In 1960, as Nigeria prepares to celebrate independence from Britain, young women are being murdered in the quiet town of Akote in western Nigeria. A northern police inspector, Danladi Waziri, is sent to investigate. Racing against time before the independence celebrations, he uncovers secrets that link the killings to the town’s past and to the country’s future. October 1, released in 2014 and directed by Kunle Afolayan, combines a crime thriller with a meditation on Nigeria’s birth as a nation.
The detective and the mystery
Kunle Afolayan, known for The Figurine and Phone Swap, directed the film, which was one of his most ambitious projects. Sadiq Daba plays Inspector Danladi Waziri, a careful, principled officer working under a British colonial superior. The fictional town of Akote is set in western Nigeria, with period costumes, buildings and vehicles recreating 1960. The murders follow a pattern, and Waziri must work out who is responsible before more women die.
The film touches on colonialism, ethnic tension, religion and the hopes of independence.
Themes, cast and awards
October 1 also deals with abuse and its long-term effects, which shocked some viewers. The film had a large budget by Nollywood standards and was praised for its production design. The cast includes Kayode Olaiya, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Demola Adedoyin and others. Critics praised its ambition, cinematography and Daba’s performance, though some found it slow. The film won several awards at Nigerian and African film ceremonies.
It was released in cinemas in Nigeria and later on Netflix, where it found viewers abroad. Nigeria gained independence on 1 October 1960, the date that gives the film its title.
Legacy and the inspector
October 1 is regarded as one of the most important Nollywood films of the 2010s and a turning point in Afolayan’s career. Waziri is an outsider in Akote, a northern officer in a Yoruba town, which adds tension to his investigation. His careful methods contrast with the impatience of his British superior. The soundtrack uses period highlife and traditional music to evoke the atmosphere of Nigeria in 1960.
October 1 ends on the day Nigeria became independent. Its story suggests that the problems the new country inherited were already in the room as the flag went up.