Screen · Adaptations
From Page To Screen
Two movie adaptations Nollywood absolutely nailed!
By Angel Afemikhe
Have you ever read a book and wondered how anyone would think they could turn those words, emotions and complicated characters into a movie? Because adapting a literary work for the screen is one thing, but making people love the movie as much as they loved the book is another thing.
However, Nollywood has boldly taken on this challenge. So here are two Nollywood adaptations that will not be soon forgotten.
1. Swallow
Set in 1980s Lagos, Sefi Atta's Swallow follows Tolani and her friend and roommate, Rose, two working women trying to navigate life amid economic hardship and difficult circumstances. When Rose considers becoming a drug courier for quick money, Tolani faces a decision that could change everything.
But the novel isn't just about drug trafficking. It also explores friendship, workplace harassment, family history and the choices women make when survival becomes complicated.
In his 2021 film adaptation, director Kunle Afolayan brings this dilemma to the screen, making the possibility of trafficking a central dramatic conflict. Instead of following Tolani's thoughts through prose, viewers encounter her struggles through performances, dialogue and the film's visual representation of 1980s Lagos. The film stars singer Niyola as Tolani, the protagonist, and also features A-list actors such as Deyemi Okanlawon, Ijeoma Grace Agu and Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha.
The story's social concerns remain worth discussing, too. How much of a person's decision is really personal when economic pressure is already limiting their options? That question gives Swallow more to chew on than a straightforward crime story. The movie has been streaming on Netflix since 1st October, 2021.
2. Ẹlẹṣin Ọba: The King's Horseman
Turning a stage play into a movie presents a unique challenge. Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman, published in 1975, is inspired by historical events in colonial Oyo in 1946. Following the death of the Alaafin, the king's horseman, Elesin, is expected to fulfil a ritual duty. When he fails to do so, the consequences become tragic, with British colonial intervention adding another layer of conflict.
For Biyi Bandele's 2022 adaptation, bringing this story to the screen meant making its cultural world visible and audible. The film foregrounds Yoruba dialogue, traditional music, talking drums and ceremonial elements, rather than relying solely on the English-language poetry of the original play.
These choices matter because the story's meaning is tied to its community, beliefs and rituals. The language and sound aren't just there to make the film look or feel Nigerian; they help audiences experience the world in which the tragedy unfolds.
The 2022 movie stars Odunlade Adekola, Shaffy Bello, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, Jide Kosoko and Joke Silva, amongst others. Elesin Oba is currently streaming on Netflix.
“It's not simply seeing a familiar story on screen, but discovering what changes when the same story finds a new voice.”
Of course, adapting a literary work always means making choices about what to emphasise and how to present it. A film may not reproduce every layer of its source material, but it can invite audiences to encounter that material differently.
And perhaps that's what makes a successful adaptation interesting. It's not simply seeing a familiar story on screen, but discovering what changes when the same story finds a new voice.