Media entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife Media, Mo Abudu, has been appointed to the board of directors of the International Emmys. The esteemed organisation, with a rich history dating back to the early days of global television, recognises and celebrates excellence in programming from around the world.
Expressing delight at the appointment, Abudu said, “It is an honour to contribute to the International Emmys’ mission of fostering international collaboration and showcasing the very best in television.
“In this role, I am particularly interested in leveraging the platform to elevate Africa’s burgeoning creative economy. By advocating for increased representation of African productions and talent, I believe the International Emmys can play a crucial role in spotlighting the continent’s unique stories, and propelling its creative industries onto the global stage.”
As the CEO of EbonyLife Media, Abudu oversees a diverse media production company, made up of EbonyLife Films, EbonyLife Studios, EbonyLife Creative Academy, and EbonyLife Place. Under her leadership, the company has produced some of the highest-grossing Nollywood blockbusters, and secured production collaborations with international platforms, such as Netflix, Sony, and the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Known to be a relentless advocate for African storytelling, she is the brain behind Blood Sisters— Netflix’s first Nigerian Original series— which garnered international acclaim. In a similar vein, her adaptation of Professor Wole Soyinka’s play, Elesin Oba (The King’s Horseman), premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival 2022.
A champion for inclusion, Abudu partnered with Idris Elba’s Green Door Pictures to empower talent from Africa and the Diaspora.
She is also an Executive Fellow of the Harvard Business School, and the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.
In February 2024, she made history as the guest programmer for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, curating the groundbreaking Echoes of Africa series.
Abudu’s numerous achievements were recently recognised when she was named Forbes Africa’s Business Woman of the Year on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024.
Further solidifying her position as a content powerhouse, Abudu launched Wrath and Revenge, a political drama series set in Northern Nigeria, on Netflix in December 2023. This is in addition to Oloture: The Journey— a new series that serves as a sequel to the original hit film, also to debut on Netflix soon.
The media entrepreneur also recently wrapped up production on Baby Farm, another Netflix drama series exploring the dark underbelly of a seemingly reputable NGO.
She is poised to commence production on a project co-written with Idris Elba and titled Dust to Dreams. Elba will direct the project, while the iconic musician, Seal, will play the lead role.
