African literature has given us unforgettable characters and plot twists that still live rent-free in our heads years after we left secondary school.
If The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives (coming to the cinemas in December, 2026) can make the leap from page to screen, these six African literature books deserve a movie adaption too:
- Last Days at Forcados High School by A. H. Mohammed
If you attended secondary school in Nigeria, chances are this book was on your reading list. But beyond the classroom, it has everything a coming-of-age film needs; it basically reads like a screenplay. Somebody just needs to point a camera at it.
- Faceless by Amma Darko
This isn’t an easy read, and it shouldn’t be an easy watch either.
Set in Ghana, Faceless follows the investigation into the death of a young street girl and slowly exposes the poverty, abuse, and neglect that pushed her there. It’s heartbreaking, powerful and painfully relevant. A movie adaptation of this book might become one of the most important African films of the decade.
- Harvest of Corruption by Frank Ogodo Ogbeche
Corruption. Greed. Abuse of power. Sound familiar?
Years after it became a literature text, Harvest of Corruption still feels current. Its themes haven’t aged because, unfortunately, neither has the problem.
A modern adaptation could lean into the political thriller angle, showing just how expensive corruption really is. Add strong performances and sharp dialogue, and you’ve got a film people won’t stop talking about.
- In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
In Dependence tells a quiet but deeply emotional story about love, identity and distance. Following Tayo and Vanessa across continents and decades, it’s the kind of romance that lingers long after the final page.
With the right cinematography, this could be one of those films that leaves people reaching for their partner’s hands halfway through.
- The Concubine by Elechi Amadi
This one feels like it was written for cinema.
Love, tradition, mystery and the supernatural all collide in one of Africa’s most celebrated novels. If Nollywood is looking for its next epic, this could be high on the list.
- Blood of a Stranger by Dele Charley
This is a play, but that’s exactly why it deserves an adaptation.
The story of Maligu’s rise from hunter to chief is packed with betrayal, ambition, political manipulation and the corrupting influence of power. It’s dramatic, tense and full of memorable dialogue. It has “prestige historical drama” written all over it.
