News

Netflix’s has unveiled a slate of female-led African projects to coincide with International Women’s Month.

EbonyLife TV boss Mo Abudu will exec produce Baby Farm, a series following Adanna, a young pregnant woman, unknowingly entrusts her unborn twins to a high-profile Ngo, only to discover she’s become a prisoner of a sinister baby farm.

Rita Dominic leads a cast that includes Joseph Benjamin, Onyinye Odokoro, Genoveva Umeh, Langley Kirkwood and Jenny Stead.

Hamisha Daryani Ahuja produces and helms another scripted project, Postcards, following four Nigerians in India discovering their identity through a journey of self-discovery.

Period feature House of Ga’a comes from Bolanle Austen-Peters, who directs and produces. Set in 18th century old Oyo Empire, the film biopic is based on real events and the story of Bashorun Ga’a, a feared prime minister and kingmaker.

The trio of new projects were unveiled at an International...

Netflix is backing three projects from women filmmakers in Nigeria and Africa including the series Baby Farm, executive produced by EbonyLife’s Mo Abudu.

The series follows a pregnant woman who becomes entrapped in a high-profile but sinister Ngo called Baby Farm and must work to save herself and her fellow captives.

Nollywood star Rita Dominic leads the cast with Joseph Benjamin, Onyinye Odokoro, Genoveva Umeh, Langley Kirkwood and Jenny Stead.

The slate also includes the feature House of Ga’a, from Bolanle Austen-Peters, whose 2022 drama Man Of God was also released by Netflix. Her new feature is set in...

Mo Abudu, the CEO of EbonyLife Media, has launched Mo Abudu Films and directed two short films that address mental health issues from a Nigerian perspective, a subject that is considered taboo in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

“Iyawo Mi” tells the story of Kunle, a young married man who lives in impoverished downtown Lagos. He returns home one evening to find his wife Eniola appears to be hallucinating, and the film explores the tragic consequences that ensue. Lateef Adedimeji, Bolaji Ogunmola and Segun Arinze are the leading actors, with Jude Chukwuka, Koye Kekere-Ekun and Blessing Obasi in supporting roles.

Meanwhile, “Her Perfect Life” portrays the story of a woman, Onajite Johnson Ibrahim, who is envied by everyone in Lagos but wants to end it all. The film features Pearl Thusi and Joseph Benjamin in leading roles, with Omowunmi Dada, Uzo Osimkpa, Mary Lazarus and Christian Paul in supporting roles.

Mo Abudu, the CEO of EbonyLife Media, has stepped into the writing and directing spaces, having completed two short films – Iyawo Mi and Her Perfect Life – the former of which will screen at the Cannes Film Festival’s Short Film Corner this month. Both projects have also been selected for the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival in August.

The Nigerian media mogul, who has spent the last decade building pan-African outfit EbonyLife Media into one of the most dynamic companies on the continent, will launch the two projects through her new banner Mo Abudu Films. Both films address mental health issues from a Nigerian perspective, a subject which is considered a taboo topic in the country and throughout Africa.

Iyawo Mi is described as a heart-wrenching story of a young married man named Kunle, who lives in the impoverished downtown area of Lagos. One evening he comes home...

Posthumous award announced as nominations revealed for the 9th Screen Nation Film & Television Awards.

Guest announcers Fernand Frimpong Jnr, from Vox Africa, and Venus vs.Mars actress Letitia Hector revealed the nominations in London (see below for full list).

Felix Dexter, the late comedian and actor, will be posthumously awarded the Edric Connor Inspiration award.

Actor-director Bill Duke, best known for his roles in Commando and Predator, is to receive the Outstanding Contribution award.

Honorary awards will also be bestowed on classic works such as Do the Right Thing, The Cosby Show and Desmond’s.

The awards ceremony will take place at Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London on Feb 23. The ceremony will be hosted by the Ali Baba, known as the Godfather of Nigerian comedy, and Caroline Chikezie, best known for her role in Us series 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland.

Voting for the nominees in all categories will be open to the public from today (Jan 23) until...

Posthumous award announced as nominations revealed for the 9th Screen Nation Film & Television Awards.

Guest announcers Fernand Frimpong Jnr, from Vox Africa, and Venus vs.Mars actress Letitia Hector revealed the nominations in London (see below for full list).

Felix Dexter, the late comedian and actor, will be posthumously awarded the Edric Connor Inspiration award.

Actor-director Bill Duke, best known for his roles in Commando and Predator, is to receive the Outstanding Contribution award.

Honorary awards will also be bestowed on classic works such as Do the Right Thing, The Cosby Show and Desmond’s.

The awards ceremony will take place at Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London on Feb 23. The ceremony will be hosted by the Ali Baba, known as the Godfather of Nigerian comedy, and Caroline Chikezie, best known for her role in Us series 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland.

Voting for the nominees in all categories will be open to the public from today (Jan 23) until...

Nollywood is in a transitional phase, but its still has some way to go to be truly mainstream

A bright-green kit car marked "51 Nigeria" stands under grey skies, yards from where the traffic endlessly groans out of the Blackwall tunnel. Young black scenesters, wearing smart-casual, pose in front of it, then mill over to the red carpet in front of the Greenwich Odeon, where VoxAfrica, "the first bilingual, pan-African channel", is working the interview lineup. Tall women in traditional dress loll on benches nearby. This is the premiere of Tango with Me, the fourth Nollywood film to get a mainstream release in the UK. PR rep Moses is getting antsy; he gets the cinema to make an announcement that the screening will be starting soon. No one pays any attention. Tonight, we're on African time, not Greenwich mean time.

Nollywood, Nigeria's film industry, is straining to up its game. Tango...