EbonyLife launches streamer with Idris Elba film

EbonyLife Group has launched an expanded digital service and is stocking it with a raft of originals, including a show from Idris Elba.

EbonyLife On Plus will offer entertainment, fashion, learning and live content, with founder Mo Abudu describing it as “a complete lifestyle ecosystem.”

Members can also watch masterclasses, buy African fashion and art, and take part in live events via the service, which is available globally.

Topping the line-up is drama Dust to Dreams, directed by Elba and described as “a soulful story of love, legacy and redemption set in the heart of Lagos.” A companion doc, Dust to Dreams: Behind the Scenes, directed by Isioma Osaje, explores the creative process behind the film.

Other shows include Her Perfect Life and Iyawo Mi, both written and directed by Mo Abudu, while thriller Baby Farm will be available outside of Africa and exposes human trafficking in Lagos.

Films include Nollywood family drama Ajosepo, directed by Kayode Kasum, which debuted in cinemas last year, while Black, Brilliant & Bold “celebrates extraordinary Black women who rise, lead and inspire”.

Abudu said the service aims to “put African stories back in African hands.”

She added: “We pride ourselves on being more than a streaming platform. This is a space that celebrates every dimension of African creativity, from the stories we tell to the way we live, learn and connect.”

EbonyLife has previously produced TV series and films including Castle & Castle, The Governor, Sons of the Caliphate, and Chief Daddy, as well as Netflix originals such as Blood Sisters and Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman.