Historical film ‘My Father’s Shadow’ premieres in Nigeria September

Nigeria is set to host the premiere of My Father’s Shadow, a much-anticipated historical drama directed by British-Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. The internationally acclaimed film made it debut in Nigerian cinemas on Friday, September 19.

The 90-minute feature follows the story of Fola, a father who has long been absent from his family but suddenly reappears to spend a day with his two young sons. What begins as a hopeful reunion quickly spirals into fear, confusion, and tragedy.

Set against the backdrop of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election—widely believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola but later annulled by the military—the film blends personal storytelling with a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history. As protests erupt across Lagos, Fola takes his sons through the city, visiting the beach and busy streets, while they wrestle with questions about his absence and their mother’s quiet sadness.

Through gripping sequences, Davies captures both the intensity of political unrest—soldiers confronting demonstrators, the chaos of fleeing crowds—and the fragile bonds of family. In a moving seaside moment, Fola reflects on his own father’s absence, exposing how cycles of neglect and hardship often pass through generations.

Shot with a vivid eye for detail, the film portrays Lagos as a city of contrasts—vibrant and full of life one moment, engulfed in violence the next.

My Father’s Shadow was produced by Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel, co-written by Akinola Davies and Wale Davies, and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment. The project is a collaboration between Fatherland Productions, Element Pictures, and Crybaby.

The film has already made history on the global stage. Earlier this year, it became the first Nigerian feature to compete in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard category, where it received the prestigious Caméra d’Or Special Mention.

At a media screening in Lagos, co-writer Wale Davies revealed that the story was partly inspired by his own childhood. Having lost his father at an early age, he was just 11 during the 1993 crisis.

“A lot of the film blurs the lines—whether it’s memory, a dream, or reality,” he explained.

Beyond its artistic achievement, My Father’s Shadow serves as both entertainment and a historical record.

It reflects on the far-reaching impact of political instability while sparking important conversations about fatherhood, identity, and the emotional void left when men focus solely on financial provision.