Fishbone: Anakle Films’ 2020 Short Film on Drug Counterfeiting Still Resonates

Years after its release, Fishbone remains a relevant watch as Nigeria continues to battle counterfeit and substandard products. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has repeatedly warned about falsified drugs and other products in circulation, including items that can lead to treatment failure, drug resistance and even death. On social media, Nigerians regularly share their encounters with counterfeit goods, from deodorant, chicken and toothpaste to drinks, body and hair cream, soy sauce and palm oil. It is an ongoing public health concern.

A Crime Drama Set in Makoko

Released in 2020 by Anakle Films in collaboration with the US Mission in Nigeria and the US Department of Justice, Fishbone is a short film that explores the dangers of drug counterfeiting. The story follows Mama T (Shaffy Bello), a respected philanthropist who secretly runs a counterfeit drug operation in Makoko, Lagos, and Inspector Cole (Daniel Etim Effiong), who is determined to bring her down.

Beyond the Crime Storyline

Beyond its crime-drama plot, Fishbone examines the many layers of counterfeiting: the exploitation of vulnerable communities, the influence of wealth and social status, and the devastating consequences of putting profit before human life. Its central message is particularly unsettling because the people who manufacture and distribute fake products can be deeply embedded in the same communities they endanger, without residents’ knowledge.

Why Rewatching Fishbone Matters

Rewatching Fishbone is an opportunity to remind ourselves how dangerous counterfeit products are. By showing how counterfeit drugs move through a community and affect people who may have no idea what they are buying, the film underscores that awareness, vigilance and accountability matter. It is also a timely prompt to be more careful about where medicines are purchased and to report suspected falsified products to the appropriate authorities.

Watch Fishbone again, and remember that behind every counterfeit product is a risk someone else may have to pay for with their life.