British-Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. joins Japa Diaries to discuss his journey living between Nigeria and the UK, and the story behind his acclaimed film My Father's Shadow, now showing in U.S. theaters.
In this conversation, Akinola shares what it was like moving to the UK at 13 without his parents, spending nine years away from Nigeria, and eventually finding his way back home. We explore the question many diaspora Africans ask themselves: where is home when you've lived everywhere?
Akinola opens up about growing up between Lagos and London, being one of few Black students in rural England, and building a filmmaking career without industry connections. He talks about the resilience he gained from navigating British culture while maintaining his Nigerian identity, and why he believes Lagos is spiritually his home despite living abroad for most of his adult life.
We also dive deep into the making of My Father's Shadow, a film about grief, masculinity, and intergenerational silence. Akinola reveals how creating the film with his brother Wale (aka Tec of ShowDemCamp) became a healing journey for their entire family, forcing them to finally talk about losing their father, something they'd never done as a family before.
This episode is for anyone who's wrestled with identity across borders, built a career from scratch in a new country, or wondered how to bridge the gap between where you're from and where you live now. It's also a conversation about why African diaspora stories need to be told honestly on screen, and why seeing My Father's Shadow in theaters with your community matters.
🎬 My Father's Shadow is now showing in U.S. theaters nationwide. Find showtimes and support African storytelling: mubi.com/myfathersshadow
Topics covered: Nigerian diaspora experience, British-Nigerian identity, African filmmaking, grief and healing, intergenerational trauma, creative careers, migration stories, My Father's Shadow film.
