David Ayeni, British-Nigerian filmmaker, screened “Shades of Survival”, his documentary on global disparities in breast cancer deaths, to a packed audience at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday.
The film sheds light on the disproportionate rates of breast cancer diagnosis and outcomes between African women and their counterparts in high-income nations, telling the stories of survivors across Nigeria, South Africa, the UK, and the USA.
The film features Victoria Ekanoye, a British-Nigerian actress and breast cancer survivor, who shares her personal journey of navigating diagnosis while nursing her infant son.
Speaking at the screening, Ayeni said the film highlights the struggles of women from low-income countries and especially black women when battling breast cancer.
“The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 32% in Nigeria, 40% in South Africa, and around 90% in high-income countries,” he said.
“Even within high-income countries, black women’s survival rates are significantly worse than those of their white counterparts.
“Films like this do more than tell stories,” Ayeni said. “They mobilise communities. They help save lives,” Ayeni added.
The screening was attended by policymakers, health advocates, industry leaders, and international partners, who reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to addressing the urgent crisis of breast cancer care for African women.
The event was supported by the Adasi Foundation, which aims to advance women’s health, medical education, and life-saving awareness initiatives across Nigeria.
