Idris Elba 'moving to Africa' as he reveals why he is ditching Hollywood
1 month ago
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Hollywood favourite Idris Elba has shared his plans to leave the UK in the next 10 years to help develop the film industry in the heart of Africa.
By Bethany Whittingham, Senior Showbiz Reporter
10:13, Wed, Oct 23, 2024 | UPDATED: 10:21, Wed, Oct 23, 2024
Idris Elba has revealed his plans to move to Africa (Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
Idris Elba has announced his plans to move to Africa in the next 10 years to help build the continent’s film industry in Hollywood.
The 52-year-old actor, best known for his role in Luther and The Wire, was born in London to a mother who hails from Ghana and a father from Sierra Leone.
The dad-of-two now plans to celebrate his African roots by building a film studio on Tanzania’s Zanzibar islands, off the east coast of the continent, and in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Speaking to the BBC, he teased: “I would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider, it’s going to happen.
“I think [I’ll move] in the next five, 10 years, God willing. I’m here to bolster the film industry – that is a 10-year process I won’t be able to do that from overseas. I need to be in-country, on the continent.”
The actor hopes to help build the continent’s film industry (Image: Variety via Getty Images)
However, Elba – who portrayed former South African president Nelson Mandela – explained that he doesn’t plan to be based in just one location.
The doting dad hopes to live in Zanzibar, Accra and Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. “I’m going to try and go where they’re telling stories – that's really important,” he insisted.
One of Elba’s aims with the project is to help Africans own their stories on a global stage. Speaking to CNN, he went on: “A lot of media is centred 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.”
He is expecting to move in the next five to 10 years (Image: PA)
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In August, the BBC reported that Elba’s project had been approved, with Zanzibar’s investment minister likening the potential to "Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood.”
Shariff Ali Shariff joked: “I’m not sure how we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zollywood or Zawood.”
Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, has been a global phenomenon since the 1990s when it rose to prominence with such films as Living in Bondage.
Another gripping thriller that captured viewers was Kunle Afolayan’s Aníkúlápó, which was released in 2022 and peaked at number one on Netflix’s global chart.
He plans to live in Zanzibar, Accra and Freetown (Image: Apple TV )
It is the world’s second-largest film industry after India based on the number of productions, with an average number of 2,000 movies released each year.
Despite this, the UN cultural agency reports that African filmmaking has struggled to develop across the continent due to several issues including piracy and lack of funding.
It comes after a pilot programme was launched this week by the Ghanaian government that aims to bring more financial inclusions for creatives and streamline payments in the industry.
Commenting on the news, Elba added: “Popular platforms for monetising creative work often require bank accounts, which excludes many young Africans. We need a financial model that allows for consistent quality creation.”
1 month ago
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English (US) ·