Famous British actor Idris Elba has announced exciting plans to move to Africa, aiming to enhance the continent’s film industry, particularly in Ghana and Tanzania.
Known for his roles in hits like ‘Luther’ and ‘The Wire,’ Elba is passionate about telling African stories through cinema and changing the world’s perception of the continent.
Elba intends to build modern film studios in Accra, Ghana, and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
These facilities are designed to give African filmmakers access to excellent infrastructure, enabling them to create high-quality films that can compete with those from Hollywood, Nollywood, and Bollywood. In support of this vision, Tanzanian officials have offered nearly 200 acres of land in Zanzibar for a project tentatively called “West African Studios.”
While speaking at an industry meeting in Accra, Elba shared his commitment to diving deep into Africa’s storytelling culture. “I’m not just considering it—I will make it happen,” he declared, saying he plans to move to the continent within the next five to ten years. “To create a thriving African film industry, I need to be here, on the ground,” he added.
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Elba aims to experience multiple locations across Africa, stating, “I’m going to live in Accra, I’m going to live in Freetown, I’m going to live in Zanzibar. I want to go wherever the stories are being told, because that’s what really matters.”
His ties to Africa are personal; his mother is Ghanaian and his father hails from Sierra Leone. This background gives him a special insight into the continent’s potential and its challenges. He emphasizes the importance of Africans narrating their own stories, showcasing their rich cultures and histories: “It is vital that Africans get to tell their own stories,” he said.
One of Elba’s long-term goals is to produce a film in his studio in Accra, reinforcing his belief that Africans should lead the entire filmmaking process, from acting and directing to financing and marketing.
Having portrayed Nelson Mandela in ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,’ Elba sees African cinema as a powerful means to reshape global views of the continent.
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