Mo Abudu is adapting Wole Soyinka's book Death and the King's Horseman for film

The media mogul made the announcement on Instagram alongside a photo of herself and the renowned Nigerian playwright, Soyinka, having lunch at the Scotts in London.

According to Abudu, EbonyLife Films has acquired the rights to turn the great work of literature into a feature film for global distribution.

The play was written by Wole Soyinka during his political exile from Nigeria. Death and the King’s Horseman is based on a real incident that took place in Nigeria during the British colonial rule.

Based on events that took place in Oyo, an ancient Yoruba city in Nigeria. Death and the King’s Horseman follows the intertwined lives of Elesin Oba, the king’s chief horseman; his son, Olunde, who is studying medicine in England; and Simon Pilkings, the colonial district officer.

The king has died and Elesin is expected by custom to commit suicide and accompany his ruler to heaven. The stage is set for a dramatic climax when Pilkings learns of the ritual and decides to intervene.

The announcement by Abudu comes months after Tunde Kelani announced the big screen adaptation of another of Soyinka’s books, The Lion and the Jewel.

No cast or director has been officially attached to the project.