Elegbede Abiodun
London has witnessed its first dedicated black and African cinema and cultural hub, EbonyLife Place, which officially opened in south-west London.
The multi-storey complex, near Nine Elms, was unveiled on Thursday at a ceremony attended by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and founder and Nigerian media entrepreneur Mo Abudu.
London-born Abudu said the centre was created to provide a platform for Black and African stories long underrepresented in the UK’s cultural landscape.
“I do think there is a younger audience of young people now that just want to see great storytelling,” she said.
“We make great films, and I think we need to create experiences where people can come, and they can see the great work that we do in black cinema, in African cinema. We don’t have enough spaces to serve black cinema in the United Kingdom… representation is so important to us,” she added.
The centrepiece of EbonyLife Place is the 160-seat Amani Auditorium, which will run a year-round programme with a strong focus on Nollywood films from Nigeria as well as other films exploring the black experience.
Beyond film screenings, the venue is designed as a creative hub, hosting masterclasses, industry panels, and live performances featuring established and emerging talent.
The facility also houses a bar, a lounge, a Nigerian restaurant, a boutique featuring African and diaspora designers, and curated artworks reflecting the African diaspora.
Financed almost entirely by Abudu’s EbonyLife Group, the London hub replicates the model of the upscale lifestyle complex she launched in Lagos in 2019.
Speaking at the launch, Mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted London’s standing as a global film capital, noting that the city ranks just behind Los Angeles and ahead of New York in film production.
“London is the number one place in Europe to film,” Khan said. “As long as I’m mayor, we’ll invest in culture.”
The launch comes as the city hosts the London Film Festival.
Announcing the opening on X, Abudu said: “Welcome to Ebonylife Place London. Today is our Grand Opening, and we are opening the doors to a new destination for Black and African creativity, culture and connection in the heart of London.
“A space rooted in Africa, inspired by London and open to everyone. A place where film, fashion, food, music and art come together. A place to experience, discover, connect and celebrate.
“We invite the world to come inside. Amani Auditorium. 160 seats. Cinema. Culture. Entertainment. Home to the only Black and African cinema in the United Kingdom, Amani is where premieres, screenings, performances, listening parties and special events come to life.”
