Nigerian film executive, Mo Abudu has scored a multi-title deal with Netflix.
Under her production outfit EbonyLife TV, Abudu will bring to the streaming platform an adaptation of the novel ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’ by Lola Shoneyin and the play by Wole Soyinka ”Death and the King’s Horseman’. The former will be developed into a series, while the latter will be developed into a film.
Aside from the literary adaptations, Abudu will also create Nollywood featured, branded Netflix originals. According to the Hollywood Reporter, one of them is expected to launch later this year on the platform.
“We’re thrilled about this first-of-its-kind partnership in Africa that will bring some of Nigeria — and Africa’s — most iconic storytelling to screen. We look forward to supporting Mo as she brings all these diverse Nigerian stories to the world,” Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix’s lead for original series in Africa disclosed in a statement.
Abudu has over the years been a mainstream film producer and executive in the Nigerian film industry. Notable among her produced catalog of films include the film series ‘The Wedding Party’, ‘Fifty’, ‘Chief Daddy’ and the family drama series ‘Castle & Castle’, all available to stream on Netflix.
“This unprecedented partnership is testament to the Netflix’s investment in African storytelling and we at EbonyLife are grateful and excited about the opportunity to work together with the Netflix teams led by Dorothy and Ben to deliver a slate of unique and riveting stories from Nigeria over the next few years for Netflix audiences around the world,” said Abudu of the new formed partnership.
The African film industry has been a lucrative investment hub for Netflix. Earlier this year, it produced its first African original series title ‘Queen Sono’ which starred Pearl Thusi and Vuyo Dabula. It also added to the tally ‘Blood & Water’, which premiered last month.
In 2018, after the Toronto International Film Festival screening of Genevieve Nnaji’s ‘Lionheart’, the streaming service purchased worldwide rights to the movie, making it the first African content purchased by them.
It also has in development three original African film features from ‘Star Wars’ actor John Boyega through his production banner UpperRoom Productions.
