By Mathew Johnson

British Nigerian filmmaker, David Ayeni has put Nigeria’s five‑year breast cancer survival rate at 32 per cent, saying the figure was unacceptable and must be addressed through improved awareness, access to care, and a concerted effort to confront stigma.

Ayeni spoke at the weekend during the Lagos screening of his documentary, Shades of Survival, held at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event, sponsored by the Adasi Foundation, drew policymakers, health advocates, industry leaders, creative professionals, and international partners.

The documentary, which has been screened at the UK Houses of Parliament, the African International Film Festival in Lagos, and the Pan‑African Film Festival in Los Angeles, explored disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and outcomes between African women and their counterparts in high‑income countries.

Ayeni said he developed the film following the loss of a close friend to breast cancer.
Providing a comparative survival data, he stated that “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.”
He added: “Those numbers are unacceptable and they will only change if we confront stigma, improve awareness, and increase access to care. Shades of Survival exists to spark change and save lives”.
Following the Lagos screening, Ayeni disclosed that discussions were underway for wider community screenings and collaborations aimed at scaling early detection, awareness, and treatment campaigns across Nigeria.
He said: “Films like this do more than tell stories.They mobilize communities. They help save lives.”
The documentary featured British Nigerian actress and breast cancer survivor Victoria Ekanoye, who also serves as an executive producer. Her experience of navigating diagnosis while nursing her infant son anchors the film’s portrayal of the resilience of Black women facing the disease.

The Adasi Foundation, a Nigerian non‑profit organisation, sponsored the screening as part of its commitment to women’s health, medical education, and awareness initiatives.

A spokesperson for the foundation said supporting the film aligned with its mission “to shine light where silence has too long prevailed.”

Produced by Creative Rhino, Shades of Survival has won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Cambridge Film Festival and Best Feature Documentary at the Movie Director Talent Awards in London.

Guests at the screening included government officials, health sector leaders, creative industry figures, and diplomats.