The Silverbird Group is a diversified multi-media company with holdings in Radio, Television, Real Estate, and Cinemas headquartered in

Lagos Lagos ( Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 f ...

, Nigeria. The company was established in 1980 by Ben Murray-Bruce and counts Silverbird Cinemas and the

Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria – often abbreviated as MBGN – is a pageant organised by Silverbird Group with the main purpose of sending representatives to international competitions. Originally known as Miss Universe Nigeria, it was rena ...

(MBGN) and

Mr Nigeria Mr Nigeria is a male pageant which selects contestants to compete at Mister World. Although ran by several organisers in previous decades, the current franchise holder is Silverbird Group who also organise Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. The ...

pageants amongst its holdings. Its businesses divisions are Silverbird Properties, Silverbird Film Distribution, Silverbird Communications, Silverbird Cinemas, Silverbird Production, and Dream Magic Studios. In November 2022, the company signed a $145 Million financing deal with the African Export-Import Bank to construct the

Ben Murray-Bruce Studios and Film Academy Ben is frequently used as a shortened version of the given names Benjamin, Benedict, Bennett or Benson, and is also a given name in its own right. Ben (in he, בֶּן, ''son of'') forms part of Hebrew surnames, e.g. Abraham ben Abraham ( he ...

(BMB Studios and Film Academy) in Eko Atlantic City, in what is reported to be West Africa's largest educational and film studio complex.

History

The origins of firm began in June 1980, when Benedict Murray-Bruce, son of a former

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executive, secured funds from his family to start a music promotion enterprise. The business began during Nigeria's Second Republic and was involved in promotion of American music artists in Nigeria, the firm organized promotions for such bands as

The Whispers The Whispers is an American group from Los Angeles, California, who have scored hit records since the late 1960s. They are best known for their two number one R&B singles, " And the Beat Goes On" in 1980 and " Rock Steady" in 1987. The Whispe ...

Shalamar Shalamar () is an American R&B and soul music vocal group active since the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Shalamar's classic line-up on the SOLAR label consisted of Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel, together with dancer ...

, Lakeside and

Carrie Lucas Carrie Lucas (born November 5, 1945) is an American R&B singer, born in Carmel, California. In 1976, she was signed to Soul Train Records. Lucas released six studio albums over seven years, with Soul Train and Solar Records. Lucas was marri ...

. The enterprise later delved into a dancing competition. The group later expanded into beauty pageant. In the 1990s, after the government liberalized the radio air waves, Silverbird established Rhythm 93.7 FM, initially, promoting a less talk more music brand. The radio started with old school jams and later began playing Afro hip hop. Though, Murray-Bruce also wanted a television license, his application was delayed as a result of conflicts with the management of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. In 1999, Bruce was appointed director of

NTA NTA may refer to: * Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, a method for visualizing and analyzing particles * National Tax Agency, the official tax collecting agency of Japan * National Tax Association, a non-profit organization in United States * Nati ...

and was soon able to get approval for Silverbird Television. The television station initially filled programming slots with syndicated foreign shows.

Silverbird Productions

Silverbird Productions is a division of the company that organizes the

pageant which began as Miss Universe Nigeria in 1983 but was later renamed to its present name. This division is also responsible in the organization of the

pageant.

Silverbird Communications

The Silverbird Communications comprises the company's radio station Rhythm 93.7 FM and Silverbird Television. Rhythm 93.7 FM Lagos was established in 1997 while Silverbird Television commenced transmission in Lagos in 2003. In 2002, Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt was established and Silverbird TV was also set up. In 2008

Rhythm 93.7 FM Rhythm 93.7 FM is a commercial radio station located in the Old GRA neighborhood of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The station broadcasts an urban contemporary radio format, playing a variety of music genres including R&B, hip hop, with occa ...

Jos was established to serve as the bedrock of entertainment in the media space on the Plateau

Silverbird Cinemas

The Silverbird Cinema is one of the biggest cinema chains in

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mau ...

with 69 screens in branches across Nigeria, Accra and

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city prope ...

. The first cinema was opened in May 2004 at the Silverbird Galleria in Victoria Island, Lagos. Massive commercial success has given rise to the opening of additional multiplexes in different locations across Nigeria. , Silverbird has cinemas in the following cities in Nigeria: Abuja, Lagos, Uyo, Warri and Port Harcourt.

Silverbird Properties

Silverbird Properties is one of the fastest growing divisions of the company. This division is responsible for all real-estate related activities and it currently operates in

Bayelsa State Bayelsa is one of the states in the South-South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. Y ...

and

Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe ...

Silverbird Film Distribution

This division of the company is responsible for all film distribution activities.

Silverbird Mall

The Silverbird Mall is located in

Victoria Island Victoria Island ( ikt, Kitlineq, italic=yes) is a large island in the Arctic Archipelago that straddles the boundary between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is the eighth-largest island in the world, and at in area, it is ...

, Lagos. It consists of the popular Silverbird Galleria.

References

External links

Official Website

Silverbird Group
on

Bloomberg Bloomberg may refer to: People * Daniel J. Bloomberg (1905–1984), audio engineer * Georgina Bloomberg (born 1983), professional equestrian * Michael Bloomberg (born 1942), American businessman and founder of Bloomberg L.P.; politician and ...

{{Shopping malls in Nigeria 1980 establishments in Nigeria Mass media companies of Nigeria Entertainment companies of Nigeria Film production companies of Nigeria Companies based in Lagos Entertainment companies established in 1980 Real estate companies established in 1980 Real estate companies of Nigeria