Mo Abudu Says She Cannot Dance to Promote Movies Shares Honest View on Film Marketing
Mo Abudu, the founder of EbonyLife Media, has revealed that she does not plan to promote her movies through dance videos, saying the approach does not match her personality or strengths. She made this known while speaking at the Lagos Business of Film Summit, where industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of filmmaking and cinema success in Nigeria.
According to Mo Abudu, film promotion in Nigeria has changed a lot in recent years. Social media trends, especially dance challenges, now play a big role in attracting attention to movies. Many producers and actors create fun dance clips online to build excitement before their films are released in cinemas.
Abudu praised actresses and filmmakers Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham for using energetic dance routines to promote their movies. She said she admires how they connect with audiences and create buzz around their projects. However, she admitted that she simply does not have the energy or dancing ability to follow the same path.
She explained that she has already told her team clearly that dancing will not be part of her personal publicity style. If a movie campaign requires dance content, she said someone else on the team can handle it. For her, it is important to stay true to what she is comfortable doing instead of copying what works for others.
Mo Abudu stressed that there is no single formula for box office success in Nigeria. While dance promotions may work well for some filmmakers, others may succeed through interviews, media appearances, strong storytelling, or strategic partnerships. She believes each filmmaker must understand their own strengths and use them wisely.
Speaking at the event, she said she often wonders where Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham get the energy to keep up with dance trends online. She described their efforts as impressive but made it clear that it is not something she sees herself doing.
“I have told my team, I can’t dance,” she said. “So go and look for someone else to do the dancing because it is not going to be me.” Her statement drew laughter from the audience but also highlighted a serious point about authenticity in film marketing.
Her comments have sparked conversations online about the pressure on filmmakers to follow social media trends. Many people agreed that while dance challenges can help movies go viral, not every producer or director needs to take part personally.
