Nigerian-British Film ‘My Father’s Shadow’ Wins BAFTA for Outstanding Debut

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Published by Clare Adamson at February 24, 2026

About the Brothers

Wale Davies is a creative vanguard whose work spans music, film, and culture. Raised in Nigeria, you might know Wale as the co-founder of the Alté duo Show Dem Camp under the name Tec. Alongside his partner Ghost, together they pioneered the “Palm Wine Music” sound, which blends hip hop, soul, and West African highlife rhythms into a new innovative genre that has amassed millions of streams and gone on international tours. Wale paved the way as an innovator and today manages artists like Tems. Beyond music, Wale has directed films, co-produced award-winning shorts, and collaborated with global brands.

Akinola Davies Jr., named after his father, was born in the U.K. and raised between there, Lagos, and the U.S. His work as a filmmaker, writer, and visual artist bridges personal history, culture, and socio-political storytelling. Akinola trained at the New York Film Academy and built his early career directing music videos and commercials for names like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. In 2020, his short film Lizard won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA.

My Father’s Shadow

When Akinola Davies Jr. was just 20 months old, and his brother Wale Davies was four, their father passed away following an epileptic seizure. Wale wrote the film loosely based on “the lack of experiences with my father,” he said. Together, the brothers drew upon their personal memories of life in Lagos and stories shared with them by relatives to craft the award-winning story.

“It’s just about being honest. I think if you live in Lagos, you know that everywhere that you point your camera to is like a film. Lagos itself is such a character, and sometimes people try to reduce it, people try to gloss over it, and I just wanted to be honest about it.” Funmbi Ogunbanwo, one of the film’s producers, said in an interview with Black Film.

My Father’s Shadow, set in 1933, follows two young brothers (Chibuike Marvellous Egbo) and Akin (Godwin Chimerie Egbo) as they accompany their father to Lagos for the day. Together, they set off to collect their father’s wages from the factory where he spends much of his time. The scenes of Lagos are alive and vibrant; one can almost feel the dust, the bumps on the road, and inhale the scent of the salty ocean.

Their day trip consists of their father taking them on a tour of Lagos, sightseeing, and spending time together. Until the atmosphere shifts as it is announced that the military has annulled the first democratic general election. The film explores the themes of masculinity, sacrifice, and family with the backdrop of the turbulent politics in Nigeria at the time.

While Nigeria’s Nollywood is known for its melodrama, grand monologues, and spectacle, My Father’s Shadow is told through subtle glances between father and son, deliberate silences, and artistic storytelling.

BAFTA award

In his BAFTA acceptance speech, Akinola said: “To the economic migrant, the conflict migrant, those under occupation, dictatorship, persecution, and those experiencing genocide, you matter, and your stories matter more than ever. Your dreams are an act of resistance. To those watching at home, archive your loved ones, archive your stories yesterday, today, and forever.”

The brothers’ win signals more than a career milestone; it has brought Nigerian storytelling to world stages. My Father’s Shadow challenges traditional industry formulas and expands what award-winning cinema can look like. Their film has demonstrated how one family has preserved their father’s legacy in history.