Kunle Afolayan’s Swallow is coming to Netflix on October 1st

Kunle Afolayan’s latest film Swallow is set to premiere on Netflix on October 1st — Independence day.

With a screenplay by Sefi Atta and Afolayan, the drama-thriller tells the story of a naive secretary who is forced to consider her roommate’s offer to work as a drug mule after a series of career failures.

Set in mid-1980s Lagos, the film explores the young woman’s choices in a city dealing with the rapidly increasing drug trafficking trade amidst the weight of austerity measures and the infamous War Against Indiscipline.

The movie is a film adaptation of Nigerian-American novelist and screenwriter, Seffi Atta’s third novel, Swallow. 

Talking about how he approached making his first film adaptation, the director Afolayan says: “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.”

Swallow is led by singer Eniola ‘Niyola’ Akinbo, who makes her feature film debut as Tolani Ajao — a bright-eyed young woman struggling to make it in an obstacle-ridden Lagos.

Other castmates 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).

This is the first film from Afolayan’s three-film deal with Netflix, announced back in March 2021. The remaining two — folklore fantasy and a character drama have no release dates yet.

Watch the official teaser for Swallow HERE