Book-to-movie adaptations are nothing new. Literary and visual media have always intersected, and whenever a book is adapted, there is an opportunity to breathe life into an already well-known, well-loved bit of pop culture to create a new version of a story. The result often adds, subtracts, and/or maintains the story’s originality.
From classics like Half of a Yellow Sun and Swallow to the highly-awaited The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, the hallowed world of literature becoming a sort of reality is very possible. And with others like Purple Hibiscus and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo [non-Nigerian even if it feels like it is] constantly dominating the conversations about possibility, here are some Nigerian books that deserve their time in the Big Screen sun.
When We Were Fireflies by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Nigerian author Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s 2023 literary fiction book When We Were Fireflies examines trauma, memory, and reincarnation through the perspective of Yarima Lalo, a moody artist who remembers past lives. The narrative follows Lalo and Aziza as they embark on a mission to face Lalo’s approaching third death. The novel examines Northern Nigeria’s terrible past as well as love, grief, memory, and reincarnation. The prose is sweet and easy to flow with, and there’s a vibrant world that deserves to be seen on the screen.
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
Image Credit: @masobebooks
Onyi Nwabieli’s debut novel, Someday, Maybe, is a haunting and visceral exploration of grief following the sudden suicide of Quentin, the husband of the protagonist, Eve. Left without a note or an explanation, Eve is thrust into a paralyzing depression while navigating the starkly different reactions of those around her: her boisterous, protective Nigerian-British family, who offer unconditional support; and her cold, accusatory mother-in-law, who blames Eve for the tragedy. As Eve oscillates between cherished memories of her marriage and the agonizing silence of the present, the novel avoids easy answers, instead focusing on the grueling reality of “the year after.” It is a deeply human story of a woman attempting to reconcile the man she loved with the act that ended his life, ultimately finding a fragile path toward survival amidst the wreckage.
Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John
Image Credit: Cassava Republic
Enter: Dantala, a young boy in Northern Nigeria who transforms from a street-dwelling political thug into a pious scholar in a Salafist mosque. Seeking stability under the guidance of the moderate Sheikh Jamal, Dantala’s life is upended by a deepening ideological split as the Sheikh’s deputy, Malam Abdul-Nur, descends into violent religious extremism. In the end, it is a sobering coming-of-age tale that captures the tragic cycle of communal violence and the frail hope of a person caught in the crossfire of a changing society. The book shows how radicalization is fueled by poverty, political corruption, and the death of loved ones through Dantala’s perceptive and frequently naive perspective.
Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo
Stay with Me is a poignant exploration of the fragility of marriage under the pressure of tradition and infertility in 1980s Nigeria. The story centers on Yejide and Akin, a couple whose commitment to monogamy is shattered when Akin’s family forces a second wife into their home to ensure he produces an heir. This intrusion sparks a series of desperate actions, including Yejide’s harrowing psychological pregnancy and the eventual birth of children who suffer from sickle cell anemia. As the narrative unspools, it reveals a devastating web of secrets. Ultimately, the novel is a heartbreaking study of the sacrifices made to uphold societal expectations and the long, difficult road toward forgiveness and self-reclamation.
The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma
The Fishermen is a mythic and tragic tale that follows four brothers in 1990s Nigeria whose lives are destroyed by a local madman’s prophecy. While fishing at a forbidden river, the eldest brother, Ikenna, is told he will be killed by one of his siblings, a premonition that acts as a psychological toxin, completely eroding the brothers’ deep bond and replacing it with paranoia and aggression. This internal rot leads to a devastating chain of violence and loss that ripples through the entire family, transforming their childhood innocence into a harrowing struggle for survival. Through this personal collapse, the novel serves as a powerful allegory for the political and social fractures within Nigeria, exploring how fear and belief can dismantle the strongest of foundations.
