Mo Abudu is the Founder and CEO of EbonyLife Group, which includes EbonyLife Media, EbonyLife Creative Academy, and EbonyLife Place. EbonyLife Media develops and produces original content for global audiences; the Creative Academy offers free, world-class film and TV training to emerging talent in Nigeria; and EbonyLife Place is a luxury entertainment and lifestyle resort in Lagos.

Her media journey began nearly two decades ago with Moments with Mo, Africa’s first pan-African talk show. She went on to launch EbonyLife TV in 2013—Africa’s first global Black entertainment network—and EbonyLife Films in 2014. Since then, she has produced several box office hits and partnered with global studios including Sony, Netflix, Lionsgate, BBC, and Westbrook Studios. Under her leadership, EbonyLife Media became the first African company to sign a multi-title deal with Netflix, delivering a portfolio of successful films and series. A Harvard Executive Fellow, she most recently produced Dust to Dreams, directed by Idris Elba.

In 2024, Mo was appointed Creatives Champion by the UK Government for the UK-African Investment Summit. She is currently raising a $50 million Afro Film Fund in collaboration with development finance institutions to support African filmmakers. She also acquired a landmark property in central London to develop EbonyLife Place London—a bold new hub for African cinema, fashion, art, dining, and performance that will offer African creatives a global platform to showcase and monetize their work.

Mo serves on the Board of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (International Emmys) and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars). Named one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women for three consecutive years and recently listed among the TIME100 most influential people in the world, she continues to shape Africa’s creative future.

Photo: Kelechi Amadi-Obi