Before she was a media mogul, Mo Abudu worked in human resources. Then she got a talk show, and she built a company that now makes films and series for global streamers.
Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu is one of the most influential figures in African entertainment. Through her company, EbonyLife, she has produced some of Nigeria’s biggest box office hits and signed deals with international companies.
A career change
Abudu worked in human resources for years, including at an oil company, before turning to media. She launched Moments with Mo, a talk show on which she interviewed African public figures and discussed social issues. The show aired across Africa and made her a household name.
EbonyLife TV
She founded EbonyLife TV, a channel aimed at African audiences with a focus on glamour, lifestyle and drama. It produced original content and helped launch new talent.
Films
EbonyLife Films was behind some of Nollywood’s most successful titles. The Wedding Party (2016), a comedy about a lavish Lagos wedding, broke Nigerian box office records. Its sequel and films such as Chief Daddy followed.
These films were polished and big-budget by Nollywood standards, aimed at cinema audiences as well as streaming.
Global deals
Abudu signed partnerships with international companies, including Netflix. EbonyLife produced Blood Sisters, a thriller released in 2022 as Netflix’s first Nigerian original series, and further projects for the platform. She also worked with other global studios on African stories.
Other ventures
Abudu also opened EbonyLife Place, a hospitality and entertainment venue on Victoria Island in Lagos, with a cinema, hotel rooms and event spaces. It extended the brand from the screen into the city’s social life.
Her aims
Abudu has said she wants to tell African stories to the world with the same production values as Hollywood and to create jobs in the African creative industries. She has also spoken about changing the way Africa is portrayed on screen.
Recognition
International media and business publications have profiled Abudu as one of Africa’s most powerful women in media, and she has sat on international boards and panels about the creative industries.
Criticism
Some critics argue that EbonyLife’s productions focus too much on the wealthy elite of Lagos. Supporters say that the company raised the standard and profile of Nigerian entertainment.
A rare seat
Few African producers sit at the table with global streamers as equals. Mo Abudu, who once ran recruitment for other people’s companies, built the company that got her there.
