By Efe Onodjae

The fight against breast cancer took centre stage in Lagos as Shades of Survival—a deeply moving documentary capturing the experiences of African women battling the disease—premiered to an emotional audience.

Shot across Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, the documentary highlights the global dimension of breast cancer within African communities and features testimonies from survivors, medical experts, and advocates. It also calls for stronger government intervention, improved healthcare access, and increased awareness about early detection among African women at home and in the diaspora.

British-Nigerian actress and breast cancer survivor Victoria Ekanoye, who produced the film, said the project was driven by the need to address healthcare inequalities affecting Black women.

“We made Shades of Survival because there’s a huge disparity in healthcare,” Ekanoye told Vanguard. “It’s about advocacy and self-awareness. Too many Black women are diagnosed late because they’re not included enough in clinical trials. We want this film to change that narrative.”

Ekanoye added that one of the major challenges during production was breaking the culture of silence surrounding breast cancer in African families and communities.

“Many people didn’t want to talk about it at first, but when I shared my story, they opened up. That’s how healing begins,” she said.

Another survivor, Olushola Akapo, described the documentary as an honest portrayal of the struggles Nigerian women face when dealing with cancer.

“It mirrors what we go through—the stigma, the struggle to raise funds, and the limited access to care,” she said emotionally. “It tells our truth. It shows that we are seen and heard.”

Akapo appealed to the government to subsidize cancer treatment and strengthen support systems for patients.

“Many people want to fight, but they can’t afford treatment. We lose lives daily because of cost,” she lamented. “I beg the government to help. And to those newly diagnosed—go to a cancer center, see an oncologist, and ask questions. Don’t stay silent.”

Director David Ayeni revealed that the film was inspired by the death of his best friend, who was misdiagnosed in Nigeria and later died of stage-four breast cancer in the UK.

“She was told not to worry about a lump. By the time she went to the NHS, it was too late,” he recounted. “Shades of Survival tells her story and those of many other women—some alive, some gone. Our goal is to save lives.”

Ayeni noted that the project was self-funded and motivated purely by passion.

“It’s not backed by big sponsors. We just wanted to create awareness and push for early detection. The earlier you catch it, the higher your chances of survival,” he said.

While commending ongoing efforts by the National Institute of Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Ayeni stressed that much more needs to be done.

“What the government is doing is good, but not enough. Most patients still pay out of pocket. It’s cheaper to treat early, so we must invest more in screening and public education,” he said.

In her closing remarks, Ekanoye urged society to confront racial and economic barriers that limit healthcare access.

“Nobody should die because of the colour of their skin, where they live, or how much money they have,” she said.