Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has signed a first-look deal with EbonyLife Media, via Variety. This is the second collaboration Sony has struck with the Nigerian media company, having previously established a three-project deal in 2018. Under the new two-year agreement, Sony will have access to original scripted TV projects from the company.

According to Variety, EbonyLife Media is led by Nigerian media personality, Mo Abudu. Abudu’s career began in the early 200os with her television talk series, Moments with Mo. She founded EbonyLife in 2012 and transitioned from TV to film with the success of romantic comedy, The Wedding Party. EbonyLife now consists of three separate production divisions: EbonyLife TV, EbonyLife Films, and EbonyLife Studios.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Sony Pictures Television over the last few years, and we are so pleased to be deepening our partnership with them,” Abudu said via Variety. “Taking African storytelling to global audiences is something we are very passionate about, and this new opportunity with Sony gives us a chance to reach massive audiences worldwide with our scripted TV series,” Abudu stated via Variety.

According to Variety, EbonyLife’s first partnership with SPT spawned three series, including a project focused on the West African woman warriors of the ancient Dahomey kingdom. In 2020, they struck a deal to create original content for Netflix. Titles included an adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s (The Man Died: Prison Notes of Wole Soyinka, The Interpreters) play, Death and the King’s Horsemen; and, a series based on The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, written by Lola Shoneyin (Song of a Riverbird, Iyaji, the Housegirl). EbonyLife also has the Afrofutristic series, Nigeria 2099, in the works at AMC Networks.

“We are delighted to be broadening our relationship with Mo and the team at EbonyLife, who have created some of the most compelling and successful content in all of Africa,” said Nina Lederman, SPT’s EVP of Global Scripted Development, via Variety. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to help bring their soulful African storytelling to platforms serving a global audience,” Lederman said via Variety.