Nigerian producer and media entrepreneur Mo Abudu has opened a dedicated venue for African and Black cinema in London.
EbonyLife Place London opens to the public this weekend and sits between Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms in south London.
It includes a 160-seat cinema, which is billed as the UK’s only cinema dedicated exclusively to African and Black film. Its year-round film programme will showcase Nollywood alongside African and Black cinema and storytelling from the UK, Caribbean, US and more, with plans to also host industry panel discussions, masterclasses and live performances.
The venue also includes a bar, restaurant and retail spaces.
“We are incredibly proud of our Nigerian roots, but our vision extends across Africa and the global Black diaspora,” said Abudu, who was born in London. “We want to provide a platform for outstanding creativity and storytelling, whether it comes from Lagos, London, Accra, Kingston, New York or elsewhere in the world.
“We also want this to be a place of discovery, somewhere you can experience the names you already know, but also discover the filmmakers, artists, designers and musicians everyone could be talking about next. You don’t have to come here just to watch a film. You might come for dinner, discover an artist or designer, attend a masterclass, listen to a conversation or simply meet friends for a drink.”
The project is financed by Abudu’s media group, EbonyLife Media. Abudu is also a producer on The Secret Lives Of Baba Segi’s Wives, which world premiered at Toronto and is playing at BFI London Film Festival next week.
The mayor of London Sadiq Khan attended the official opening yesterday (October 8), having previously visited its sister venue EbonyLife Place in Lagos, which launched in 2019, as part of his trade mission to Africa.
“EbonyLife Place London is a fantastic addition to our capital’s world-leading culture offer. By showing the very best films by African and Black filmmakers, alongside music, art, fashion and food, this new venue will be a leading destination to celebrate Black creativity from around the world.
“I was honoured to visit EbonyLife Place in Lagos last year as part of my historic trade mission to Africa and have been proud to support the incredible Mo Abudu as she has delivered this new venue to London. Today’s opening during Black History Month is a demonstration of how our capital celebrates our wonderful diversity, as we build a better London for everyone.”
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