Half of a Yellow Sun, Things Fall Apart, Beasts of No Nation. What do these movies have in common? These are all African literature that have been adapted for the big screen. Since time immemorial, literature has been adapted for cinema, bringing the stories to a wider audience.
With an adaptation of Things Fall Apart on the horizon, here are 5 Nigerian books that should be made into movies.
David Mogo, Godhunter by Suyi Davies:
Think about it – sarcastic, devil-may-care antihero, post-apocalyptic Lagos, and all the gods we grew up hearing about. David Mogo broke hearts and bones when he was between the pages of a book; imagine what he’d do when he’s on a screen. In the era where Nigerian Fantasy is a bubbling underdog in all media forms, a well-done adaptation of David Mogo, Godhunter is what we all need.
Broken by Fatima Bala:
How often do we get Muslim love stories done well? How often do we see these love stories getting praise? Broken took the literary community by storm with its intricate depiction of romance within a ‘not-halal’ context. The romance between Ahmad and Fa’iza may have been a tad problematic, but who doesn’t love a bit of spice in their sweet?
Shigidi and the Brass Head by Wole Talabi:
Let’s take a step back from movies and focus on limited series. If you liked American Gods, you might like watching Shigidi and the Brass Head. Now, all we need is for Amazon Prime to sweep it up.
Nearly all the men in Lagos Are Mad by Damilare Kuku:
It’s time we took the bad behaviour of Lagos men to international waters. It’s long past time that Nigerian writers are seen for more than the trauma and action that we undoubtedly do well. Damilare Kuku did a phenomenal job of making her novel funny and that comedy would undoubtedly translate well into the big screen.
Related: IKO AFRICA IS THE DIGITAL PRESS OF UNSUNG.
When Love Visits by Comfort Omovre:
This list cannot be complete without a proposal for a Christmas movie. Nothing is more enjoyable than a December in Lagos, and truly, the romance that dwells in that season is unmatched. When Love Visits made a splash with its arrival into the literary scene, with a romance that’s soft and embodies all the things we love about December in Lagos – love, food, and all the new people that meet. I propose Netflix.
Looking Glass Bullet by Akinnimi Akintomiwa:
What do you do when an assassin tries to kill you? For Samuel Adeniyi-Jones, his first reaction was confusion, yes he was a player but truly did that warrant death? (The answer is yes.) Looking Glass Bullet won the 2021 Quramo Writer’s Prize and for a good reason too; it’s a thriller comedy that takes the average Nigerian man’s experience and turns it into something we can all laugh about.
Honorable Mention: Vagabonds by Eloghosa Osunde:
A collection of short stories bound to change your life. Vagabonds as a movie is bound to bring more nuance and stories to the city we call Lagos.
