Nigeria’s Nile Media Entertainment Group Teams With Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife & Bags Rights To Nollywood Feature ‘Wives On Strike: The Uprising’

Jesse Whittock
·3 min read

EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s newest studio, Nile Media Entertainment Group, is already making moves.

The Lagos-based business has struck a partnership with Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife to roll out a luxury cinema experience across West Africa, and has secured global sales rights to Wives of Strike: The Uprising.

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The pact with Abudu will see Nile, which is led by CEO Moses Babatope, and EbonyLife launching The Pods, which they bill as “major leap forward” in the West African cinema industry. Each Pod will offer a private, intimate setting with plush reclining seats, personal concierge service and access to curated film selections.

Nile and EbonyLife plan to launch 10 Pods per year over the next five years.

“The future of African entertainment hinges on robust partnerships and collaborative efforts,” said Bukky George-Taylor, VP of Nile Cinemas. “At The Nile Group, we are committed to forging strong alliances with local and international stakeholders to elevate the industry. This partnership in The Pods is proof that we believe in the potential of the African market. The Nile Group has laid the groundwork for partnerships and collaboration, and we are open to more. This venture with Mo Abudu and EbonyLife Cinemas shows our dedication to innovation and excellence. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to deliver a cinema experience that is second to none.”

Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife, added: “The Pods are not just about watching a movie; they are about experiencing cinema in a way that engages all the senses. This collaboration with The Nile Group is an exciting opportunity to innovate and bring something truly special to our audience. We are creating a space where cinema meets luxury, where every detail is designed to provide an unforgettable experience.”

On the distribution front, Nile Group’s distribution arm, Nile Entertainment, has acquired global rights for the third instalment of Nollywood blockbuster franchise Wives on Strike, titled Wives on Strike: The Uprising. The movie will premiering in theatres across the UK, U.S., Ireland, and Canada this October, according to Nile. It opens in Nigerian cinemas on October 18.

The film’s cast includes Chioma Akpotha (Gangs of Lagos), Uche Jumbo (Onye Egwu), Omoni Oboli (òlòtūré), Ufuoma McDermott (Okafor’s Law), Hilda Dokubo (Kill Boro, The CEO) and Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori (aka. Kie Kie, A Simple Lie, Ile Owo).

The first Wives of Strike film launched in 2016 and was followed by a sequel, Wives of Strike: The Revolution a year after. The films follow four women who deny their husbands intimacy as a form or protest against domestic violence. The third instalment starts Dokubo as a mother who discovers her son, who has graduated with first-class honors, has been kidnapped on his return home. She embarks on a mission of revenge that “unfolds into a gory adventure,” according to the synopsis.

Nowekere Segun-Ojo, General Manager of Distribution & Marketing at Nile Entertainment, said: “The Uprising will build on the solid foundation of its predecessors. The themes are universally resonant, and the performances are exceptional. We’re excited to bring this powerful story to the international audience and continue the franchise’s legacy of combining entertainment with impactful storytelling.”

Nile Group, named after the iconic river of the same name, launched last month as a production, distribution, exhibition and studio business based in Nigeria with Babatope, the former FilmHouse Group boss and Managing Director of FilmOne Entertainment, at the helm. It has five divisions, including a community foundation arm, and is aimed at “transforming Africa’s cinema industry.”

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