Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu has officially opened a new cinema and cultural hub in south west London, aiming to give Black and African storytelling a dedicated home in the UK.

EbonyLife Place, located near Nine Elms, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. The venue has been created to showcase and celebrate films and stories from Black and African communities.

Abudu, who was born in London, said the project was driven by a desire to create more opportunities for audiences to experience Black and African cinema on the big screen.

“We make great films, and I think we need to create experiences where people can come and they can see the great work that we do in black cinema, in African cinema,” she said.

The media mogul also highlighted the lack of dedicated spaces for Black cinema in the UK, stressing the importance of representation and ensuring these stories have a platform where they can reach wider audiences.

The opening marks a significant step in Abudu’s ongoing efforts to bring African storytelling to international audiences, with EbonyLife Place designed to offer a space where cinema and culture can be celebrated under one roof.

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