Following in the footsteps of American TV personality Oprah Winfrey, Mosunmola Abudu who is also a talk show host, launched an entertainment network that is going to showcase the continuing growth of Nigeria’s middle class. This new network is expected to broadcast to almost every country in the African continent.
Setting an example
Mosunmola Abudu, 48 years old, known more popularly as “Mo” Abudu was born in the United Kingdom but relocated to Lagos, Nigeria at the age of 7. She grew up at her grandparents’ cocoa farm and there learned about her rich cultural roots.
With her blossoming career in the television industry, the glamorous Mo intends for her EbonyLife TV to set a good example not only to her fellow Africans but also to the rest of the world. According to Mo, she wants to instill a new perception about her beloved continent.
The new African woman
Aside from promotion of African culture, the network will also focus on various relevant subjects concerning women. In a statement given by Abudu to press, she said that the stereotypical idea of an African woman with a baby on her back and a pile of wood on her head is outdated and biased. She added that it is also time to let the world know about the riches and beauty of Africa in a way never before seen.
Going for original content
Aligning every aspect of the network takes months of hard work and preparation. One of the tasks that occupy Abudu now is developing original programs such as the flagship “Sistaz!” This show is about a Nigerian born in Britain and two Greek-Nigerian sisters set off for a Lagos vacation. The plot involves the three would-be adventurers checking into in to the Eko Hotel where they will spend a holiday reunion. Ultimately, they rediscover the vast and wonderful riches of the city.
Abudu hopes that the show will entice the audience to explore Lagos. The city underwent a huge transformation since the early days of the hostile military dictatorship that once ruled the region. The plot is similar to Abudu’s life story. She was born in London but stayed in Nigeria and only went back w when she was 12 years old.
Mo’s career
Mo Abudu’s first job was an executive position in a large oil company, Exxon-Mobil. She left her position after 20 years of dedicated service and became a self-taught television host. With natural talent and charisma, her show “Moments with Mo” became the first daily talk show that was aired not only in Africa but also in Britain’s Sky TV.
Her career in the television industry gave her the opportunity to interview famous and influential personalities including African presidents, former US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, singer R. Kelly and footballer Rio Ferdinand.
How other people view Africa
Ever-curious Mo had an inspired idea while standing under London’s Marble Arch to ask people in random about what they think at the mention of “Africa.” Common answers ranged from Mugabe’s dictatorship to the British Oxfam and famine. The nice comment Abudu got that day was a mention of Africa’s one of a kind sunshine. This set her on the road to change people’s perspective of her home continent.
Photo Credit: Mosunmola Abudu
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