#SHOWBIZ: New centre for African film, culture opens in London

NIGERIAN producer and media mogul Mo Abudu has realised a long-held dream by opening a unique cultural centre in London, complete with a cinema dedicated to African film and Black culture.

Located near the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, a massive concrete facade conceals the new venue — the first of its kind in Britain and Europe — marked by a sign reading "EbonyLife Place London".

Film enthusiasts will recognise EbonyLife as a leading African production company and a major player in Nollywood, Nigeria's vibrant film industry.

At 62, Mosunmola 'Mo' Abudu heads a media empire extending far beyond Nigeria.

Ranked among Forbes' 100 most influential women in 2025, she remains driven by a clear mission: "It's time to tell our own stories. I want to showcase the best of who we are, celebrate who we are. Let them see us at our very best."

Born in London, Abudu is pursuing that ambition in the British capital through a venue she describes as both "a blank canvas" and "a bit of a mad dream".

Reflecting on her upbringing in England, she said: "I could never go anywhere during my youth and watch a Black movie."

Determined to bridge that gap, she decided to bring African creative excellence directly to Europe.

"I'm not waiting anymore for anyone to take a six-hour trip from London to understand what it is to watch a Nigerian film or to see Nigerian fashion... It's right here in London."

SAFE SPACE

The two-storey complex features a bar, a restaurant and a boutique showcasing designers from Africa and its diaspora.

It also houses "Fẹhinti" — a Yoruba word meaning to lean back and rest — alongside walls lined with paintings by African artists.

The centre's crown jewel is "Amani", meaning peace and harmony in Swahili, an intimate cinema fitted with red seats, wood panelling and warm lighting.

Financed almost entirely by Abudu's media group, the London venture mirrors the upscale lifestyle complex she launched in Lagos in 2019.

Abudu, widely credited with helping usher in the era of Nollywood blockbusters, believes African creatives must take charge of their own narrative infrastructure.

"We must take responsibility for creating our own spaces."

Describing the centre as a "safe space", Abudu noted: "You can shop our fashion, you can view our art, you can listen to our music and we can tell our stories."

Access to the venue will operate via a membership scheme. She stressed that the centre is inclusive and open to all backgrounds.

CELEBRATING BLACK STORYTELLING

While the cinema's schedule is still being finalised, its mandate is explicit.

"We will have films from all parts of Africa. We will show movies that celebrate Black actors, Black storytelling. That is why we are here," said Abudu.

The line-up will span classic masterworks — such as films by Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène and Algerian filmmaker Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina — as well as EbonyLife's original productions, works by emerging Nigerian filmmakers like Nwani Orire and Ifeyinwa Arinze, as well as global blockbusters featuring Black leads, including the next instalment of the 'Black Panther' franchise.

Looking ahead, Abudu has no intention of stopping at the UK border.

"I would love to do the same thing in Paris, perhaps through a partnership. I'm always open to collaborating with others."