• Mo Abudu and Idris Elba collaborate through their production firms to develop the television and movie industries across Africa.

• The collaboration aims to mentor creatives and bring African stories to the world stage.

Nigerian media mogul Mosunmola Abudu popularly known as Mo Abudu and Hollywood actor Idris Elba are collaborating to encourage and elevate talent from Africa and the Diaspora through their production firms Ebonylife Media and Green Door Films. The collaboration strives to develop the television and movie industries across Africa and to bring “stories from Africa and the African diaspora to the world stage”.

Mo Abudu is one of the Most Powerful Women named according to Forbes, she was also listed as one of the Top 20 Most Powerful Women in Global Entertainment by the Hollywood Reporter. She is the founder of EbonyLife Media, which consists of EbonyLife TV, Ebonylife Film, and EbonyLife Studios. The media conglomerate is responsible for three of the five highest-grossing Nollywood movies – Chief Daddy, The Wedding Party, and its sequel.

The “Luther” actor, Idris Elba is an award-winning producer and director. He created Green Door Films to bring more diverse storytelling to the world’s audience after he noticed that he did not see the world in which he grew up on TV. Elba said in a press release that he has always been driven to use his platform to create a positive influence.

Abudu and Elba have promised to work with their respective production companies, EbonyLife Media and Green Door Pictures, to increase capacity and promote real representation in upcoming international motion pictures and television shows. “By partnering with Mo, we aim to offer free, world-class industry education to the next generation of storytellers and bring their authentic voices to the forefront”, Elba said.

He continued saying “this partnership is a step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse media landscape, one that represents the voices and experiences of Africa and its Diaspora around the world”. The two also discussed a two-fold strategy that would bring education and mentoring projects to support young people and senior creative professionals the chance to demonstrate their skills and convey their stories, as well as help in large-scale productions.

“We believe that Africa has the talent and the stories to captivate the world. We plan to hit the ground running and explore the very best that African and Black stories have to offer global audiences”, Mo Abudu said in a statement.

According to the press release of the partnership, it will also include education and assistance through EbonyLife’s Creative Academy in Lagos, Nigeria. It also stated that the model used to create this facility will be recreated across the continent, and will assist graduates.