British actor Idris Elba, whose parents hail from Sierra Leone and Ghana, is on a mission to transform the entertainment industry in Africa.
Elba aims to build film studios across Africa, starting in Zanzibar, the Tanzanian semi-autonomous island renowned for its white sand beaches.
The idea was born a few years ago when he discussed his intention with the president of Ghana.
His vision took root last year when he met Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Their discussions led to plans for the first studio in Zanzibar. In August, the government of Zanzibar reported that the actor had been given nearly 200 acres to begin construction.
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The 52-year-old actor is now ready to honor his African roots.
He has also declared his intention to relocate to Africa within the next decade to help develop the continent’s film industry across several nations.
Idris Elba also wants to leverage his star power to back the continent’s burgeoning film business as he says it is vital that Africans get to tell their own stories.
Elba explained that he planned not to be based in just one country and hoped to live in Zanzibar, Accra, and Freetown.
“I’m going to try and go where they’re telling stories—that’s really important,” Elba stated while noting that the main aim of the project is to help Africans own their stories on a global stage.
Speaking to CNN, he said: “A lot of media is centered around negative depictions of Africa but the median age in Africa is 19; these young people are optimistic and deserve the chance to tell their own stories.”
Idris Elba’s project will complement Nigeria’s film industry, Nollywood which has been a global phenomenon since it rose to fame in the 1990s rising to become the world’s second-largest film industry after India based on the number of productions, with an average of 2,000 movies released annually.
