EbonyLife opens African cinema hub in London

Media Entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu… Credit: Instagram | moabudu

Nigerian media company EbonyLife has opened a cinema and cultural centre in London, United Kingdom, to showcase Nollywood and other Black and African films.

EbonyLife founder, Mo Abudu, announced the opening in a post on X on Thursday, describing the centre as “a new destination for Black and African creativity, culture and connection in the heart of London”.

Located near Nine Elms in south-west London, EbonyLife Place London was unveiled at a ceremony attended by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Abudu, according to the BBC.

Speaking at the launch, Abudu said the project was driven by the need to create more spaces where audiences could experience Black and African storytelling, according to the BBC.

“I do think there is a younger audience of young people now that just want to see great storytelling.

“We make great films, and I think we need to create experiences where people can come, and they can see the great work that we do in black cinema, in African cinema,” she was quoted as saying.

Abudu added that the United Kingdom lacked sufficient venues dedicated to such films, stressing the importance of representation.

“We don’t have enough spaces to serve black cinema in the United Kingdom… representation is so important to us,” she said.

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The cinema’s programme will focus primarily on Nollywood productions, alongside other films exploring Black experiences.

Beyond film screenings, the multi-storey centre will host masterclasses, industry panels and live performances featuring established and emerging talents.

The venue also features a Nigerian restaurant, a bar, a lounge named Fàhinti, a boutique showcasing African and diaspora designers, and artworks celebrating the African diaspora.

The opening coincides with the London Film Festival.

At the ceremony, Khan said London would continue investing in culture and described the city as a major centre for film production, according to the BBC.