Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Swallow’ Gets October 1st Netflix Launch

Netflix will release Filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan’s screenplay ‘Swallow’ an adaptation of Sefi Atta’s best-selling novel Nigeria’s Independence Day, on October 1st.

Taking inspiration from a nostalgic past, Kunle Afolayan gives Swallow a retro film look that will take viewers on a memorable cinematic journey.

The first film from Kunle Afolayan‘s slate of Netflix titles, Swallow, is an intense drama-thriller set in the 1980s in Lagos, where austerity measures and indiscipline were plagued by burgeoning drug trafficking operations and the infamous War Against Indiscipline.

The movie examines the difficulties a young woman Tolani Ajao played by Musician Eniola ‘Niyola’ Akinbo faces as she tries to make it in Lagos amidst all of the hardships she has to deal with. 

Official Swallow Teaser

Other actors in the feature film include; Ijeoma Grace Agu (as Rose), Deyemi Okanlanwon (as Sanwo), Eniola Badmus (as Mrs Durojaiye), Chioma Akpotha (as Mama Chidi), Kevin Ikeduba (as OC), Offiong Anthony Edet (as Johnny) and veteran Olusegun Remi (as Mr Salako) round out the stellar cast list.

Adapted from the best-selling novel by Sefi Atta, director Kunle Afolayan gives more insight into ‘Swallow’ :

“This is the very first book I am making into a movie. Once I read the book, I had to decide on what aspect of the book I wanted to focus on and whose perspective I wanted to share based on the story, because Swallow as a book focused on the life of Tolani’s mother and Tolani herself. Once that was sorted every other thing was put in place.”