Idris Elba, the celebrated British actor of Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian origin, has made news for his plans to relocate to Africa within the next decade. This initiative is part of his larger plan to boost the continent’s booming film industry by creating film studios in major African cities like Accra, Ghana, and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Elba, who was born in London, has always had a strong African heritage. His mother is from Ghana, and his father is from Sierra Leone; therefore, he has a great connection to the continent. While he has spent the majority of his time working in the worldwide cinema industry, Elba’s current projects show a genuine desire to bring Africa to the center of global cinema.
In a candid interview at an industry convention in Accra, Elba reiterated his intention to spend the next few years on the continent to contribute to its cinematic development. “I believe [I will move] within the next five to ten years, God willing. I’m here to support the film industry, which is a 10-year process that I won’t be able to undertake from overseas. “I need to be in-country and on the continent,” Elba explained.
Africa’s film industry, particularly Nollywood in Nigeria, has made amazing progress over the last few decades, producing hundreds of films each year and becoming one of the country’s most important cultural exports. According to Elba, the continent is filled with potential, but it lacks the infrastructure and facilities needed to rise. According to Elba, while the continent is rich in talent, it lacks the infrastructure and facilities required to take its output to the world stage.
A UNESCO assessment from 2022 highlighted these worries, stating that despite increased film output in Africa, the industry remains hampered by piracy, inadequate training, and a lack of film institutions. Elba has stated his goal to close these gaps, thinking that African stories require more investment and deeper backing from both the business and public sectors.
Elba’s proposed studios in Accra and Zanzibar are intended to be hubs for African storytelling, giving Africans complete control over their storylines. The actor has long advocated for Africans to control their narrative, breaking away from the stereotypical depictions of trauma, poverty, and violence that frequently dominate international media coverage of the continent.
“If you watch any film or anything that has got to do with Africa, all you’re going to see is trauma, how we were slaves, how we were colonized, how it’s just war, and when you come to Africa, you will realize that it’s not true,” Elba went on to explain. He feels that Africa’s varied customs, languages, and civilizations have countless stories to tell, and his purpose is to create platforms where these stories can flourish.
Elba’s worldview is unusual in that it takes a Pan-African approach. He doesn’t want to settle in a single nation but rather travel around the continent—including Accra, Freetown, and Zanzibar—to support African filmmaking wherever its tales are told. His goal is to introduce African cinema to a global audience in the same manner that Hollywood films have introduced audiences to cities such as New York and Los Angeles without requiring them to travel there.
“This sector is a soft power, not just across Ghana but across Africa,” Elba told journalists. “We have to invest in our storytelling because when you see me, you see a little version of yourself and that encourages us.”
Aside from performing, Elba sees a dynamic ecosystem in which Africans are empowered at all stages of filmmaking, from finance to distribution, marketing, and promoting their work. He wants to reduce reliance on external markets and encourage domestic talent to take the initiative.
Challenges and Hope
Elba’s grandiose goals, however, are not without complications. The challenges confronting Africa’s film industry are deeply rooted in decades of underdevelopment, insufficient funding, and little global recognition. However, Elba believes that with the correct investment and assistance from both governments and private groups, the continent can build a self-sufficient sector.
His cheerfulness is contagious. Elba believes that Africa is on the verge of a cinematic revolution, one that will highlight the continent’s true diversity and inventiveness. “The world doesn’t know that,” Elba stated. “But they will, soon.”
A Legacy In the Making
Elba’s decision to move to Africa is more than simply a personal one; it’s a bold statement about the future of African cinema and Africans’ responsibility to tell their own stories. Elba is ushering in a new era of African narrative by constructing studios, developing talent, and cooperating with local filmmakers.
As he prepares for this new chapter, Elba’s devotion to Africa extends beyond filmmaking to changing history.
