Mo Abudu makes directorial debut

Nigeria’s top filmmaker, Mosunmola Abudu, known popularly as Mo Abudu has embarked on a new phase of her career, willing to learn and immerse herself further in the creative process

Beginning from late August 2022, the CEO of EbonyLife Group, will direct two short films, and be in charge of the whole filmmaking process for the very first time. Since her first full-length feature, Fifty, in 2015, she has guided the storytelling process as an executive producer and visionary, but always sought experienced directors to helm each project.

Abudu attended London Film School in 2017 and completed the course in directing, with the aim of improving her filmmaking skills. However, she enjoyed the experience so much that she decided she would direct when the time was right.

In a statement, she said: “I believe in learning and understanding any major assignment I undertake. Directing is an art form that takes years to master, so I’m beginning with baby steps. I have written two short films that I will be directing – Her Perfect Life and Iyawo Mi (My Wife), a predominantly Yoruba language film.

“Although these stories are fictional, they highlight the mental health challenges, hardly spoken about in Nigerian society, that many people deal with all over the world. Mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, income or social class, and they are on the increase.”

Abudu oversaw the production of more than 1,000 hours of content yearly. As an executive producer, she has created some of the biggest blockbusters in Nigerian cinema, including The Wedding Party, Chief Daddy, Your Excellency and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel. As part of a major deal with Netflix, her successes include Castle & Castle, Oloture and Blood Sisters.

In one of the short films, Her Perfect Life, 39-year-old Onajite Johnson-Ibrahim, seems to have the perfect life – a flourishing career, a growing business, a loving husband and two bright, beautiful children. Why does she want to end it all?

In Iyawo Mi (My Wife), Kunle arrives home one night to find a horror awaiting him. His wife, Eniola, seems to have gone mad; hallucinating, screaming at their children and neighbours, and threatening to kill everyone. Kunle takes matters into his own hands, with tragic consequences.

Her Perfect Life stars Pearl Thusi and Joseph Benjamin, supported by Omawunmi Dada, Uzo Osimpka, Christian Paul and Mary Lazarus. The cast of Iyawo Mi (My Wife) includes Adedimeji Lateef, Bolaji Ogunmola, Segun Arinze and Jude Chukwuka.

For both films, Mo Abudu, Bola Atta, Wale Tinubu, Shola Akinlade, Pearl Thusi and Nonos Okpala are the Executive Producers, with Heidi Uys as Supervising Producer, Inem King, Joshua Olaoluwa, Sonia Nwosu producing and Temidayo Makanjuola on production design. Director of photography Kabelo Thathe is best known for his work on Disney’s Rise. 1st AD is Mayowa Bakare. Wardrobe will be provided by longtime EbonyLife collaborator Yolanda Okereke, working with designers Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Banke Kuku and David Wej.