Idris Elba & Mo Abudu strike co-pro partnership to champion African & Diaspora talent

L-R: Idris Elba & Mo Abudu

Luther: The Fallen Sun star Idris Elba and Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu have partnered to jointly develop and co-produce a TV and film slate offering talent from Africa and its Diaspora new paths into the industry.

Through their respective production companies, Green Door Pictures (Hijack) and EbonyLife Media (Reclaim, Dada Safaris), they will create a slate of stories originating out of Africa or set in the Diaspora as feature films and TV series for the global market. The development slate will focus on bringing authentic, Afro-centric stories that resonate with audiences around the world.

They will also offer industry education to support and empower African talent through EbonyLife’s academy in Lagos, Nigeria, with the partnership supporting graduates from the programme.

Through their collaboration, Elba and Abudu aim to nurture a more inclusive and diverse media landscape, where “stories from Africa and its Diaspora are given the same level of attention and respect as other cultures and communities.”

Elba and Abudu have also called on industry leaders globally, the wider public sector, governments, and multilateral agencies, to help them grow talent globally and build capacity around the continent of Africa.

“I have always been passionate about using my platform to make a positive impact. By partnering with Mo, we aim to offer free, world-class industry education to the next generation of storytellers and bring their authentic voices to the forefront. This partnership is a step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse media landscape, one that represents the voices and experiences of Africa and its Diaspora around the world,” said Elba.

Abudu added: “We believe that Africa has the talent and the stories to captivate the world. It’s our mission to offer the best in industry education, mentorship, and production opportunities, so that our graduates can become valuable contributors to the global media landscape.  We plan to hit the ground running and explore the very best that African and Black stories have to offer global audiences.”