The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has officially opened EbonyLife Place, the United Kingdom’s first cinema dedicated to Black and African filmmaking.
The cultural hub, located near Nine Elms in south-west London, was unveiled on Thursday at a ceremony attended by its founder, Nigerian media entrepreneur Mo Abudu.
EbonyLife Place brings together film, food, fashion, art and music under one roof. At its centre is the 160-seat Amani Auditorium, named after the Swahili word for peace and harmony. The cinema will run a year-round programme with a strong focus on Nollywood productions from Nigeria, alongside other films that explore the Black experience from Africa, the Caribbean, the United States, the United Kingdom and beyond.
Abudu, who was born in London and built EbonyLife into one of Africa’s leading media companies, said the project grew from a desire to create a dedicated space for stories that previously lacked a permanent home in the UK. “We don’t have enough spaces to serve Black cinema in the United Kingdom… representation is so important to us,” she stated at the launch.
Beyond screenings, the multi-storey venue is designed as a broader creative destination. Facilities include a Nigerian restaurant, the Fàhinti Lounge (a Yoruba term meaning to lean back and rest), a bar, a boutique showcasing African and diaspora designers, and a Living Wall Gallery featuring rotating artworks from the African diaspora.
The complex will also host masterclasses, industry panels, live performances, premieres and special events.
The project is financed almost entirely by Abudu’s EbonyLife Group and mirrors the upscale lifestyle complex she opened in Lagos in 2019. It is situated on Wandsworth Road, close to Nine Elms Underground station, the new US Embassy and Battersea Power Station.
Speaking at the opening, Mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted London’s position as a major centre for film production. He noted that the capital ranks as the top location in Europe for filming and sits just behind Los Angeles, ahead of New York, in the global film production landscape. “As long as I’m mayor, we’ll invest in culture,” Khan said. He described EbonyLife Place as a new home for African and Black creativity that strengthens cultural links between Lagos and London.
The launch coincides with the London Film Festival and falls during Black History Month. Opening-week programming is expected to feature works by Nigerian filmmakers, with plans to include both classic African cinema and contemporary titles.
Abudu has long advocated for greater infrastructure to support African storytelling on the international stage. EbonyLife has produced content for platforms including Netflix and collaborated with international partners.
The London venue extends that ambition by offering a physical space where audiences can engage with the films and the wider culture surrounding them.
Public Reaction
Supporters view the opening as a significant step in providing visibility for Black and African filmmakers in a major global city. The combination of cinema with dining, retail and art spaces is intended to create a destination that appeals to both dedicated film audiences and those seeking a broader cultural experience.
EbonyLife Place opens to the public this weekend. Its arrival adds a specialised venue to London’s already diverse cultural landscape and marks a notable expansion of Abudu’s media and lifestyle brand beyond Nigeria.
As the venue begins regular operations, attention will turn to its programming schedule, audience response and potential role in supporting emerging talent from Africa and the diaspora. For now, the official opening establishes a dedicated platform for Black and African cinema in the UK for the first time.
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