Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu is joining forces with the pan-African financial institution African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) through its Creative Africa Nexus program. Together, they will produce a short film titled “Dust to Dreams,” directed by Hollywood actor Idris Elba and starring music icon Seal.
In an effort to empower and promote Africa’s creative economy, Abudu, the founder and CEO of EbonyLife Films, will set the movie in Lagos, Nigeria. The film explores the relationship between a mother and her teenage daughter who meets her father for the first time. Abudu will serve as both Executive Producer and Producer, with Heidi Uys as Supervising Producer. Other producers include Temidayo Makanjuola, Inem King, and Vanessa Demme. The cast features international singer Seal, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Eku Edewor, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, and Constance Olatunde (known as ‘Konstance’).
Huge amounts of curiosity, huge amounts of goodwill. There’s no doubt, everyone understands that the opportunity of Africa is incredible.
~Idris Elba~
“I am delighted to be working with Afreximbank and this incredibly talented team. Dust to Dreams is a story close to my heart, and I’m thrilled to bring it to life with such passionate collaborators,” Abudu stated.
Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Afreximbank, added that “the Bank is committed to supporting Africa’s creative industries through financing, facilitation, providing market access solutions, capacity building and other services.”
According to an Afreximbank 2022 trade report, Africa’s creative economy generates over $1 billion in revenue yearly and creates thousands of jobs. A 2021 UNESCO report noted that Africa and the Middle East account for about 3% of global creative economy output, generating around $58 billion.
‘Dust to Dreams’ is a story close to my heart, and I’m thrilled to bring it to life with such passionate collaborators.”
~Mo Abudu~
The creative economy is recognized as a highly diversified, resilient, and gender-neutral sector that provides high-skilled jobs, encourages young entrepreneurship, and supports innovative forms of sustainable economic growth.
Idris Elba had revealed that his UK production company, Green Door Pictures, would collaborate with Abudu to empower and uplift talent from Africa.
At the 2024 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit, Abudu spoke about her passion: “You’ve got to find what you are passionate about. And when you truly find what I call your God-given purpose, I do not see it as a cost… [you need to] go out and do certain things and make a change.”
I believe that our society is merely a reflection of what is going on inside each and every one of us. …
~Seal~
She added, “Often, when I am asked what I would say to my younger self, it would have been to have the courage to say ‘Mo, you need to go out there and start telling stories about who you are, about who your continent is, the history, the culture and the traditions.'”
