Lola Shoneyin’s bestselling 2010 novel The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is coming to a cinema near you in a highly anticipated film adaptation scheduled for release in December 2026.
The production brings together some of Nigeria’s most prominent entertainment companies: EbonyLife Films, led by Mo Abudu, alongside Genesis Group, Nile Media Entertainment Group and Silverbird Group.
This latest adaptation marks a significant evolution for Shoneyin’s work, which has already enjoyed considerable success across multiple platforms.
Speaking to thelagosreview.ng on news of the imminent film adaptation, Lola Shoneyon highlighted the novels adaptability, “I’m delighted. Baba Segi has lived many lives—on the page, on stage, on the radio, and even in graphic art. Seeing it finally take its place on the big screen is deeply affirming.”
The novel first captivated readers with its incisive exploration of polygamy, power dynamics and family secrets in contemporary Nigeria. Since publication in 2010, it has been translated into Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Italian and Turkish, demonstrating its universal resonance.
The story centres on Baba Segi, a wealthy but unlettered patriarch presiding over a complex household comprising four wives and seven children. When he marries Bolanle, a young university graduate, her arrival disrupts the delicate balance of power among the existing wives. Bolanle’s innocence and education lead her to unwittingly uncover long-buried secrets that threaten the foundation of the entire family structure.
Directed by Daniel Oriahi and written by Adze Ugah, the film features an impressive ensemble cast including Odunlade Adekola, Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe, Bimbo Ademoye, Omowunmi Dada, Shaffy Bello, Bisola Aiyeola, Lateef Adedimeji, Kunle Remi and Tina Mba.
The journey to screen has been long. In June 2020, a Netflix series adaptation was initially announced, though this project appears to have evolved into the current cinema release.
However, the story first found life beyond the page when it was staged at the 2013 Ake Books and Arts Festival in Abeokuta, when playwright Rotimi Babatunde—a Caine Prize winner—adapted it for the stage. Directed by Femi Elufowoju Jr OBE, that production was to eventually premiere at London’s Arcola Theatre on June 7, 2018, running until July 21. The production proved so popular that it returned to the Arcola for another limited run from April 26 to May 31, 2025, accompanied by a special conversation event with Shoneyin herself.
Critics lavished praise on the theatrical adaptation. The Guardian described it as “spectacular”, whilst The Stage called it “acutely funny”. WhatsOnStage praised it as “vibrant, musical, lyrical,” and Theatre Box deemed it “belly-achingly funny… theatre with a difference”. The production featured live Yoruba music and choreography, with a cast including Patrice Naiambana as Baba Segi and Marcy Dolapo Oni as Bolanle.
The novel itself has garnered numerous accolades, including the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award and a longlisting for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2011. Shoneyin has revealed that the inspiration came from a story she heard aged 14 about a medical investigation that exposed devastating family secrets, combined with her own family experiences as both her grandfathers practised polygamy.
“I believe in the power of our storytelling,” Shoneyin says in answer to what the latest adaptation means for African literature. “Our literature is enduring, adaptable, and deserving of ambitious platforms.”
The film is planned for release in Nigeria and international markets, including the United Kingdom, positioning it for both local and diaspora audiences. With Nigeria’s film industry continuing to expand its global reach, this adaptation of one of the country’s most celebrated contemporary novels represents an important cultural moment.
Through humour and unflinching honesty, Shoneyin’s work examines themes of sexuality, mental health, gender politics, and the tension between tradition and modernity in African society. The transition from page to stage to screen testifies to the novel’s strength and demonstrates the enduring power of African narratives and their relevance to contemporary audiences worldwide.
