(Black PR Wire) -- Coconut Grove, FL, August 20, 2015: As a child in Lagos, Nigeria, Roye Okupe enjoyed watching the same shows as kids in the USA; Batman, Superman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It occurred to him that none of the superheroes looked or sounded as he did. It would not be until almost two decades later, as a student in the United States that Okupe would again question why there were no African superheroes, except this time, it was not just the random questioning of a child, but of someone who could solve the problem of the absence of indigenous superheroes of color.

Roye Okupe today is a veteran creative specialist who holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in computer science from The George Washington University. His passion for animation led him to found YouNeek Studios in 2012. This endeavor would allow him pursue his dream of creating a diverse library of superheroes. As a part of that initiative, Okupe wrote and produced several animated productions including 2D/3D animated short films, TV commercials, show openers, music videos and more. No stranger to wearing multiple hats, he was part of a team (as a producer, assistant director and editor) of filmmakers who retold the Biblical story of King David in a contemporary movie titled D’Comeback, which premiered in the US in March 2010.

With the superhero genre currently at the height of popularity, Okupe has made it a goal to create a connected universe of heroes, with origins from locations that are currently neglected and/or ignored. In April 2015, he released chapter 1 of his debut, superhero graphic novel titled: E.X.O. The Legend of Wale Williams, a superhero story set in a futuristic Nigeria. E.X.O. was received with critical acclaim and has since been featured on CNN, Forbes, BBC, The Huffington Post, and Mashable.

KROMA Art Space, 3670 Grand Avenue, a project of the Collaborative Development Corporation will host Okupe’s debut art exhibition of his superhero E.X.O. and other characters featured in his acclaimed graphic novel in an opening reception on August 20, 2015 at 6:00 pm. KROMA specializes in offering emerging and established artists of color an audience and residency. KROMA has recently been designated a visitor’s reception center by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s bureau which will increase the viewership and potential buyers of resident artists.

Okupe is available for media interviews prior to the event by telephone and can be reached by contacting Femi Folami-Browne at 305-494-0166. For information about KROMA and the opening reception please contact Colliysha Alford at (305) 613-6722

Click on links below to see Okupe interviews

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/23/africa/nigeria-superhero/
BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02vjhkr
FORBES: http://www.forbes.com/sites/peteguest/2015/04/30/time-for-a-nigerian-superhero/ HUFFINGTON POST: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-olushoga/3-african-entrepreneurs-r_b_7539266.html