Netflix, the world’s largest subscription media streaming service with roughly 183 million subscribers, has partnered with Nigerian filmmaker, Mo Abudu, CEO, EbonyLife TV. The partnership seeks the drive and promote new content from Africa’s most populous country.
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The deal between both parties; Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife TV and Netflix will work on a series-adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s “The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives” and a film adaptation of “Prof. Wole Soyinka’s Death And The King’s Horseman!”
In addition, EbonyLife TV will also produce “two new Nigerian Originals plus licensed films and a series for Netflix!”, Netflix said via Twitter.
It will amaze you to know that, this deal reflects, Netflix’s lead for original series in Africa. Hence, the global media streaming giant will be streaming both Nigerian classics to its subscribers across the globe.
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What You Should Know About Mo Abudu
Mo’ Abudu who is known for creating high-quality, riveting multi-genre films, started her media empire, EbonyLife TV in 2006. EbonyLife TV is a subsidiary of Media and Entertainment City Africa (MEC Africa). Their network airs in more than 49 countries across Africa, as well as in the UK and the Caribbean.
In addition, Mo Abudu has produced over 5,000 hours of original television shows and top Nollywood films such as “Fifty” and “The Wedding Party,” which grossed N3.5 billion (about $11.5 million) when it was released in 2016.
In March 2018, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announced the end of their three-year deal with EbonyLife TV that included co-production of The Dahomey Warriors, a series about the Amazons who took on French colonialists in a 19th-century west African kingdom.
No doubt, Mo Abudu’s blueprint in the movie industry can’t be overemphasized. More so, her partnership with Netflix will change the narrative of how African stories are portrayed on the global stage.
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What You Should Know About Netflix’s African Journey
Netflix, the World’s largest media streaming giant first penetrated the African audience in 2015. They won the heart of Africans after paying a whopping $12 million for the worldwide distribution rights of “Beast Of No Nation,”. The movie starred the award-winning black American actor, Idris Elba.
In the same year, it started the distribution of Nigerian movies. The streaming giant bought blockbusters like “October 1” and “Fifty.”
The media streaming giant, has about 8,600 employees. They also have an operating income of $20.156 billion and a total equity of $33.975 billion.