Industry | Entertainment |
---|---|
Founded | 2013 |
Founders | Mo Abudu |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Mo Abudu |
Products | television programs, Netflix series |
Ebonylife TV is an entertainment TV channel owned by Mosunmola Abudu popularly called Mo Abudu, It was launched on DSTV in July 2013 after which the station was later added to DSTV in September 2014. [1] After partnering and satisfying the executive arrangement Ebonylife TV had with DSTV for over five years, Ebonylife TV ended its arrangement with DSTV and proceeded in August 2018 to start broadcasting on StarTimes network, [2] the partnership with startimes was to foster and improve homegrown content to viewers and subscribers in Africa and to also allow Nigerians and viewers generally enjoy the service at a more affordable rate. [3]
In 2021, Ebonylife TV announced the launch of Ebonylife Creative Academy, which is aimed at improving the quality of local film production, with a partnership with the Lagos State Government, Ebonylife creative academy provides short and professional courses on film making, media content and other related courses. [4] Ebonylife TV and media became the first African media house to sign a deal with Netflix and this has made Netflix get the right to the new movies produced by Ebonylife TV such as Castle and Castle amongst others. [5]
In March 2018, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announced that they had concluded a three-year deal with EbonyLife TV that would include co-production of The Dahomey Warriors, a series about the Amazons who took on French colonialists in a 19th-century West African kingdom. [6] In January 2020, AMC Networks (USA) announced its partnership with EbonyLife to produce Nigeria 2099, an afrofuturistic crime-drama created by EbonyLife. [7] In February 2020, a new partnership between EbonyLife TV and Netflix was announced.
The streaming giant acquired EbonyLife's drama series: Castle & Castle, Fifty, Sons of the Caliphate, 'On the Real, along with a reality show, The Dating Game and feature film, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel. [8] Ebonylife TV added to their achievements by securing rights together with Will Packer Productions and Universal Pictures to produce a movie on Hushpuppi, who was arrested recently for fraudulent activities. [9] On November 29, 2021, it is announced that subsidiary EbonyLife Media had received a development deal with BBC Studios. [10]
Ebonylife films has produced a couple of notable and well-grossing films and TV series in Nigeria, the films produced by Ebonylife has appeared to do very well as it has always grossed very well. Ebonylife debut film, Fifty in 2015 was Nigeria's highest-grossing film in 2015 and 2016. [11] The Wedding Party, another of Ebonylife Film project became the highest-grossing title of all time in the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood) in 2018. [12]
Kenneth Gyang is a Nigerian writer, director, and filmmaker who co-founded the Nigerian film studio Cinema Kpatakpata. He is most well known for his 2013 comedy film Confusion Na Wa. and the 2019 Thriller film "Oloture" produced by Ebonylife Films. Oloture proved that Ebonylife Films could make serious films about social issues after its release.
Mosunmola "Mo" Abudu is a Nigerian media mogul, philanthropist, and former human resources management consultant.
Okechukwu Ukeje, known as OC Ukeje is Nigerian actor,model and musician. He came into prominence after winning the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show. He has received several awards including Africa Movie Academy Awards, Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Nollywood Movies Awards, Best of Nollywood Awards, Nigeria Entertainment Awards and Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards. He has featured in several award-winning films including Two Brides and a Baby, Hoodrush, Alan Poza, Confusion Na Wa and Half of a Yellow Sun.
Fifty is a 2015 Nigerian romantic drama film, directed by Biyi Bandele and released on 18 December 2015.
The Wedding Party is a 2016 Nigerian romantic comedy drama directed by Kemi Adetiba. It premiered on 8 September 2016 at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and on 26 November 2016 at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. The film was released worldwide on 16 December 2016, and became the highest grossing Nigerian film; a record which was broken in 2021 by Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
Tope Oshin is a Nigerian television and film director, producer and casting director, listed as one of the most influential Nigerians in film in 2019. In 2015 Pulse magazine named her as one of "9 Nigerian female movie directors you should know" in the Nollywood film industry. and in March 2018, in commemoration of the Women's History Month, Tope was celebrated by OkayAfrica as one of the Okay100 Women. The interactive campaign celebrates extraordinary women from Africa and the diaspora making waves across a wide array of industries, while driving positive impact in their communities and the world at large.
Ini Dima-Okojie is a Nigerian actress from Edo State, Nigeria. She resigned from her job in investment banking to enroll at the New York Film Academy. She started her career with the first television appearance on Taste of Love and she has featured on many films including the multicultural romcom, Namaste Wahala in 2021 and the Netflix Nigerian original thriller, Blood Sisters in 2022.
Chief Daddy is a 2018 Nigerian comedy drama film directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, written by Bode Asiyanbi and produced by Mosunmola Abudu and Temidayo Abudu, which was released in December 2018. It starred popular Nollywood actors and actresses Funke Akindele Bello, Kate Henshaw, Nkem Owoh, Joke Silva, Patience Ozokwor, Richard Mofe Damijo and Racheal Oniga.
Sons of the Caliphate is a Nigerian political thriller drama television series created and produced by Dimbo Atiya, directed by Kenneth Gyang and executive produced by Mo Abudu of the Ebonylife TV. It originally aired on Ebonylife TV for two season from 13 October 2016 to 6 February 2018. Season two had a global airing exclusively on Netflix.
Òlòtūré is a 2019 Nigerian crime drama film directed by Kenneth Gyang from a screenplay by Yinka Ogun and Craig Freimond. It stars Sharon Ooja, Beverly Osu, Ada Ameh and Blossom Chukwujekwu.
Toka McBaror is a Nigerian filmmaker, producer, movie and music video director born, raised and is based in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria but originally from Delta State. He received an award nomination for "Kada River" at the 2018 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival in Canada, 6 award wins for the movie, Lotanna including: "Best Film", "Best Director", "Best Cinematography", "Best Art Director", "Best Costume" and "Best Sound Editor" at the 2017 Golden Movie Awards.
Daniel Etim Effiong, also Daniel Etim-Effiong is a Nigerian Nollywood actor and film director.
Castle and Castle is a Nigerian series which premiered in the year 2018 and is streaming exclusively on Netflix. It is a Nigerian and Africa's first legal series which features the story of a legal family characterized by love, drama and betrayal. Castle and Castle currently has two seasons streaming on Netflix and it stars some A-list Nigerian actors like Richard Mofe-Damijo, Dakore Akande, Deyemi Okanlawon, Daniel Etim Effiong and many more.
James Amuta is a film producer, director, aerial cinematographer and publicist. He is best known for his documentary film "Nightfall in Lagos" which was nominated for the best documentary film in 2018 by the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award.
Blood Sisters is a Nigerian thriller television series. The series, which has been described as the first Nigerian Netflix Original series, stars Ini Dima-Okojie and Nancy Isime in the lead, with Ramsey Nouah, Kate Henshaw, Wale Ojo, Kehinde Bankole, Deyemi Okanlawon, Gabriel Afolayan, Tope Tedela among other cast members. The four-part series was released on 5 May 2022 on Netflix. The release was a collaboration of Netflix and Mo Abudu through her media company, Ebonylife TV. Blood Sisters was directed by Biyi Bandele and Kenneth Gyang.
Tiannah's Empire is a Nigerian reality television series that premiered on 22 April 2017, on Ebonylife TV, starring Toyin Lawani-Adebayo, and Oluwatenola Jermaine Womandi. The show focused on Toyin Lawani, as she juggles the many roles she plays in 30 different businesses and being a mum of two kids, Tiannah and Tenor.; from mother to stylist, to designer, to a friend.
Temidayo Abudu is a Nigerian film producer, copywriter, and casting director. She is best known for producing the crime drama film titled Òlòtūré, and co-producing Chief Daddy with Mo Abudu.
Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman is a 2022 Yoruba-language Nigerian historical drama film directed by Biyi Bandele and distributed by Netflix, based on Wole Soyinka'sDeath and the King's Horseman, a stage play he wrote while in Cambridge, where he was a fellow at Churchill College during his political exile from Nigeria, and it is based on a real incident that took place in Yorubaland during British Colonial rule. The film stars Odunlade Adekola as the titular character, with Shaffy Bello, Brymo, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, Jide Kosoko, Langley Kirkwood, Joke Silva amongst others in supporting roles.
The Governor is a 2016 Nigerian television series set in the fictional state of Savannah, filmed in Calabar and Cross River State. This political drama, consisting of 13 episodes, was directed by Ema Edosio, written by Yinka Ogun, Tunde Babalola, and Debo Oluwatuminu, and produced by Mo Abudu."
Genoveva Kenechukwu Umeh is a British–Nigerian actress. She won the Best Supporting Actress award at The AMVCA in 2024 for her role in the Prime Video Original, Breath of Life. She was nominated for the Best Actress in a drama at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards 2022 for her role in A Tune Away. She also received critical acclaim for her roles in Nigerian's first Netflix original crime thriller series Blood Sisters and young adult series Far From Home. One of her major film roles include One Lagos Night (2019). She also leads as Shindara in Episode 4 of Showmax's Original drama series Crime and Justice Lagos (2022). In 2024, she won the best supporting actress at the 2024 AMVCA for her role in Breath of Life (2023).