends contemporary classical music with traditional African instruments like the iHadi, mrhubhe, and marimba. The score comes into full shape with an orchestra led by Tom Kelly and Gary Welch, with choral magic from Mahola’s collective, The Feminine Force
The whole sound world of Kulu was born from a single moment when director Pippa Ehrlich (yes, the same incredible Pippa behind the Oscar-winning My Octopus Teacher) heard Mahola and The Feminine Force rehearsing a track called Halala and just knew.
“There was such a huge amount of effort and love put into the score,’ says Ehrlich. “I just knew that this was the song for the rain scene and this was the feeling we wanted to carry through the film.”
Dlala found great pride in weaving indigenous African instruments into the score, which was recorded between Iguana Studios in London and Sound And Motion Studios in Cape Town.
‘It’s been an exciting journey working on the music for Kulu, being able to bring in indigenous instruments such as iHadi, mrhubhe and marimba felt so important in establishing the rhythm of African storytelling.’ says Dlala.
The soundtrack has already earned international awards, including a Wildscreen Panda Award and a Hollywood Music in Media Award.
“There’s no better word for what happened when I entered the studio with Zolani and Sky than magic. Their energy and artistry brought new depth to the score and elevated it in ways I hadn’t imagined. I’m truly grateful to have collaborated with them, and to director, Pippa Ehrlich, for bringing us together,” says composer Nikitin.
Lest we not forget, this little pangolin’s story also helped establish The Pangolarium, South Africa’s first dedicated pangolin veterinary and rehabilitation facility. Awards are wonderful, but the impact the doccie has had in conservation is big too.
“It was a huge pleasure working on the soundtrack for Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey. The opportunity to give voice to this extraordinary animal has been a transformative experience and I’m glad we have been able to highlight the magic and the plight of the African pangolin,” says Mahola.
Ehrlich and Mahola have been collaborating on multiple exciting projects. Under the Sea Change Project, they’re currently working on the Back to the Water podcast about the relationships between South Africans and the ocean, as well as a feature documentary about Mahola’s own relationship with the sea and her soon-to-be-released album, People Power!
Listen to the Kulu soundtrack here.
Sources: Sea Change Project.
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