Mo Abudu, founder of EbonyLife Media, says the closure of Showmax should serve as a wake-up call for African creatives to build sustainable homegrown distribution platforms.
Gatekeepers News reports that on Thursday, Canal+ Group — which recently completed the takeover of MultiChoice — announced the shutdown of Showmax. The company said the decision followed a “comprehensive review” by its board and is intended to strengthen its overall digital offering.
Reacting in a post on Instagram, Abudu said the development underscores the urgent need for local creatives and industry stakeholders to focus on building and sustaining their own streaming platforms that can support indigenous films and storytelling.
She noted that the reality of the evolving streaming landscape shows that African creators must rely on their own initiatives to grow the industry.
“No one is coming to save us. It is time for us to build our own. I know many of you have heard the news about platforms like Showmax closing and have seen other streamers reduce their investment across the continent,” she wrote.
“Let me say this with complete sincerity. No one is coming to save us. It is up to us to build sustainable business models that truly work for our market. It is still very early days for the new indigenous Nigerian streaming platforms that have launched recently.”
Abudu said her platform, EbonyLife ON Plus, remains committed to strengthening its operations despite the challenges in the streaming sector.
“At EbonyLifeONPlus, we are committed to doing everything we can to grow and strengthen our platform. We understand that it is a long journey and we are prepared for the work and patience it requires.”
The media entrepreneur also stressed that Africa’s cultural richness and storytelling potential can succeed on the global stage if creators learn from successful international models and develop systems tailored to their own markets.
According to her, the situation presents an opportunity for Africans to collaborate and build platforms that cater to local audiences while also reaching viewers around the world.
“We are a continent rich in culture, tradition, and powerful stories. We must learn from global success stories, adapt what works, and create our own pathways because that is exactly what others have done,” she added.
“I truly believe we are capable of this. The future is in our hands. Let us build it with confidence, collaboration, and belief. Personally, I see this as an opportunity rather than a challenge — Local for Local, Local for Global.”
