Independence Day brings up complicated feelings for many of us. Whether you’re hopeful, frustrated, or somewhere in between, here are some books, movies, music, and places that capture the full complexity of the Nigerian experience.

What to Watch: If films are your thing, get into these.

Movies

• October 1 (2014, Kunle Afolayan) – Mystery thriller set on independence eve
• ’76 (2016, Izu Ojukwu) – Military coup drama with emotional depth
• The Figurine (2009, Kunle Afolayan) – Supernatural thriller exploring tradition vs. modernity
• Lionheart (2018, Genevieve Nnaji) – Contemporary family business drama, first Nigerian Netflix original
• King of Boys (2018, Kemi Adetiba) – Political thriller about power and corruption in Lagos
• My Father’s Shadow (2025, Akinola Davies Jr.) – Family drama set against the backdrop of the June 12 election annulment, first Nigerian film to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival Official Selection 

Documentaries

• I Am Igbo (Elemchi Nwosu) – Diaspora filmmaker’s cultural homecoming
• Finding Fela (2014, Alex Gibney) – Comprehensive look at Fela Kuti’s life and political impact
• Faaji Agba – Veteran highlife musicians documentary
• Afrobeats – The Backstory – Documentary chronicling the rise of Afrobeats, as told by industry pioneers

Short Video:

• Chimamanda Adichie’s TED Talk: “The Danger of a Single Story” – Framework for understanding Nigerian complexity

What to read: If you’d like to spend the day with your nose buried in text, this is for you.

Fiction

• Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – The definitive novel of the Biafran War, exploring love, loss, and national fracture
• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe – Pre-colonial Igbo society and the arrival of colonialism; foundational Nigerian literature
• The Famished Road by Ben Okri – Booker Prize-winning magical realist novel set in post-independence Nigeria
• Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Coming-of-age story against backdrop of military dictatorship
• Graceland by Chris Abani – Dark, lyrical novel about a young Elvis impersonator in Lagos
• Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ – Marriage, infertility, and political turmoil in 1980s-90s Nigeria
• Welcome to Lagos by Chibundu Onuzo – Contemporary Lagos through the eyes of a diverse cast of characters
• In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika – Historical romance spotlighting post-independence Nigeria

Non-Fiction

• There Was a Country by Chinua Achebe – Personal memoir of the Biafran War
• The Trouble with Nigeria by Chinua Achebe – Incisive 1983 essay on Nigerian leadership failures
• A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt by Toyin Falola – Memoir of Yoruba childhood and cultural traditions
• Achebe’s essay “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness”
• Wole Soyinka’s The Man Died: Prison Notes (m)

What to listen to: You want music? Check these out.

Foundational Albums 

Fela Kuti – Zombie (1976)

King Sunny Adé – Juju Music (1982)

Chief Osita Osadebe – Osondi Owendi (1984)

Onyeke Onwenu – In The Morning Light (1984)

Majek Fashek – Prisoner of Conscience (1989)

Lagbaja – We Before Me (1999)

Asa – Asa (2007)

2Baba – Unstoppable (2008)

Contemporary Sounds (2010s-Present)

Brymo – Merchants, Dealers & Slaves (2013)

Odunsi, The Engine – rare. (2018)

Burna Boy – African Giant (2019)

Falz – Moral Instruction (2019)

Wizkid – Made in Lagos (2020)

Tiwa Savage – Celia (2020)

Tems – Born in the Wild (2024)

Where to go: If you’d like to step out, go here:

• Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts (National Theatre, Iganmu) – Renovated cultural landmark being inaugurated on Independence Day
• Nike Art Gallery – Massive collection of contemporary Nigerian art. Branches in Lagos, Abuja, Osogbo, and Ogidi (Kogi State)
• Freedom Park – Historic site turned cultural venue
• New Afrika Shrine – Fela’s legacy continues with live music, especially on Thursdays and Sundays. Free live music rehearsal on Wednesday, Oct 1.
• Terra Kulture – Gallery, restaurant, and performance space celebrating Nigerian culture