Uzoma Mba
The acclaimed international documentary “Shades of Survival”, directed by British-Nigerian filmmaker David Ayeni, held an exclusive screening last Saturday at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, in an event sponsored by the Adasi Foundation.
The powerful gathering drew an influential audience of policymakers, health advocates, industry leaders, creative professionals, and international partners — reaffirming the nation’s growing commitment to confronting the urgent crisis of breast cancer care for African women.
The film, already celebrated across global stages including screenings at the UK Houses of Parliament, the African International Film Festival in Lagos and the Pan-African Film Festival in LA, has been described as a ground-breaking cinematic campaign for healthcare equity.
It shines light on the disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and outcomes between African women and their counterparts in high-income nations and tells deeply moving stories of survivors across Nigeria, South Africa, the UK, and the USA.
“Shades of Survival exists to spark change and save lives,” said David Ayeni, who developed the film following the loss of a close friend to breast cancer.
“The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 32 per cent in Nigeria, 40 per cent in South Africa, and around 90 per cent in high-income countries.
“Even within high income countries, Black women’s survival rates are significantly worse than for their white counterparts. Those numbers are unacceptable — and they will only change if we confront stigma, improve awareness, and increase access to care.”
The documentary stars Victoria Ekanoye, a British-Nigerian actress, breast cancer survivor, and Executive Producer of the film.
Her personal journey—navigating diagnosis while nursing her infant son—anchors the film’s unflinching portrayal of the resilience and determination of Black women worldwide.
The Adasi Foundation’s sponsorship of the Lagos screening underscores its commitment to advancing women’s health, medical education, and life-saving awareness initiatives across Nigeria.
“Adasi Foundation believes that effective healthcare interventions begin with knowledge, empathy, and access,” said [insert spokesperson name/title]. “Supporting Shades of Survival aligns perfectly with our mission — to shine light where silence has too long prevailed.”
The event included remarks from [Insert dignitaries/guests of honour – government officials, health sector leaders, creative industry icons, diplomats, etc.], whose presence reinforced the national importance of combating breast cancer stigma and investing in early detection and treatment.
Guests were visibly moved by the film’s blend of exquisite cinematography, real survivor testimonies, and stirring creative elements of poetry and music.
The standing ovation that followed affirmed the film’s message: that no woman, anywhere, should lose her life because of late diagnosis, limited access, or skin colour.
Across multiple continents, Shades of Survival has become a unifying call to action, backed by partnerships with research and advocacy organisations. Following the successful Lagos event, discussions are already underway for wider community screenings, education and collaborations aimed at scaling early detection, awareness, and treatment campaigns across the country.
“Films like this do more than tell stories,” said David Ayeni. “They mobilize communities. They help save lives.”
Directed by David Ayeni, and produced by Creative Rhino, Shades of Survival is an international feature documentary capturing the journeys of breast cancer patients and the insights of medical experts across three continents.
The film won the audience award for best documentary at Cambridge Film Festival, and the award for Best Feature Documentary at London’s Movie Director Talent Awards. It has been screened at the UK Houses of Parliament, at Cambridge Film Festival, African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos, and Pan-African Film Festival in LA. HR
The Adasi Foundation is a Nigerian non-profit organisation dedicated to improving lives through strategic investments in healthcare, education, mentorship, and community empowerment. Through partnerships with institutions and creative changemakers, the Foundation aims to inspire lasting impact in the lives of women, youth, and underprivileged communities.
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