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Nigerian media entrepreneur Mo Abudu has opened EbonyLife Place London, a new cultural destination designed to showcase Nollywood, African cinema and Black creativity to international audiences.
Nollywood has gained another platform in the United Kingdom as media entrepreneur Mo Abudu expands her EbonyLife brand into London with the opening of EbonyLife Place London.
The venue officially opened on Thursday, October 8, 2026, and welcomed the public over the weekend. Located at 208 Wandsworth Road, between Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, the centre brings film, food, fashion, art, music and entertainment together under one roof.
At the heart of the development is the 160-seat Amani Auditorium, described by its organisers as the United Kingdom’s only cinema dedicated exclusively to African and Black films.
The project represents a new chapter in Abudu’s effort to take African stories beyond the continent and create more opportunities for filmmakers, artists, designers and musicians to connect with global audiences.
A Dedicated Cinema for Nollywood and African Stories
The Amani Auditorium will screen Nollywood productions alongside films from other African countries and the wider Black diaspora, including stories from the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and the United States.
The venue will also host film discussions, industry panels, masterclasses, live performances and business events designed to connect established creatives with emerging talent.
For Nollywood, the development offers a dedicated space in a major international city where African films can reach audiences beyond traditional diaspora communities.
It also creates room for filmmakers to engage directly with viewers, industry professionals and potential collaborators through screenings and creative events.
Abudu has argued that African creatives should take greater responsibility for building platforms that showcase their work instead of waiting for established international institutions to create opportunities for them.
Her London project puts that idea into practice by bringing African storytelling, culture and commerce into a single destination.
More Than a Cinema: Food, Fashion, Art and Music
EbonyLife Place London extends beyond film screenings. The centre combines several creative and hospitality offerings designed to attract visitors for different experiences.
Its facilities include:
- The Afrobeat: A 40-seat restaurant serving contemporary African cuisine.
- Fèhìntì Lounge: A lounge for drinks and social gatherings.
- Maji Concession and Bar: An additional hospitality offering within the venue.
- Zuri Retail: A concept store featuring African and diaspora fashion, accessories and lifestyle products.
- The Living Wall Gallery: An exhibition space for contemporary African and diaspora art and photography.
The venue will also host live music, listening parties and curated cultural experiences featuring established performers and emerging talent.
The combination is central to the project’s vision. Visitors can watch a film, discover a designer, view an exhibition, attend a discussion or enjoy African food without leaving the same destination.
This model also gives African creatives opportunities to showcase their work beyond the screen, potentially opening additional routes to customers, partners and audiences.
Mo Abudu’s Vision: African Stories on a Global Stage
Abudu, founder and chief executive of EbonyLife Group, said the London venue would bring African and Black creativity together through film, food, fashion, art, music and storytelling.
Her vision extends beyond Nigeria to creatives and audiences across Africa and the global Black diaspora.
She wants the venue to serve both people who already appreciate African culture and visitors discovering it for the first time. The programme will therefore combine established names with emerging filmmakers, artists, musicians and designers.
Abudu has built EbonyLife into an internationally recognised African media brand, with projects and partnerships involving major entertainment organisations, including Netflix, Sony Pictures and BBC Studios.
The London opening builds on EbonyLife Place in Lagos, which launched in 2019, and expands the company’s presence into one of the world’s major cultural and entertainment markets.
Rather than relying solely on international distributors and external cinema operators to present African films, the new venue gives EbonyLife a dedicated physical space to curate screenings and build relationships with audiences.
London Mayor and Lagos Governor Welcome the Project
The opening received support from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who described EbonyLife Place London as a valuable addition to the city’s cultural offering.
Khan said the venue would celebrate Black creativity by showcasing films alongside music, art, fashion and food. He had visited EbonyLife Place in Lagos in 2025 during a trade mission to Africa.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also welcomed the expansion, describing it as an international extension of a vision that began in Lagos.
The support highlights the potential for creative businesses to strengthen cultural and commercial links between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The venue’s opening programme includes a partnership with Film Africa, the UK’s annual festival celebrating African cinema. Organisers also plan year-round screenings, performances, exhibitions, networking events and collaborations with African and Black creative communities.
What EbonyLife Place London Could Mean for Nollywood
The opening comes as Nollywood continues to seek wider international distribution, stronger financing and more sustainable ways to earn from its films.
A dedicated cinema could help introduce Nigerian productions to new audiences, give filmmakers another platform for premieres and discussions, and encourage collaboration with British and other international creatives.
The venue could also support related industries. Fashion designers, artists, musicians, food businesses and cultural entrepreneurs may benefit from opportunities to showcase their work to visitors interested in African creativity.
However, the opening alone does not guarantee commercial success for Nollywood or the venue. Its long-term impact will depend on audience demand, programming quality, partnerships, operating costs and its ability to attract repeat visitors.
The organisers plan to introduce a membership scheme, with details expected to follow. The venue will also operate an open-to-all programme, although specific events may have their own access arrangements.
For Nigerian filmmakers, the important question is whether this new platform can translate international visibility into stronger distribution opportunities, paying audiences and lasting commercial relationships.
A New Chapter for African Creativity
Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Place London is more than an expansion of a Nigerian media brand. It is an attempt to create a permanent cultural destination where African and Black stories can be screened, discussed, experienced and celebrated.
The 160-seat Amani Auditorium gives Nollywood a dedicated cinema space, while the restaurant, lounge, retail store and gallery broaden the venue’s appeal beyond film.
Its success will ultimately depend on whether audiences embrace the experience and whether the platform creates meaningful opportunities for African creatives.
For now, the opening gives Nollywood another foothold in London and advances Abudu’s ambition to bring African storytelling to a wider global audience.
