Idris Elba is making waves with plans to relocate to Africa, aiming to reshape the narrative of African cinema. In a recent interview with the BBC while attending the Africa Cinema Summit in Accra, Ghana, the celebrated actor expressed his commitment to developing the sub-Saharan film industry, declaring, “It’s going to happen.”
Best known for his roles in hit TV series like “Luther” and “The Wire,” as well as films such as “Beasts of No Nation” and “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” Elba revealed his vision for African filmmaking extends beyond mere production. He previously announced intentions to establish a film studio in Tanzania and emphasized that his ambitions require him to live on the continent. “I think I’ll move in the next five to ten years, God willing. I’m here to bolster the film industry – that is a ten-year process – and I can’t do that from overseas. I need to be on the ground, in the country,” he stated.
Elba detailed his plans to immerse himself in various locations, saying, “I’m going to live in Accra, I’m going to live in Freetown, I’m going to live in Zanzibar. I want to be where the stories are being told – that’s really important.”
Born in London to a Sierra Leonean father and Ghanaian mother, Elba is passionate about the potential for filmmaking across Africa. “If you watch any film about Africa, all you see is trauma – slavery, colonization, war. But when you come to Africa, you realize that’s just not the whole story,” he explained. “It’s crucial that we tell our own stories that reflect our traditions, cultures, and languages, highlighting the nuances between them. The world doesn’t know that.”
In addition to his filmmaking aspirations, Elba is involved in a consortium working on an “eco city” on Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone, further contributing to his commitment to the continent.
