SELLING Mo Abudu Abudu

BY OLAMIDE OLAREWAJU

As “Africa’s most successful woman” and “one of the most powerful women in global TV” what drives you?

As a media professional, I have a strong passion for storytelling and an unwavering commitment to showcasing the rich and diverse narratives of Africa on the global stage. My drive to succeed has been fueled by a deep desire to break down barriers and pave the way for other women, particularly women of colour, to excel in the industry. I have faced numerous challenges in my career, but these challenges have only strengthened my resolve to succeed and make a lasting impact in the global TV industry. Ultimately, my motivation comes from a belief in the power of storytelling to connect people, inspire change, and drive social progress." dream behind EbonyLife TV was to be the preferred global network for premium African entertainment by creating original, premium and inspiring content with an African soul that showcases the best of Africa for a global black audience. My vision for EbonyLife TV has always been to create content that speaks to the continent’s most important demographic –the youth, the custodians of the present and the future.

Some have compared you to Oprah. We know Oprah has severally spoken about her challenges as a woman in the industry. What would you say have been your challenges while rising in the industry? What challenges did you face as a woman building a media business of this magnitude?

I respect Oprah and everything she has done. I can acknowledge that women in various industries have faced challenges related to gender bias, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for advancement. These challenges can make it difficult for women to break through barriers and achieve success. It's essential to create an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusion, where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

EbonyLife TV was a refreshing take on TV… What was the dream behind EbonyLife? Why did you finally decide to morph this into a production company?

“Ifyou can think it, you can do it…”!

I remember those were Mo Abudu's payoff lines on her show "Moments With Mo." She probably had no idea how those powerful words would come to shape a lot of people's lives when she signed out. I remember thinking to myself while watching her interview with Hilary Clinton, "wow, she's so cool." I wasn’t wrong! The Hollywood Reporter named Mo Abudu one of the "25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television," and she has been dubbed "Africa's Most Successful Woman” by Forbes.

She chaired the 47th international Emmy Awards gala, which took place in New York on 25 November 2019. She went on to build EbonyLife TV, Africa's first global black entertainment and lifestyle network. A refreshing take on TV like I call it. It was a game-changing moment for lifestyle television.

EL TV aired in many countries across Africa, as well as in the UK and the Carribean to a pan-African audience. It was an impressive feat. She founded EbonyLife Films and served as executive producer on her debut feature, Fifty. She also produced The Wedding Party, which became the highest-grossing title of all time in the Nigerian film industry!

She’s partnered with Sony Pictures Television, AMC Networks, Lagos State Government, Netflix and more. She launched Ebonylife Place, a lifestyle and entertainment resort in the heart of Victoria Island, Lagos. She has gone on to do many things, the most notable of which is changing the face of TV and film production in Africa, where she continues to tell African stories.

There's no stopping this Amazon, and I'm thrilled to share her interview with you in this first edition. From what I can tell, she's just getting started. One thing I learned from this is that anyone can be unstoppable if they dare to dream and put in the work...

We became a fulltime production company in order to tell Authentic African stories as opposed to the image of Africa that was being represented. It started as a quest to change the global perception of Africa, but now it has turned into a passion. But as you know EbonyLife TV has morphed into EbonyLife Media which encompasses EbonyLife Studios and EbonyLife Films. We currently have the largest slate as an African production company with some of the most respected production companies in the world including Sony Pictures Television, Lionsgate, Starz, The BBC, AMC, Will Smith's Westbrook Studios, Will Pack Productions and most recently we just announced our partnership with the super talented Idris Elba and his production company Green Door Pictures. We are very excited about the future.

When you’re not working, what’s a normal day like for you, sunrise to sunset?

There is no such thing as a normal day for me. My days vary so much. But unfailingly, wherever I am in the world I start my day with God because without Him I wouldn’t have come this far, I give Him all the glory. I am pretty much addicted to my laptop, so next are my emails. I catch up with the HODS of EbonyLife Media, The Creative Academy and EbonyLife Place should I need to. I always have a mountain of scripts to read, stories and projects to develop. Meetings to attend, events, speaking engagements, and travelling the world based on my itinerary. I do my best to get a bit of exercise in my day. Some days I spend with my grandkids playing Nana. As I said, no two days are the same.

Holiday. Can you tell us 3 of your favourite holiday destinations and why?

The Maldives, Spain, Cape town. When I’m able to get away, these are some of the destinations I am partial to. Anywhere beautiful with great laughs, great restaurants, and great people. There is just something about being in a place that makes you feel relaxed and at peace while there and rejuvenates you to focus on your plans.

There are those who believe at some point, Mo Abudu will go into active politics, and there are those who believe she should. Should we be expecting to see or hear more of you in politics sometime soon?

I love my country, I have from time to time toyed with the idea of getting into politics, but I have never really taken any active steps towards achieving this goal, simply because I give whatever I am doing 100%. I have not been able to successfully drag myself away from EbonyLife, and before then it was Inspire Africa and before then it was Vic Lawrence. Right now, I am really enjoying what I do, but who knows, an opportunity may present itself. Never say Never as they say! What inspired creating projects like the free creative academy? What is the big picture? What other projects are in the offing? Setting up a creative academy has been an obsession of mine for a very long time. I have over the years pitched the idea to every federal and Lagos State government. But the only Governor that truly bought into the idea and the dream was and is His Excellency, Governor Babajide SanwoOlu. He understood the importance of empowering our youth and investing in our creative economy. So I pitched the idea to him, and he bought into the idea. We are now in our third year of operation. We run 8 courses over 4 semesters every year. Our courses include directing, acting, screenwriting, cinematography, post-production, art direction, and sound design. We graduate 480 students a year who are all going on to do great work in the industry. The big picture is to roll out more academies across Nigeria and the continent, and this we will do in partnership with Idris Elba based on a new agreement and partnership that was recently announced.

Words for the girl child?

And every woman/anyone who looks up to you professionally and in other ways?

My 8-Point Guide for Girls and Women:

1. Believe in yourself: Always remember that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Believe in yourself and your abilities.

2. Embrace your uniqueness: Don't try to be like anyone else. Embrace your individuality and celebrate what makes you unique.

3. Stand up for yourself: Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and your beliefs. Speak your mind and be confident in your opinions.

4. Never stop learning: Keep learning and growing as a person. Take advantage of every opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills.

5. Build strong relationships: Build strong relationships with people who support and encourage you. Surround yourself with positive influences.

6. Take care of yourself: Make sure to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Prioritize selfcare and make it a part of your daily routine.

7. Follow your passions: Pursue your passions and interests. Find something you love and make it a part of your life.

8. Be kind and compassionate: Treat others with kindness and compassion. Practice empathy and put yourself in others' shoes.

Remember that you are valuable and have a unique contribution to make in this world. Stay strong, confident, and true to yourself, and you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Remember - "If you can think it you can do it"