Africa: Idris Elba to Build Film Studios in Africa, Says Move is 'Going to Happen'

23 October 2024

Idris Elba has announced plans to relocate to Africa within the next decade, to fuel the growth of the continent's booming film industry.

"I would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider – it's going to happen," he told BBC.

"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."

He aims to build film studios in Tanzania's Zanzibar and Ghana's capital, Accra.

With deep roots in the continent - Elba, whose mother is from Ghana and father is from Sierra Leone, stressed the importance of Africans reclaiming their narratives. To remain close to the stories being told, he intends to reside in several African cities, including Accra, Freetown, and Zanzibar.

Elba hopes to change the way Africa is portrayed on screen, moving away from colonial and trauma-based narratives.

"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," he said. "So, it's really important that we own those stories of our tradition, of our culture, of our languages, of the differences between one language and another. The world doesn't know that."

In the meantime, a television adaptation of Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart"  is in development at A24 with Idris Elba attached to star and executive produce.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.