Mo Abudu, one of Africa’s most powerful media voices, has been named to the 2025 TIME100 list, TIME magazine’s prestigious annual ranking of the world’s most influential people. The announcement places Abudu in the “Leaders” category, recognizing her continued efforts to shape how African stories are told—and who gets to tell them.
The honor comes amid a banner year for Abudu, who has spent more than a decade building EbonyLife Media into one of the continent’s most prolific entertainment companies. Her inclusion highlights her role as a filmmaker, businesswoman, and cultural force with global influence.
The tribute for Abudu in TIME was written by acclaimed actor Idris Elba, who recently collaborated with her on the forthcoming film Dust to Dreams.
“Mo Abudu’s reputation precedes her,” Elba wrote. “Anyone who has worked on anything relating to African film knows her… She has an infectious, can-do attitude and the tenacity to overcome any obstacle in her way.”
A Storyteller at Scale
Born Mosunmola Abudu, the former human resources executive pivoted into media in the mid-2000s with the launch of Moments with Mo, a syndicated talk show that broke ground as one of the first of its kind on pan-African television. The show quickly positioned her as a bold new voice in African media—one unafraid to spotlight difficult conversations around gender, identity, and culture.
But that was only the beginning.
In 2013, she founded EbonyLife TV, a channel dedicated to African storytelling. Over time, it evolved into EbonyLife Media, with arms in film production, distribution, original content development, and a training academy. Her company has since produced box office hits and streaming partnerships with Netflix, Sony, AMC, and Westbrook Studios, among others.
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The Bigger Picture: Africa on Screen
Abudu has long emphasized the power of narrative to shift global perceptions of Africa. Her work consistently elevates African talent and centers African experiences, whether through glossy Nollywood romances or issue-driven dramas.
In 2024, she launched the $50 million Afro Film Fund, designed to finance African film projects at scale and empower more African creatives to tell their own stories without needing to chase validation from foreign investors or platforms.
“Mo… cares deeply about the African narrative and how the continent and its people are portrayed onscreen,” Elba added in his tribute. “Anyone who wants to understand the filmmaking landscape in Africa—or anywhere else—could learn a lot from Mo, because she gets things done.”
Recognition and Reaction
Abudu reacted to the news with characteristic humility and gratitude.
“I am in complete awe of being included in the TIME100 Leaders category—what an incredible honour,” she wrote on social media. “Each tribute in this iconic list is written by someone deeply respected in their field, and mine was penned by none other than the immensely talented, globally admired Idris Elba.”
She shared that Elba never hinted at writing the tribute when they last spoke—making the honor an even more touching surprise.
“Life is truly full of beautiful surprises,” she wrote. “Let’s keep telling our stories and getting things done.”
A Seat at the Global Table
TIME’s 2025 list features changemakers worldwide, including Serena Williams, Ed Sheeran, Snoop Dogg, and Demis Hassabis, co-founder of Google DeepMind. Abudu stands out not only as one of the few Africans on the list but as one of the most accomplished figures in global media today.
She will be honored at the TIME100 Gala on April 24 in New York City, hosted by Snoop Dogg and featuring performances by Ed Sheeran and Myles Smith. The event will be broadcast in a special primetime ABC television event on May 4, titled TIME100: The World’s Most Influential People.
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Beyond the Spotlight
While awards and accolades are nothing new for Abudu—she’s previously been named by Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety—this recognition from TIME cements her as not just a leader in African media, but a global one.
In an era where African creatives are increasingly shaping international culture, Mo Abudu has emerged as a blueprint for what’s possible: a woman building an empire on her own terms, reshaping the narrative at every turn, and creating opportunities for others to do the same.