Two new venues dedicated to African screen culture opened in the same week, one in London and one in Lagos. Media entrepreneur Mo Abudu officially opened EbonyLife Place London, while actor and producer Femi Adebayo unveiled the Euphoria360 Hub in Lagos.
EbonyLife Place London
The London venue is a multi-purpose entertainment and hospitality destination built around Black and African culture. It brings together a cinema, restaurant, event and exhibition spaces and lounges. Its 160-seat cinema auditorium is set to host screenings during the Film Africa festival later this month. The opening was attended by the Mayor of London and figures from the creative and cultural sectors. It follows EbonyLife Place in Victoria Island, Lagos, which has become a popular venue for premieres and events.
Euphoria360 Hub, Lagos
In Lagos, Femi Adebayo’s Euphoria360 Hub includes two cinema auditoriums, post-production facilities and meeting spaces, along with other production infrastructure. The company behind King of Thieves and Jagun Jagun says it also plans to train emerging filmmakers at the hub.
Key points
- EbonyLife Place London: cinema, dining, events and exhibition spaces.
- Cinema size: 160 seats; hosting Film Africa screenings.
- Euphoria360 Hub: two screens and post-production in Lagos.
- Training: Euphoria360 plans programmes for new filmmakers.
Why infrastructure matters
Background
Mo Abudu founded EbonyLife Media and has produced some of Nollywood’s highest-grossing films, as well as series for international streaming platforms. Femi Adebayo’s company, meanwhile, has become one of the most active producers of Yoruba-language epics, with several titles performing strongly on streaming services.
Nollywood produces a huge number of films every year, but the industry has often pointed to a shortage of cinemas, editing suites and training facilities as a barrier to growth. New venues create more places to screen films, host premieres and build audiences, while production hubs help filmmakers finish projects to international standards. The London opening also gives African cinema a visible home in one of the world’s major cultural capitals.
Photo: Unsplash (illustrative).
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