How Nigerian Audiences Interprete The Symbols and References in ‘My Father’s Shadow’

My Father’s Shadow by Akinola Davies Jr. is a film that is layered with symbolism from start to finish. During its theatrical run in Nigeria (distributed by FilmOne), many viewers came out of the cinema with diverse interpretations. Some of these interpretations caused debates within circles, as well as online discussions.

What Kept Me Up hosted a space on Twitter on October 13, 2025, in partnership with Fatherland Productions, an avenue for the audience to exchange thoughts and theories about the film. What Kept Me Up was represented by managing editor Eva Anya, while Desola, the Communications Director, represented Fatherland Productions. The space also featured crew members of the film: Ade Oshin (First Assistant Director) and Jermaine Edwards (cinematographer).

My Father’s Shadow follows the lives of two young brothers and their relationship with their father during a day out in Lagos, set against the backdrop of the 1993 Nigerian elections. In his review of My Father’s Shadow for What Kept Me Up, Osamudiamen Joe describes Davies Jr.’s work as digging up fragments of personal and collective histories and a moving story about fatherhood, memory, and the Nigerian experience.

Before going into the symbolism discussed during the 2-hour space, one of the emphasised points is the importance of watching a movie more than once. Movies are usually filled with beautiful ideas from filmmakers. As cinephiles, when we revisit these films and watch them multiple times, we might just come to appreciate their beauty even more.

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Some of the symbolism in My Father’s Shadow includes (SPOILERS AHEAD):

1. Birds: At several moments in the movie, there are shots of groups of birds in the sky circling the lead characters. What does this represent? A speaker suggested that the birds appear as a sign of an impending event. A deeper interpretation could be that the birds circling Folarin (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) resemble how vultures surround a dead body, almost serving as a clue to Folarin’s presence in the movie and questioning the state he is in: dead or alive.
2. Bola’s Presence: During the film, there are quick shots of the children’s mother, Bola (played by Wini Efon). Some viewers interpreted this as an indication that she was dead, but that is not the case. She appears as an anchor to reality, the reality in which the father has died, and she is in mourning clothes. Her presence suggests that she is grieving her husband, Folarin.
3. Blood: When the Bonny Camp incident is brought up in the film around Folarin, he has a bleeding nose and coughs up blood. Why? This moment serves as a medium for the filmmakers to hint that Folarin did not actually survive the Bonny Camp incident (The massacre of protesters following the annulment of the 1993 elections), and the events in the present may be spiritual.
4. Akúdáyàá: This is a term in Yoruba mythology used to describe a person who returns to life due to unfinished business. Various events in the movie point to Folarin being an Akúdáyàá. In the opening sequence, we see the mourning cloth for Folarin’s burial, an object used at the end of the film for Folarin’s burial, yet Folarin is also shown at the beginning. How can we witness Folarin alive while simultaneously being presented with the mourning cloth for his burial in the same opening sequence? Ade Oshin, the Assistant Director, mentioned during the Space on Twitter that one of the ideas behind the story is that children are closer to the supernatural. This could explain why the children are able to interact with their father and could confirm their father was indeed an Akúdáyàá. One of the core elements of the film is also Folarin’s desire to collect the money he is owed at work, which represents his unfinished business of providing for his children and spending time with them one final time. During their time in Lagos, Folarin takes his sons to an amusement park, where he interacts with an old man (Ayo Lijadu), the security guard of the park. While the children are having fun, the old man, during his conversation with Folarin, asks him to greet his dead wife and sings menacingly to Folarin. This moment, along with others, points more strongly to the idea of Akúdáyàá.
5. Soldiers: During the movie, there are repetitive shots of Folarin and the soldiers locked in silent stare-offs, which point to the terrible incident at Bonny Island. These moments serve as a constant reminder of the massacre that occurred. They also reflect an ever-present issue in Nigeria—the conflict between the Nigerian military and Nigerian citizens, with the military often portrayed as a tool for corrupt and unlawful practices.
6. Bonny Camp: Bonny Camp, in the context of the film, can be seen as a symbol of Nigeria’s complicated relationship with democracy. In the film, the massacre occurs there following the annulled elections. Since then, there have been instances in which the country’s leaders have acted against democratic principles and committed crimes against the Nigerian people, as seen during the 2020 EndSARS Protests. The mention of Bonny Camp serves as a reminder of the pain and suffering Nigerians have endured.

Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow is a film filled with more symbolism, a layered work that can be interpreted from various perspectives: political, personal, and spiritual. 

My Father’s Shadow will hit cinemas in the UK, Ireland and Italy on February 6, and cinemas in the US and Canada on February 13, distributed by MUBI.

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