Mo Abudu

In 2021, as a way of accelerating filmmaking skills, Mo Abudu’s company, the EbonyLife Group, partnered with the Lagos State Government; the 5th largest economy in Africa; to launch the EbonyLife Creative Academy (ELCA). The Academy offers free practical short courses covering all aspects of filmmaking and media content production and is designed to help working film professionals improve their skills and make them globally competitive, as well as equip beginners with the skills they need to launch their careers on a sound footing.

The EbonyLife Group, headed by CEO Mo Abudu, is one of Africa’s leading media conglomerates and comprises EbonyLife Media, creators of original African content, EbonyLife Place, a luxury entertainment resort, and the EbonyLife Creative Academy, a film school in Lagos designed to accelerate filmmaking skills. In 2018, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announced a three-year deal with EbonyLife TV that would include co-production of The Dahomey Warriors. In 2019, AMC Networks (USA) announced its partnership with EbonyLife to produce Nigeria 2099, an afrofuturistic crime-drama created by EbonyLife. In June 2020, Netflix signed a multi-title deal with EbonyLife to create two original series and multiple branded films and a series. In February 2021, EbonyLife Media signed a First Look deal with Sony Pictures, and a slate of co-production film and television projects with Will and Jada Smith’s Westbrook Studios. EbonyLife Studios and Will Packer Productions are teaming to develop an untitled project, based on Evan Ratliff’s Bloomberg article, ‘’The Fall of the Billionaire Gucci Master”. Most recently, BBC Studios signed a development deal with EbonyLife Media to produce a six-part action-adventure heist thriller, titled Reclaim. EbonyLife also signed a deal to co-produce with Starz and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Yetide Badaki, along with Lionsgate TV to develop a drama project about Queen Nzinga, 17th century African warrior queen.

EbonyLife Studios, part of the EbonyLife Group, is dedicated to creating world-class and authentic African stories, through a range of co-production deals with international studios, broadcasters and platforms. As a TV and feature film producer, EbonyLife has created over 5 000 hours of original programming across a variety of genres as well as eight feature films, three of which are the highest-grossing movies of all time at the Nigerian box office. EbonyLife Studios believes in elevating Africa’s media image by showcasing an inspired, progressive and uplifted view of the continent.

As an extension of EbonyLife as an entertainment brand, Abudu developed EbonyLife Place in 2019, Nigeria’s first luxury entertainment resort, in the heart of Lagos, comprising an array of restaurants, an events hall, meeting rooms, a boutique hotel and luxury cinemas, all set in a designer and artful haven.

EbonyLife Media is Nigeria’s premium media conglomerate comprising EbonyLife TV, EbonyLife Films and EbonyLife Studios. EbonyLife Media believes in creating original and inspiring content that showcases a pioneering and progressive Africa. Through a range of co-production deals with international studios, broadcasters and platforms, the company is creating content that is strongly rooted in Africa and connected to a global audience, through a shared identity and common values. EbonyLife Media’s vision is to be the most influential storyteller of a new Africa.

Mo Abudu expanded from linear television to start a film company. EbonyLife Films has ushered in a movement that revolutionises the trends in African filmmaking with eight films to date. The company’s debut film, ’Fifty’ was Nigeria’s highest-grossing drama in 2015 and in 2016 and. ‘The Wedding Party’ became the highest-grossing title of all time in the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood). In 2020, ‘Òlòtūré’, a Netflix Original, about human trafficking was released. Following this success, Chief Daddy 2: Going For Broke, is EbonyLife Film’s latest offering. All feature films from EbonyLife Films are currently streaming on Netflix. The company has now gone global on production deals with a selection of international studios, broadcasters and platforms.

Mo recognised the need for a highly talented pool of professionals in Nigeria and started her own Human Resource firm – Vic Lawrence & Associates (VLA), the name being a moniker of her parents’ names. The company continues to run successfully today.

Mo Abudu, an entrepreneur with a predilection for television, launched EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first global black entertainment and lifestyle network in 2013 on the DStv platform and on StarTimes in 2019, to all of Sub-Saharan Africa. Her primary goal for the channel was to create a more positive narrative around Africa. What followed was a string of aspirational series like The Governor, about Nigeria’s first female state governor; Desperate Housewives Africa, based on Disney’s original series; Sons of the Caliphate and Castle & Castle, Africa’s first premium legal series amongst others. EbonyLife TV created more than 5,000 hours of engaging African programming, with high production values. The platform no longer runs as a linear TV channel, instead the company has partnered with the largest international streaming platforms and production studios to create authentic African content for the world to enjoy.

Mo Abudu launched her media career with Inspire Africa, an edutainment company designed to inspire, educate, motivate and entertain. The company’s anchor project was Africa’s first syndicated talk show, Moments with Mo, presented and produced by Mo. The show started airing in 2006 and later evolved to include a number of syndicated offshoot series, Moments Z and Moments in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.