"Women Who Inspired Us" Series: Producers

African women's entertainment is rooted in producers who finance, develop, and shepherd projects from concept to screen. These visionaries navigate funding challenges, distribution barriers, and systemic bias to create content that reshapes African narratives globally. Their achievements matter because they control resources, decide which stories get told, and create opportunities for other women throughout production chains.

The producers profiled here represent diverse approaches spanning commercial blockbusters, streaming originals, independent films, and pan-African platforms. Updates and trends indicate that momentum continues to accelerate as festivals, funding institutions, and streaming services recognise that female producers deliver both artistic excellence and commercial success.

Mo Abudu Builds Africa's Premier Media Empire

Photo Credit: themoabudu.com

Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu, described by Forbes as "Africa's Most Successful Woman", founded EbonyLife Media in 2013 and transformed it into a continental powerhouse, securing deals with Netflix, Sony Pictures, BBC Studios, and Will Smith's Westbrook Studios.

Her Netflix series "Blood Sisters" garnered over 11 million viewing hours in its first week, demonstrating the global appeal of African content. Abudu produced The Wedding Party, which became Nollywood's highest-grossing film, and created EbonyLife Place, Nigeria's first luxury entertainment resort.

Apolline Traoré Champions West African Cinema Through Independent Production

Burkinabe producer-director Apolline Traoré demonstrates that independent African producers can achieve international recognition through compelling storytelling and production excellence. Her film Sira, exploring a young woman's abduction by terrorists, won the Berlinale Panorama Award for Best Feature and represented Burkina Faso in the 2024 Oscars Best International Feature category.

Traoré founded Les Films Selmon, producing multiple features that premiered at major festivals and secured distribution across African and international markets.

Emerging Producers Gain Recognition Through Accelerator Programmes

The African Producers Accelerator, launched in 2025 by Big World Cinema and Bertha Foundation, supports mid-career producers, including Nigeria's Funmbi Ogunbanwo, South Africa's Neo Baloyi, who produced Netflix hit "Collision," and Angola's Jorge Cohen. This initiative provides bespoke support, high-level mentorship, and access to financing networks that historically excluded African producers from global production ecosystems.

Practical Strategies for Supporting Female Producers

Audiences advance gender equity in media by actively choosing films and series produced by African women, understanding that viewership data influences which producers secure future funding and distribution deals. Support initiatives like MultiChoice Talent Factory, which reports that women consistently comprise 50% of student cohorts and provides fully funded training in film and TV production, addressing skills gaps that limit female producers' advancement.

Industry Transformation Through Female Producer Leadership

Filmhouse Group's leadership team demonstrates how female producers reshape entire organisations, with women like Barbara Babarinsa, Eguono Ohwo, and Chizoba Obi leading every operational aspect from production and finance to people management.

Their collective expertise helped expand Filmhouse from a single-screen cinema in 2012 to 55 screens across 11 locations, solidifying its status as West Africa's largest cinema chain. This commitment to gender parity sets a precedent, ensuring that women occupy decision-making positions rather than merely supporting roles.

Building Self-Sustaining African Production Ecosystems

The future of African women's entertainment depends on producers creating infrastructure independent of external validation and financing. Mo Abudu's EbonyLife On Plus streaming platform exemplifies this vision, combining production capabilities with distribution channels and capacity building through EbonyLife Creative Academy.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory model, providing free year-long training across Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia, with women representing half of each cohort, builds a pipeline addressing talent gaps while ensuring gender balance.

Celebrate African women's entertainment pioneers who break barriers. Discover producers driving gender equity in media through blockbuster films and platforms inspiring global audiences.

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