British actor Idris Elba has partnered Nigeria’s media mogul Mo Abudu to empower and uplift talent from Africa and the diaspora through their respective production companies, Green Door Pictures and EbonyLife Media.

The partnership was announced on Thursday morning, March 16, 2023.

Elba and Abudu aim to offer best in industry education to support and empower African talent through EbonyLife’s ebonylife creative academy in Lagos Nigeria.

In furtherance, the two aim to create a new development slate of stories originating out of Africa or set in the diaspora as feature films and TV series for the global market. The development slate will focus on bringing authentic, Afro-centric stories that resonate with audiences around the world.  These co-productions between Green Door Pictures and EbonyLife Media will provide a range of content for broadcasters and streamers as well as for theatrical distribution globally.

Speaking on the partnership, Elba said, “I have always been passionate about using my platform to make a positive impact. 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.”