Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu has opened EbonyLife Place London, a multi-storey cultural complex in south-west London. The venue opened on October 8, 2026, with attendance from London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
EbonyLife Place London Opens Near Nine Elms With Amani Auditorium
Nigerian media entrepreneur Mo Abudu officially opened EbonyLife Place London on October 8, 2026, establishing a permanent cultural hub in south-west London near Nine Elms. Located at 208 Wandsworth Road, the new venue serves as a new destination for Black and African creativity. Funded almost entirely by Abudu’s EbonyLife Group, the multi-storey complex mirrors the luxury lifestyle resort concept she launched in Lagos in 2019. At the centre of the London venue is the 160-seat Amani Auditorium.
The transformation of EbonyLife Place London is happening, and we cannot wait to welcome you all! October 2026, we are ready for you.#EbonyLifePlaceLondon
The grand opening was attended by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who cut the ribbon and toured the facilities. Speaking at the launch, Mayor Khan emphasized London’s status as a global film capital, noting that the city is ranked just behind Los Angeles and ahead of New York for film production. The complex brings together several distinct commercial and cultural spaces under one roof, including a Nigerian restaurant, the Maji Concession and Bar, a boutique showcasing African and diaspora designers, and the lounge known as “Fẹhinti,” a Yoruba word meaning to lean back and rest. The walls of the venue are lined with paintings by artists from across the African continent.
From Nollywood to London, the story continues 🎬🇳🇬 I joined Mo Abudu to open EbonyLife Place London, a new home for African and Black film, music, art, fashion and food. Proud to see this exciting partnership between Lagos and London, two global capitals of creativity, go from strength to strength.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, via Instagram
Addressing Underrepresentation in British Cinemas
Abudu, who was born in London, stated that the project was driven by a long-held ambition to provide a permanent home for African stories in the British capital. Reflecting on her youth, she noted that she could never go anywhere to watch a Black movie while growing up in England. She emphasized that the venue is intended to help address racism by providing a different narrative, noting that she was not willing to wait any longer for someone else to bridge the gap between London and the experience of Nigerian films and fashion. For Abudu, the centre represents a personal milestone, as she reflected, It’s taken this long for someone like me to do this.
Access to the cultural centre is planned through a membership scheme, with further details yet to be announced. Abudu’s vision extends beyond a single location; she expressed a desire to see similar cultural hubs open in cities like Paris. She noted that she believes there is a younger audience that simply wants to see great storytelling, and she views the London venue as a space rooted in Africa but inspired by London.
Industry Impact and Commercial Infrastructure
The project arrives as African screen industries seek more consistent international visibility. Abudu noted that she is interested in collaborating with others, including potential partnerships for future expansion. The opening week of the venue is set to feature Nigerian filmmakers, including Nwani Orire and Ifeyinwa Arinze. Beyond film screenings, the centre is designed to host masterclasses, industry panels, and live performances, mirroring the facilities found in her Lagos complex.
Financial technology infrastructure supports the new international hub through an official partnership with Flutterwave, which serves as EbonyLife’s exclusive payments partner. Send App by Flutterwave served as the headline sponsor for the launch. Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, founder and CEO of Flutterwave, stated that the partnership connects a new international platform for African creativity with the financial infrastructure needed to serve customers, noting that payments are an essential part of turning cultural interest into revenue for creative enterprises.
The launch coincided with the ongoing London Film Festival, placing the venue at the heart of the city’s cultural calendar. While some critics have pointed out that other Black-led exhibition spaces, such as the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill, existed in London between 1993 and 2000, Abudu maintains that the goal is to establish a sustainable, permanent home that makes African and Black stories an integral part of the mainstream cultural landscape rather than a niche interest.