Lights! Camera! Action! As EbonyLife TV marks 1st Anniversary with first-of-its-kind pop up activation

LAGOS (July 02, 2014) Known for its tremendously creative and high octane event activations, EbonyLife TV which stunned Nigeria and the African continent with its groundbreaking and hugely resounding launch in Lagos on June 30th 2013, has yet again announced plans for a riveting and fascinating event spectacle to mark the 1^st anniversary of its broadcast and dominance on the media and entertainment landscape of the continent.

This time, the first Global Black Entertainment and Lifestyle network in Africa is set to celebrate its first anniversary with a brand new African first – a live Pop-Up activation titled “The Studio Experience”, designed to showcase the making of some of its favorite programmes in an interactive, captivating and entertaining way.

The Studio Experience, happening live at the Tinapa Studios in Calabar on Sunday July 20, 2014, is a must-attend and thrilling extravaganza where TV meets Art meets Music. Some of EbonyLife TV flagship shows will come alive right before the guests, giving them that unique and exclusive experience of witnessing how some of the channel’s major shows are put together, from pre-production to post-production.

This celebratory style studio experience will also present guests with the opportunity of meeting with the EbonyLife TV On-Air Personalities who anchor those enthralling shows that viewers have come to love in the last one year, as well as getting the chance to interact with individuals who make things happen behind the scenes – those who have contributed in one way or the other to making EbonyLife TV the preferred channel among its target demographic in Nigeria and in Africa.

A whole day of spectacular excitement, glitz, gloss and glam, The Studio Experience is poised to take guests on a unique journey of TV production, imaginative art and inspiring music. It promises to be an unprecedented mix of ‘tribute story lines’, klieg lights and special effects, an activation that offers a brand new experience for all lovers of original homegrown African entertainment.

Each show on the evening is set to feature its award winning presenters, set pieces and audience participation. The shows to be activated include pan-Africa’s first daily syndicated talk show – Moments with Mo; and the most laid-back show ever on TV where talk meets sitcom in the coolest hangout style – The Spot.

Guests will also get the unique chance of mingling with the crew & cast of EL Now, EL Reports, The Fattening Room, Love Lounge and EL R8D, creating a fresh and unrivalled fun experience for everyone to enjoy and relish for a long time to come.

A very jubilant and hearty Mo Abudu, Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV, could not hide her excitement as she mixes fond reminiscences with an effusion of heart-rending gratitude. “On a night one year ago; June 30, 2013, we gathered together to celebrate. Some of us at the Eko Hotel in Lagos and others still at our Studios in Tinapa, Calabar for the unified purpose heralding the birth of brilliance and excellence in Global Black Entertainment Television. We celebrated the Launch of EbonyLife TV; Africa’s First Global Black Entertainment Network.”

She continues, “As we celebrate again, the first anniversary since our launch one year ago, let me express my deepest thanks and heartfelt gratitude to God and to everyone in the EbonyLife TV family. We have come this far because we stood together, worked together and believed in the dream to create what is today the envy of Entertainment Television in Africa, and beyond.”

She reflects on the challenges the channel has faced and also celebrates its achievements. “We have experienced our own fair share of challenges in this peculiar economic environment; but like a family, we have stayed together, believed in each other and trusted that the best days were closer than we thought. In truth, the commendations we have received from different parts of the world in admiration of the quality of our programming and the positivity with which we tell Africa’s story gladdens my heart and encourages us to dig deeper and aim higher. We are today one of the fastest rising channels on the DStv bouquet and we are working to become number one by God’s grace.”

In conclusion, she praises everyone who has been part of the journey so far. “To everyone, from our world-class Presenters and Producers, to our unstoppable production crew, Drivers, Accountants, Technical Staff, Cleaners, Camera men, Admin staff, IT, MCR, Editors, Sales, Marketing, PR, Management staff, our clients, sponsors, partners and everyone else who makes us proud to be Africa’s channel of choice, I congratulate you and I say thank you. Remember, everything you think you know about Africa is about to change forever.”

Since its launch in June last year, a highly glamorous and well attended event which featured Mr. Steve Forbes as special guest, EbonyLife TV has continued to grow from strength to strength, creating over 1000 hours of original, premium and inspiring African content, consolidating its position as the continent’s first and only Lifestyle and Entertainment channel, while celebrating the beauty of Africa with vibrancy and positivity, and telling the African story from a fresh and positive African perspective.

Driven by the tagline “Live the EbonyLife”, the channel continues to deliver a fresh new energy, perspective and experience of Africa to audiences across the globe, while celebrating style and success through all of its programmes which include its flagship talk-show, Moments with Mo, where Africa’s Queen of Talk, Mo, has since been joined by two new fascinating co-Hosts to make the show three times better; EL Now, the glitzy daily entertainment news show featuring the hottest global black news and all things ‘Africana Cool’ across music, movies, TV, fashion, beauty, design and the arts; The Spot, the exciting and youthful ensemble chit chat talk show; Love Lounge, the infectious late night romance and relationship clinic.

Other magnetic programmes on the channel include Screen Divas, featuring some of Nigeria’s biggest Nollywood Queens unleashing their star power in a way never seen before and producing a short film titled New Horizon, tackling the poignant issue of domestic abuse. Fattening Room follows six beautiful, feisty modern women from Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Kenya as they embark on a journey of self-discovery by revisiting the legacies of the timeless Efik tradition. Culture Connects explores the intersection between the traditions of Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and America in a cultural odyssey that investigates the interesting values that both continents hold very dear.

Some more blockbuster shows that have continued to thrill audiences around Africa in the last 12 months include The Banky & Tiwa Show, Married to the game, Squatterz, AY’s Crib, Shop Naija, Deadline, EL Reports, EL Runway, Ojos in D’House, Sistaz, In My Shoes, Dowry, Naija Bites, and many more.

Rated in the top 25% of all channels watched on the DStv platform, EbonyLife TV celebrates style and success while broadcasting exclusively African original programming which is both inspirational and aspirational to over 15 million viewers in 44 African Countries.