Will Mo Abudu's New Partnership Make 2026 Another ELFIKE Year?

Remember 2016? That was the year Nollywood truly leveled up with "The Wedding Party." It was a game-changer, proving that Nigerian films could compete with and even beat Hollywood blockbusters at the local box office.

The secret? A brilliant collaboration called ELFIKE Collective, bringing together EbonyLife Films, FilmOne, Inkblot Productions, and Koga Studios. Together, they shattered records, becoming the first Nigerian film to gross over ₦400 million. It was a moment that showed the power of working together.

Fast forward to 2026, and Mo Abudu, the visionary behind EbonyLife, is at it again. She's teaming up with industry giants Genesis, Nile, and Silverbird to bring Lola Shoneyin's amazing novel, "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives," to the big screen for the very first time. This isn't just a local release; they're aiming for a global audience!

This new partnership immediately makes you wonder: Is Mo Abudu planning another ELFIKE-level success?

Back in 2016, before "The Wedding Party," no Nollywood movie had ever crossed the ₦200 million mark at the box office. The ELFIKE collaboration completely blew that out of the water, reaching ₦450 million. It was unprecedented, showing that a high-quality, well-supported Nigerian film could stand tall against massive Hollywood titles.

Today, the landscape is different. We've seen incredible achievements like Funke Akindele's films hitting ₦2 billion and ₦1 billion, and Toyin Abraham's movies also performing incredibly well. Nollywood has grown, and the bar for success is higher. So, the big question is, can this new partnership with Genesis, Nile, and Silverbird replicate the magic of 2016? Can it shatter current records and set new ones, just like ELFIKE did?

Mo Abudu is no stranger to powerful collaborations. Beyond the ELFIKE success, her EbonyLife Studio has forged many significant partnerships over the years, demonstrating a consistent strategy of teaming up with the best to achieve groundbreaking results.

Consider these partnerships:

2018: Sony Pictures Television

2020: Netflix

2020: AMC Networks

2021: BBC Studios

2021: Lagos State Government

2021: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios

2021: Will Packer Productions and Universal Pictures

2023: Starz and Lionsgate

2023: Idris Elba’s Green Door Productions

2024: Nile Media Entertainment Group (now part of the new "Baba Segi" partnership)

These collaborations clearly show a pattern: Mo Abudu consistently seeks out strong partners, both locally and internationally, to elevate Nollywood content and reach wider audiences. This strategic approach has been a cornerstone of EbonyLife's success.

"The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives" is a critically acclaimed novel with a huge following. Bringing this beloved story to film, with the combined might of EbonyLife, Genesis, Nile, and Silverbird, creates a powerful team. The ambition to reach a global audience further highlights the scale of this project.

Given Mo Abudu's track record of successful partnerships and her knack for identifying projects with immense potential, it's not unreasonable to expect big things. While the Nollywood box office has evolved since 2016, the formula of a great story, strong production, the right casting, and strategic collaboration remains key.

Will "The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives" be the film that pulls another ELFIKE-level result in 2026? Only time will tell, but all signs point to another exciting chapter in Nigerian cinema history. Keep an eye out – Mo Abudu is definitely a force!