London has opened its first Black and African cinema and cultural centre, EbonyLife Place, established by Nigerian media entrepreneur Mo Abudu to promote African storytelling and creativity in the United Kingdom.
The multi-storey facility near Nine Elms in south-west London was officially inaugurated on Thursday at an event attended by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Abudu.
Abudu said the centre was created to provide a dedicated platform for Black and African stories, which she said had been under-represented in Britain’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 centre’s main attraction is the 160-seat Amani Auditorium, which will host year-round screenings, with a focus on Nigerian Nollywood productions and other films exploring the Black experience.
Beyond cinema, EbonyLife Place will serve as a creative hub for masterclasses, industry discussions and live performances featuring established and emerging talents.
The complex also houses a bar, lounge, Nigerian restaurant, boutique featuring African and diaspora designers, and curated artworks celebrating the African diaspora.
The project was funded almost entirely by Abudu’s EbonyLife Group and follows the model of the premium lifestyle and entertainment complex she established in Lagos in 2019.
Speaking at the opening, Khan highlighted London’s standing as a major global filmmaking destination, ranking behind Los Angeles and ahead of New York in film production.
“London is the number one place in Europe to film. As long as I’m mayor, we’ll invest in culture,” he said.
The launch coincides with the ongoing London Film Festival.
Announcing the opening on X, Abudu described the centre as a destination for Black and African creativity, culture and connection.
“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,” she wrote.
She added that the Amani Auditorium would host premieres, screenings, performances, listening parties and special events, providing a dedicated space for Black and African cinema in the United Kingdom.
