Ebonylife TV

Last updated
Ebonylife TV
Industry Entertainment
Founded2013 (2013)
Founders Mo Abudu
Headquarters,
Key people
Mo Abudu
Productstelevision 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]

Contents

Works and achievements

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

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]

Film

Selected television

Related Research Articles

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mo Abudu</span> Nigerian talk show host and actress (born 1964)

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<i>Fifty</i> (film) 2015 film by Biyi Bandele

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<i>Chief Daddy</i> 2018 Nigerian comedy drama film

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.

<i>Òlòtūré</i> 2019 Nigerian crime drama film

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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.

<i>Blood Sisters</i> (2022 TV series) 2022 4-part limited series

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.

<i>Tiannahs Empire</i>

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).

References

  1. "EbonyLife TV channel to go off DSTV". Vanguard News. 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  2. "EbonyLife TV pulls plug on DSTV, to begin life as streaming service". Businessday NG. 2020-08-01. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  3. "EbonyLife TV ends exclusivity with DSTV, expands globally". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  4. "Inside the Newly-Launched EbonyLife Creative Academy and Studios". BellaNaija. 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  5. Smallman, Etan (2021-09-23). "Mo Abudu Isn't Waiting for Permission". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  6. Giles, Chris. "Nollywood, Sony Pictures join forces for TV series on all-female African army". CNN. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  7. Okechukwu, Daniel (2020-01-17). "Mo Abudu's Ebonylife is developing an Afro-futuristic Crime-Drama for AMC Networks". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014). Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  8. Okechukwu, Daniel (2020-02-10). "Ebonylife's Legal Drama 'Castle & Castle' is coming to Netflix". The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014). Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  9. Victoria, Edeme. "Mo Abudu's EbonyLife TV, Universal Pictures get adaptation rights for movie on Hushpuppi". PUNCH NIGERIA.
  10. Ramachandran, Naman (2021-11-29). "BBC Studios Sets Development Deal With Mo Abudu's EbonyLife Media". Variety. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  11. "Nigerian movie breaks box office record, makes N20m in holiday weekend". Pulse Nigeria. 2015-12-30. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  12. "The Wedding Party 2 Sequel becomes highest grossing Nollywood movie of all time". Pulse Nigeria. 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2021-10-07.