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EBONY January Cover Star Idris Elba and media mogul Mo Abudu are partnering to develop TV and film projects centered on stories from the African diaspora, reports Deadline.
Through their production companies, Elba’s Green Door Pictures and Abundu’s EbonyLife Media, the initiative seeks to “empower and uplift talent from Africa and the diaspora.”
In an official statement, Elba shared their vision behind the project.
“I have always been passionate about using my platform to make a positive impact,” he said. “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.”
“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,” Abundu added. “We plan to hit the ground running and explore the very best that African and Black stories have to offer global audiences.”
Elba and Abundu will also offer assistance to graduates of EbonyLife’s Creative Academy in Lagos, Nigeria. Currently, the Creative Academy provides mentorship, production training and free film and TV industry education for 480 students every year.
Additionally, the initiative will curate “authentic, Afro-centric stories that resonate with audiences around the world” to be released on streaming platforms and in theaters.