Nigerian media entrepreneur Mo Abudu has opened a permanent cinema in London dedicated to African and Black films, saying the initiative will help challenge racial prejudice and change how the world views African communities.
The founder of EbonyLife shared her motivation during an interview with BBC Africa, explaining that her experiences growing up in England influenced her decision to create a dedicated space for African storytelling.
Abudu recalled that she often found herself explaining African and Nigerian identity to people who asked what she described as inappropriate questions about the continent.
“Racism really is real. And the only way to deal with racism is to deal with racism, and it’s by providing a different narrative,” she said.
The newly launched venue, EbonyLife Place London, will also showcase African food, fashion and other cultural expressions, giving filmmakers and creatives a permanent platform to reach international audiences. It is described as the United Kingdom’s first cinema dedicated exclusively to African and Black films.
Abudu stressed that the initiative was not intended to limit African films to a single venue but to create a space where underrepresented communities could take greater control of their representation.
“It’s not to say that Black and African films can’t sit on other platforms, but I think predominantly because we’re so underrepresented, we need to create spaces where we feel safe and where our content can be shared amongst us,” she said.
She added that the centre would also welcome international audiences interested in learning about African cultures and experiences.
“And also we want to invite the rest of the world in. And the only way that you can achieve that is by being in charge of that narrative,” Abudu stated.