British Nigerian director's film 'My Father's Shadow' pays tribute to family memory and Nigerian history

Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother Wale's autobiographical film about spending a day with their late father becomes one of the most acclaimed films of the past year.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The British Nigerian director Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother Wale were both toddlers when their father died. As adults, they could hardly remember him. Then Wale had an idea for a movie - what if they had gotten to spend a day with their dad? In 'My Father's Shadow,' the Davies brothers pay tribute to him in a shattering father-son tale set across such a day in Nigeria. The film, Akinola's directing debut, has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed films of the past year, making history at the Cannes Film Festival and winning awards around the world.

Why it matters

The film represents a milestone for Nigerian cinema, as it was the first Nigerian film to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival's official selection. It also explores themes of family, memory, and the pivotal moment in Nigerian history when democracy was hanging in the balance.

The details

Set over a single day in Lagos in 1993, 'My Father's Shadow' follows the young Davies brothers (Chibuike Marvellous Egbo and Godwin Egbo) as they unexpectedly find their father, Folarin (played by 'Gangs of London' actor Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù), at the family's home outside Lagos. Folarin takes the boys on a trip in the city that will be revelatory for them. The film is set against the backdrop of a pivotal day for Nigeria, when democracy is hanging in the balance after Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida refuses to accept the results of a democratic election.

  • The film is set in Lagos, Nigeria in 1993.
  • The Davies brothers' father died when Akinola was 20 months old and Wale was 4 years old.

The players

Akinola Davies Jr.

The British Nigerian director of 'My Father's Shadow' and Wale's brother.

Wale Davies

Akinola's brother, who came up with the idea for the film 'My Father's Shadow'.

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù

The actor who plays the role of the father, Folarin, in 'My Father's Shadow'.

Chibuike Marvellous Egbo and Godwin Egbo

The young actors who play the Davies brothers as children in 'My Father's Shadow'.

Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida

The Nigerian military dictator who refused to accept the results of a democratic election in 1993, the setting of 'My Father's Shadow'.

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What they’re saying

“With zero context, he sent it to me and I just had this real emotional reaction. I actually cried when I read it because I had never conceived of the idea of spending a day with my father and what we would say to him and what he would be like.”

— Akinola Davies Jr., Director (Cannes Film Festival)

“It means a lot to people back in Nigeria. It means we can exist on these platforms and our stories can exist in these spaces. It's a testament to talent that's around in Nigeria. It's a testament to the stories that are there. It's a testament to the industry that's flourishing.”

— Akinola Davies Jr., Director (Cannes Film Festival)

What’s next

The film 'My Father's Shadow' is set to be released in North American theaters on Friday, marking its wider distribution beyond the film festival circuit.

The takeaway

The success of 'My Father's Shadow' at major film festivals and awards shows represents a significant milestone for Nigerian cinema, showcasing the talent and stories that exist within the country's thriving film industry known as Nollywood. The deeply personal film also serves as a powerful tribute to the Davies brothers' late father, blending family memory and Nigerian history in a poignant and cinematic way.