Founder of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu, has called on African filmmakers and content creators to prioritise building sustainable local streaming platforms.
Her comments come amid reports that French media giant Canal+ is considering shutting down the streaming platform Showmax as part of cost-cutting measures following its acquisition of MultiChoice. The development was reported by Variety.
Reacting to the reports in an Instagram post, Abudu stressed the importance of African ownership and control within the continent’s entertainment industry.
According to her, African creatives must take responsibility for building platforms that support local storytelling and reflect the continent’s cultural identity.
Abudu noted that depending solely on foreign investment for distribution platforms may not guarantee long-term sustainability for African content creators.
She said the continent has a wealth of cultural heritage and powerful stories that can thrive if supported by strong indigenous platforms.
The media entrepreneur highlighted EbonyLife ON Plus as one example of efforts aimed at promoting African narratives while providing opportunities for local filmmakers and producers.
While acknowledging that locally owned streaming platforms are still in their early stages, Abudu said the journey toward building strong digital entertainment services requires patience and long-term commitment.
She also encouraged industry stakeholders to study successful global streaming models and adapt strategies that can work within African markets.
Despite concerns about reduced foreign investment, Abudu said the current situation presents an opportunity for African creatives to take greater control of their industry and shape the future of storytelling on the continent.
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