5
Akinola Davies Jr.’s debut feature, My Father’s Shadow, proves that African stories carry universal resonance. Rooted in childhood memories and set against Nigeria’s political upheaval in 1993, the film follows two brothers reconnecting with their estranged father while reflecting broader themes of love, grief, and identity. Shot entirely in Lagos and Ibadan with a predominantly Nigerian cast and crew, the film became the first Nigerian movie selected for the Cannes Official Selection, earning a Caméra d’Or Special Mention. Audiences worldwide have found echoes of their own lives in its intimate storytelling. Davies argues that African stories, told with authenticity and vibrancy, carry the universal human experiences that connect us all. Through his studio, Fatherland, he is building local infrastructure to empower more storytellers, proving that narratives deeply rooted in their own truth have the greatest power to travel and find new homes everywhere.
Okay Africa