Nigerian media entrepreneur and film producer Mo Abudu has opened a new cinema and cultural centre in London dedicated to African and Black films, seeking to give filmmakers a platform to tell their own stories and expand the international reach of their work.

Called EbonyLife Place London, the venue was officially inaugurated on October 8 and is opening to the public during the weekend. Its centrepiece is the 160-seat Amani Auditorium, described by its founders as the United Kingdom’s first cinema dedicated exclusively to African and Black films.

The project reflects Abudu’s ambition to create a permanent space for African creativity in a city where she says opportunities to watch Black films were limited during her childhood. Born in London, she recalled growing up in England without being able to find a cinema showing the films she wanted to see.

“It’s time to tell our own stories,” Abudu told Agence France-Presse, explaining that African creators should take greater responsibility for building spaces where their work can be seen and appreciated.

The new venue will showcase films from across Africa, including productions from Nigeria’s Nollywood industry, as well as works celebrating Black actors and storytelling. Its programme is expected to include established filmmakers and emerging talent, although the full schedule is still being finalised.

Beyond cinema, EbonyLife Place London brings together a Nigerian restaurant, a bar, a lounge, a boutique featuring designers from Africa and its diaspora, and a gallery displaying African art. The centre is also intended to host masterclasses, industry discussions and cultural events.

The project has been financed almost entirely by Abudu’s media group, EbonyLife, which has built an international profile through film and television productions focused on African stories. The London venue expands a concept already established in Lagos, where EbonyLife Place opened in 2019 as a destination combining entertainment, hospitality and culture.

Access to the London centre is expected to include a membership scheme, although details had not yet been announced in the AFP report. Abudu said membership would be open to everyone, without restrictions based on nationality or ethnicity.

The opening comes as African film industries seek wider international distribution and greater visibility beyond the continent. Nigeria’s Nollywood, one of the world’s largest film industries by production volume, has helped bring African stories to global audiences, but access to cinemas dedicated to these works remains limited in many international markets.

For Abudu, the London project is intended to change that by allowing audiences to encounter African and Black cinema in a dedicated setting, while creating new opportunities for filmmakers, artists and designers.

She has also expressed interest in developing a similar initiative in Paris, potentially through a partnership, suggesting that London could be the first step in a broader effort to establish international platforms for African creative industries.