Nigeria’s Nile Group launches cinema capsules and “Wives On Strike 3”

EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria's newest studio, Nile Media Entertainment Group, is already taking steps.

The Lagos-based company has partnered with Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife to introduce a luxury cinema experience across West Africa and has secured global distribution rights for Striking women: The uprising.

As part of the pact with Abudu, Nile, which is led by CEO Moses Babatope, and EbonyLife will launch The Pods, which they are touting as a “major leap forward” in the West African cinema industry. Each pod offers a private, intimate environment with comfortable reclining seats, personal concierge service and access to curated film selections.

Nile and EbonyLife plan to launch ten pods annually over the next five years.

“The future of African entertainment depends on strong partnerships and collaborative efforts,” said Bukky George-Taylor, Vice President of Nile Cinemas. “At The Nile Group, we strive to forge strong alliances with local and international stakeholders to move the industry forward. This partnership with The Pods is proof that we believe in the potential of the African market. The Nile Group has laid the foundation for partnerships and collaboration and we are open to more. This venture with Mo Abudu and EbonyLife Cinemas demonstrates our commitment to innovation and excellence. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to deliver a cinema experience that is second to none.”

Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife, added: “The pods are not just about watching a film; they are about experiencing cinema in a way that engages all the senses. This collaboration with The Nile Group is an exciting opportunity to innovate and offer our audiences something truly special. We are creating a space where cinema meets luxury and where every detail is designed to deliver an unforgettable experience.”

In the area of ​​distribution, the Nile Group’s distribution arm, Nile Entertainment,

acquired the worldwide rights for the third part of the Nollywood blockbuster series, Striking wives: The uprisingAccording to Nile, the film will premiere in cinemas in the UK, US, Ireland and Canada in October and will hit Nigerian cinemas on October 18.

The cast of the film includes Chioma Akpotha (Gangs of Lagos), Uche Jumbo (Onye Egwu), Omoni Oboli (Òlòtūré), Ufuoma McDermott (Okafor's Law), Hilda Dokubo (Kill Boro, the CEO) and Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori (aka Kie Kie, A simple lie, Ile Owo).

The first Striking women The film was released in 2016 and was followed by a sequel, Striking Women: The Revolution a year later. The films are about four women who deny their husbands intimacy to protest domestic violence. In the third part, Dokubo begins as a mother who discovers that her son, who graduated with honors, has been kidnapped upon returning home. She embarks on a quest for revenge that, according to the synopsis, “develops into a bloody adventure.”

Nowekere Segun-Ojo, General Manager of Distribution & Marketing at Nile Entertainment, said: “The uprising will build on the solid foundation of its predecessors. The themes resonate across the board and the performances are exceptional. We are excited to bring this powerful story to international audiences and continue the franchise's legacy of combining entertainment with powerful storytelling.”

The Nile Group, named after the river of the same name, was launched last month as a Nigeria-based production, distribution, exhibition and studio company. At the helm is Babatope, the former head of FilmHouse Group and managing director of FilmOne Entertainment. The company has five business units, including a community foundation, and aims to “transform Africa's cinema industry”.