Mo Abudu, the founder of EbonyLife Group, has urged Nigerian and African creatives to create sustainable local streaming platforms, citing reports of reduced investment by foreign platforms such as Showmax.
Her reaction comes after Variety reported that Canal+ is considering shutting down the streaming service Showmax as part of cost-cutting measures after acquiring MultiChoice.
Abudu’s Instagram posts emphasised African ownership and control, highlighting the continent’s rich cultural heritage and storytelling tradition.
“Nobody is coming to save us. “It is up to us to create a sustainable business model that truly works for our market,” she stated.
According to Abudu, her platform, EbonyLife ON Plus, aims to promote African narratives and help local creators.
“The recently launched indigenous Nigerian streaming platforms are still in their early stages. At EbonyLife ON Plus, we are committed to expanding and strengthening our platforms. We understand that it will be a long journey, and we are prepared to put in the effort and patience required,” she said.
She added that Africa’s entertainment industry can grow by learning from global success stories and tailoring strategies to local markets.
“We are a continent full of culture, tradition, and compelling stories. We must learn from global success stories, adapt what works, and forge our own paths as others have done.”
She expressed her optimism for the future, viewing the current situation as an opportunity rather than a setback.
“I truly believe we are capable of doing this. We have control over our own future. Let’s build it with confidence, collaboration, and belief. Personally, I see this as an opportunity, not a challenge. Local is for Local. She concluded by saying, “Local for Global.”
