‘A People’s History of Colonialism’
STORY
British-Nigerian activist and writer Femi Nylander travels across Niger in search of one of history’s most brutal colonial commanders, French officer Paul Voulet.
Armed with a copy of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Femi follows the route of a military expedition that left tens of thousands dead and shaped the future of West Africa. Along the way he encounters communities still living with the trauma of these events more than a century later.
Part road movie, part historical investigation, AFRICAN APOCALYPSE uncovers a forgotten history of colonial violence and asks how its legacy continues to shape the present.
Premiering at the BFI London Film Festival in 2020, the film went on to broadcast nationally on BBC Arena and has since been screened internationally by festivals, universities, museums and cultural institutions.
PRESS KIT & IMAGES
Download press materials, stills, biographies, production notes and filmmaker statements: HERE
Press Kit HERE
AUDIENCE & REVIEWS
Letterboxd
IMDb (7.2/10)
Rotten Tomatoes
“A brutal and timely indictment of colonialism.” – BFI London Film Festival
“Startling journey into Niger’s Heart of Darkness.” – The Guardian
“A harrowing but hugely important film.” – Film Stories
“Necessary and well timed.” – The British Blacklist
“Every European would be well served by a viewing of AFRICAN APOCALYPSE.” – Eye for Film
More reviews and articles.
AWARDS & FESTIVALS
World Premiere
– BFI London Film Festival 2020 (Official Selection)
Nominations
– Grierson Awards 2021 – Best Arts Documentary
– Royal Television Society Awards 2022 – Best Arts Documentary
Official Selections
– DOCVILLE International Documentary Film Festival
– Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival
– Shanghai International Film Festival
– New York African Diaspora International Film Festival
– Salem Film Festival
and many others.
FRENCH & HAUSA VERSION
The French and Hausa-language version, L’Apocalypse Africaine, has been screened extensively across Francophone Africa and Europe, helping bring these stories back into the public conversation in countries directly connected to this history.
