Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife TV to debut the African version of Desperate Housewives in 2014

* From Left to Right: Catherine Powell, SVP & GM,
Media Distribution, The Walt Disney Company,
EMEA; Giovanni Mastrangelo, General Manager,
Disney Media Distribution, Emerging Markets;
Mo Abudu, Chairman & CEO, EbonyLife TV, at
the Press Conference in Cannes announcing
plans for the co-production of “Desperate
Housewives Africa”, by EbonyLife TV and
Disney.
Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife TV has signed a co-
production deal for the African version of
Desperate Housewives scheduled to debut in
mid -2014.
The original ABC TV series- Desperate
Housewives – followed the lives of a group of
women as seen through the eyes of a dead
neighbour who committed suicide in the very
first episode. The storyline covers thirteen years
of the women’s lives over eight seasons as they
worked through domestic struggles and family
life, while facing the secrets, crimes and
mysteries hidden behind the doors of their — at
the surface — beautiful and seemingly perfect
neighbourhood.
Ben Pyne, President of global distribution at
Disney, revealed at the recently concluded
MIPCOM 2013 (an international TV and
entertainment market held in Cannes once
every year; where content is introduced for co-
producing, buying, selling, financing and
distributing) that the African version of the
comedy/drama series created by Marc Cherry,
and broadcast by ABC from 2004 until 2012 – is
currently in development, for a summer 2014
debut.
The co-production deal with EbonyLife TV will
feature an African cast, set in Lagos, Nigeria,
where it will also be shot, airing in 44 countries
within the African continent. The highly popular
series gathered a huge following in Nigeria as
well over the years.
Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife TV said, “We are
going to make it relevant, number one, by using
local talent — talent that our viewers will know
and love; two, we are going to work with local
stylists, local fashion designers, local interior
designers.”
The series has had four South American
versions: one for Argentina, one for Colombia
and one for Brazil as well as a remake in Turkey.
“We are going to give the stories an African
flavour. We will localize it, because there’s
nothing the West has that Africa doesn’t have.
We love, we fight, we kiss and we make up. We
like all the good things in life. There’s good and
there’s evil globally. So all those human
interests, those things that appeal to you,
believe me, appeal to us also.” Mo Abudu
added.
The Nigerian series will feature an African cast
of new emerging and established talents and
will be filmed on location in Lagos, Nigeria, at
Adiva Estates, a gated development along the
Lekki Expressway, developed by ARM. This
location has been identified as Africa’s own
“Wisteria Lane”.
Production will closely follow the format and
storylines of the original US version, with a
uniquely Nigerian flavour. And to ensure the
series retains its international appeal but with an
African soul, EbonyLife TV will be working with
DO.ii designs and Agatha Interiors on furniture
design for the Desperate Housewives Africa
sets. On dressing of talent, EbonyLife TV will be
partnering with stylist Veronica of Vane-Style
and major Nigerian designers to include Bridget
Awosika, Ella & Gabby, Jewel By Lisa, Kareema
Mak, Lanre Da Silva, Meena, Me-Li, Needle
Point, Odio Mimonet, Phunkafrique, Toju Foyeh,
etcetera.
Talks are also ongoing with a number of
potential sponsors to take advantage of this
once in a lifetime opportunity that will
undoubtedly deliver increased brand awareness,
massive brand building and huge propensity to
purchase.
With this exciting news, the question on
everyone’s mind is, which actresses from our
continent will make up the ensemble of cast in
the Nigeria-set Desperate Housewives Africa?
We wait to see.