EbonyLife Media founder and CEO Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu is bringing an adventure story about colonialism, history, and cultural repatriation to BBC Studios as part of a new development deal. According to Deadline, Abudu has entered into a development partnership with BBC Studios Drama Productions, under which she has set up “Reclaim.” Described as EbonyLife’s “first big-budget, global series,” the six-part heist thriller “follows a team of art thieves looking to return artworks stolen by the British Empire 125 years ago from the Kingdom of Benin, back to [their] rightful home in Nigeria.”
Based on an original idea by Abudu, Heidi Uys, and Bode Asiyanbi, “Reclaim” begins with the death of billionaire art collector Chief Inneh, who “hands his life’s mission over to his daughter Idia Nicole Inneh,” Deadline teases. “She must reclaim four looted ivory masks depicting Queen Idia, the first Queen Mother of the 16th century Benin Empire. The exquisite masks are on display in museums in Britain, Germany, and the United States, and have to be returned to Nigeria to restore national pride. A woman of action with nothing to lose, Idia assembles a kick-ass team of talented but morally dubious individuals from around the globe including world-class art thief Matthew Jones, art expert Xena Kanene, yahoo-boy Hector Mawusi, and logistics genius Lindiwe Radebe.”
Rowan Athale (“The Rise”) is writing the project.
Abudu called “Reclaim” “a dream come true for two reasons — first, it is a partnership with BBC Studios; second, the project will debut under EbonyLife Productions UK.” She said, “We set up EbonyLife in London because our global strategy includes expansion to the UK and the United States. As Nigerians and Africans, we should see ourselves as world citizens and our storytelling, locations, and networks should extend to every corner of the globe. I am delighted with this opportunity to extend our reach into the UK with a great story and a formidable partner.”
“Mo Abudu has an extraordinary track record in bringing previously unheard stories to a wide audience,” commented Priscilla Parish, Head of Drama, BBC Studios. “‘Reclaim’s’ breathtaking action-adventure is underpinned by thoughtful and timely themes and declares our shared intention to create stories which have both local and international resonance. Rowan Athale is the perfect writer to bring this story to life, having written both commercial hits and arthouse breakouts. I cannot wait to start production on this event series.”
Dedicated to “creating original and inspiring content that showcases a pioneering and progressive Africa,” EbonyLife Media is made up of EbonyLife TV, EbonyLife Films, EbonyLife Studios, and the resort EbonyLife Place.
Via EbonyLife, Abudu has produced features “Fifty,” “The Wedding Party,” and “Òlòtūré,” as well as series such as “The Fattening Room.” She received MIPTV’s Médailles d’Honneur and was named “Africa’s Most Successful Woman” by Forbes.
