Media entrepreneur Mo Abudu has unveiled the EbonyLife Place in London. Located in south-west London, the multi-storey hub is a carefully curated space where film, fashion, food, music and art come together under one roof.
At the heart of EbonyLife Place sits the Amani Auditorium, a 160-seat cinema described as the only dedicated Black and African cinema in the United Kingdom.
Surrounding the Amani Auditorium are the Maji Concession and Bar, Zuri Retail (showcases African fashion, jewellery and design). There is the Living Wall Gallery of contemporary African art, and the Fèhintí Lounge, a space that translates as “to lean back and rest.” 
The project extends the successful EbonyLife Place concept Abudu launched in Lagos in 2019. It brings the same vision of elevated African lifestyle and storytelling to the British capital.
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EbonyLife Place London: Owning the Narrative
In a recent BBC interview, Abudu spoke openly about why she created the magnificent space.
Growing up in England, she often found herself explaining and defending African and Nigerian culture. People asked awkward questions or made dismissive comments, and she learned to simply absorb them and move on.
“Racism really is real,” she said. “And the only way to deal with racism is to deal with it by providing a different narrative,” she added.
EbonyLife Place London, she explained, offers a permanent, everyday home for African films, food and fashion. Black and African stories can and should appear on other platforms, but underrepresentation demands a need for more spaces where people feel safe. She says Africans needs a place where their content is central and is open to the rest of the world on equal terms.
For Abudu, the goal is to change how stories about Africa, by being in charge of the narrative.
The EbonyLife Group is best known for producing films, television series, and lifestyle content that celebrate African and Black stories. The EbonyLife Group has arms including EbonyLife TV, EbonyLife Films which is behind popular movies such as The Wedding Party, and lòtüré. It also partakes streaming content and partnerships, and has the EbonyLife Place.
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