Mo Abudu
Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu has brought Nollywood to the heart of the UK. Her new venue, EbonyLife Place London, has opened in south-west London with a 160-seat cinema dedicated to African and Black films, and she says the project is about African stories finally reaching audiences on their own terms.
The centre opened on Thursday, October 8, 2026, near Nine Elms, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan at the grand opening. Days later, the story is still making waves, with fresh interviews in which Abudu explains why she refused to wait any longer.
Quick Facts
- Venue: EbonyLife Place London
- Founder: Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife Group
- Location: Near Nine Elms, south-west London
- Opening date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
- Main attraction: The 160-seat Amani Auditorium
- Also on site: A Nigerian restaurant, a bar, a lounge, a fashion boutique and African art
- Special guest: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
What Is EbonyLife Place London?
EbonyLife Place London is a multi-storey cultural hub built around film, food, fashion and art. Its centrepiece is the Amani Auditorium, a 160-seat cinema that will screen Nollywood productions and other films about the Black experience all year round.
AFP described it as the UK’s first cinema dedicated exclusively to African and Black films. Abudu herself called the auditorium “home to the only Black and African cinema in the United Kingdom” in a post on X.
More Than Just Movies
Beyond screenings, the venue will host masterclasses, industry panels and live performances. Guests can also eat at a Nigerian restaurant, relax at the bar and lounge, and shop at a boutique that stocks work by designers from Africa and the diaspora.
The walls feature curated artworks that reflect the diaspora. According to reports, EbonyLife Group funded the project almost entirely on its own.
What Will Be Showing?
The full film programme is still being finalised. However, Abudu has said it will include films from across Africa, titles that celebrate Black actors and storytelling, EbonyLife’s own productions, and major releases featuring Black talent.
She also told AFP that the next Black Panther film will be part of the line-up. Membership will be open to everyone, with no restrictions based on ethnicity or nationality, though details of the scheme have not yet been announced.
“We’re Not Waiting Anymore” – Mo Abudu Explains Her Vision
In an interview with Euronews, Abudu said the idea had been sitting in her mind for many years. She believes African stories and culture need to travel beyond the continent.
“We have consumed so much of the world,” she said, before asking how much of the world has actually consumed Africa.
Abudu, 62, was born in England. She recalled that, growing up there, she never had a place to watch Black films because no one had built one. She said she no longer wants people to travel far to enjoy Nigerian films or fashion, because now it is right there in London.
A “Mad Dream” Comes True
Speaking to AFP, Abudu described the cinema as “a bit of a mad dream.” She added that she would like to open a similar space in Paris, possibly through a partnership.
She also said she hopes that, in about ten years, a venue like this will feel normal, with several others opening across the city.
“I do think there is a younger audience of young people now that just want to see great storytelling,” she said, as reported by Voice of Nigeria. “We make great films, and I think we need to create experiences where people can come.”
Sadiq Khan Reacts
London Mayor Sadiq Khan joined Abudu at the opening and later celebrated the launch on Instagram. “From Nollywood to London, the story continues,” he wrote, describing the venue as “a new home for African and Black film, music, art, fashion and food.”
He added that he was “proud to see this exciting partnership between Lagos and London, two global capitals of creativity.” Khan also used the moment to promote the UK capital as a filming destination, saying, “London is the number one place in Europe to film. As long as I’m mayor, we’ll invest in culture.”
Built on the Lagos Blueprint
The London hub follows the model of EbonyLife Place in Lagos, the lifestyle and entertainment resort Abudu opened in December 2019. The timing of the London launch was also strategic, as it coincided with the BFI London Film Festival.
This is another sign that Nigerian creatives are taking up big global stages. Just days ago, Ayra Starr made history at the NFL London halftime show, and at home, actors such as Femi Adebayo continue to build new spaces, like his Euphoria 360 hub in Lagos.
Who Is Mo Abudu?
Mo Abudu is one of the most influential figures in African entertainment. She first became a household name with her talk show Moments with Mo, then launched EbonyLife TV in 2013.
Her company has produced or co-produced hit titles including The Wedding Party, Fifty, Chief Daddy, Òlòtūré, Blood Sisters and Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022.
EbonyLife has also struck deals with global players such as Netflix, Sony and AMC Networks. AFP credits Abudu with helping to usher in the era of Nollywood blockbusters.
Why This Matters for Nollywood
For years, Nollywood films have mostly reached UK audiences through streaming platforms or occasional cinema runs. A permanent venue gives filmmakers a dedicated home for premieres, screenings and events in one of the world’s biggest film markets.
It also adds to the wider conversation about how African film industries can grow. Ghanaian star Jackie Appiah recently urged Ghana to learn from Nollywood, and Abudu’s London move shows just how far the Nigerian industry’s ambitions now stretch.
Final Word
With EbonyLife Place London, Mo Abudu has turned a long-held dream into a real address in the UK capital. If her vision plays out, this 160-seat cinema could be the first of many spaces where African stories are not the exception, but the norm.
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