The critically acclaimed debut feature film from Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr., “My Father’s Shadow“, is now available for streaming on Netflix Africa. The movie was made available on the global streaming platform on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Co-written by Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother Wale Davies, this semi-autobiographical period drama is set entirely in Lagos against the backdrop of the tense June 12, 1993, presidential election crisis.
The plot follows two young brothers, Akin and Remi, who leave their countryside home to accompany their estranged father, Folarin, into the heart of a volatile metropolis as he tries to collect his long-overdue salary. Captured on rich, textured 16mm film, the movie contrasts a poetic, tender exploration of father-son bonds with the chaotic pulse of a city on the edge of political upheaval.
Before landing on Netflix, the film enjoyed a massive, historic run on the global stage, it became the first Nigerian production ever selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection (Un Certain Regard), where it earned a Special Distinction for the Caméra d’Or. It also served as the UK’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Domestically, it swept the 2026 AMVCAs, winning major awards including Best Movie and Best Director. At the Box Office, it crossed the $1 million milestone in global box-office receipts across indie and theatrical markets.
You can watch now watch the movie directly on the Netflix Platform and MUBI Platform.
Note: Viewers note that the film is a slow-burn, atmospheric watch that pairs rich visual storytelling with deep themes of grief, memory, and political history.