For decades, fiction has served as a great muse for several movies around the world. Beloved books have now become rich material for memorable on-screen characters, exciting plots and remarkable moments that feed our eyes and nurture our souls. The sheer joy of seeing the imaginations you’ve formed from reading brought to life through film, as book-to-film adaptations, now stand as a gift that keeps giving. African literature is not left out of this conversation. Year after year, more novels are getting global acclaim, earning recognition and offering great potential for film adaptation.
From the buzz around Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone film adaptation deal to Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s debut novel, I Do Not Come to You by Chance, led by Genevieve Nnaji and Ishaya Bako, the past few years have brought about louder conversations about more Nigerian book-to-film adaptations. In light of this, we wanted to highlight some amazing Nigerian literature that have already witnessed film adaptations. These book-to-film adaptations show the richness of Nigerian literature and the massive possibility of seeing more. Let’s get into them!
- Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Arguably the most popular and critically acclaimed book by Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun garnered numerous accolades after getting published in 2006. It was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2007. Eight years later, it took home the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction’s “Best of the Best” title, which is given to the “best” winner of the previous decade. Set during the civil war, the story centres on twin sisters Olanna and Kainene, whose lives take different turns in light of the Nigerian Civil War. While Kainene takes over the family business and finds love with Richard, a British expat, Olanna develops a romantic relationship with Odenigbo, a revolutionary professor.
Nigerian author and filmmaker Biyi Bandele turned it into a film in 2013. Its official premiere took place at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2013, followed by its UK premiere on April 11, 2014, and its Nigerian premiere on August 1, 2014. Among the top performers are Nigerian actors Genevieve Nnaji and OC Ukeje, as well as Thandiwe Newton as Olanna, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Odenigbo, and John Boyega as Ugwu.
- Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala
Beasts of No Nation is a 2005 novel by Nigerian-American writer Uzodinma Iweala. Similar to its 2015 film adaptation, the book centres on Agu, a young soldier compelled to endure war atrocities in an unspecified West African nation. It looks at how violence affects young children emotionally and psychologically. In 2015, Netflix released a film adaption of the same name, which was well received.
Cary Joji Fukunaga wrote and directed the movie, which stars A-list actors Idris Elba and Abraham Attah. Elba, who plays the brutal commandant who enlists Agu in his rebel army, received a lot of praise for his powerful performance. The film was a landmark for Netflix as it was the platform’s first original feature release, and it won the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival.
- Swallow by Sefi Atta
In Swallow, Sefi Atta takes us to 1980 Lagos and a journey into the lives of Tolani Ajao, a young secretary for a dishonest bank, and Rose, her flatmate, involved in a risky drug trafficking operation. Tolani must decide whether to surrender her morals and follow Rose’s example as their situation worsens.
The same-titled movie, Swallow, was directed by Nigerian actor and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and produced by Netflix. Swallow was made available on Netflix on October 1, 2021, and Deyemi Okanlawon, Niyola, Mercy Aigbe, and Eniola Badmus starred.
- I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
The 2010 Commonwealth Writers Prize winner for Best First Book (Africa), I Do Not Come to You by Chance, is set in the dangerous world of Nigerian email scams and follows Kingsley, a struggling Nigerian graduate who supports his loving family by being a part of his dubious uncle’s fraudulent email scam.
Produced by Chioma Onyenwe, Chinny Carter, and Genevieve Nnaji, the movie adaptation of this book was directed by Ishaya Bako, who also directed The Royal Hibiscus Hotel and Road to Yesterday. Alongside Blossom Chukwujekwu, Beverly Osu, Sambasa Nberibe, and Jennifer Eliogu, Paul Nnadiekwe makes his big-screen debut in the movie. This fresh dramatic comedic adaption of the book explores the real cost of poverty and the blurring of moral boundaries.
- Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka
Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka gave the world many remarkable works but Death and the King’s Horseman stands as the only one adapted to screen among them. Based on a true story, the play premiered in 1975 and takes place in colonial-era Nigeria. It follows the story of Elesin Oba, who must ritually end his life once the Yoruba king (Oba) dies but is sidetracked from this obligation by Pilkings, a British colonial officer who arrests him.
In 2022, the world witnessed a screen adaptation by Biyi Bandele in a joint production project between Netflix and Ebonylife TV. The film adaptation, Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and featured movie stars including Joke Silva, Jide Kosoko, Deyemi Okanlawon, Odunlade Adekola, Shaffy Bello and Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.
