Idris Elba Reveals Plans to Relocate to Africa

Idris Elba has revealed his plans to relocate to Africa to produce films that proudly share African traditions, culture, and languages.

The British actor, musician, and DJ is famous for his roles in ‘The Wire’ and ‘Luther’ television shows.

He also starred in hit movies including Beasts of No Nation and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

After achieving success on the big and small screens, Idris Elba is now moving on to a new project.

Idris Elba has announced plans to move to Africa to support the film industry there, saying, “It’s going to happen.”

With his mother from Ghana and father from Sierra Leone, Idris Elba feels a strong bond with Africa.

While attending the Africa Cinema Summit last year in Accra, Ghana, the actor revealed his plans to the BBC.

Idris Elba wants to use his fame to help Africa’s growing film industry, believing Africans should tell their own stories.

In an interview at an industry meeting in Accra, Idris Elba confidently said, “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,” he added.

He also said, “I’m going to live in Accra, I’m going to live in Freetown [Sierra Leone’s capital], I’m going to live in Zanzibar. I’m going to try and go where they’re telling stories – that’s really important.”

Idris Elba dreams of making a movie at his own studio in Accra someday.

Idris Elba’s Film Studio Plan in Africa

The 52-year-old star actor plans to build film studios in Tanzania’s Zanzibar and Ghana’s Accra.

After talking to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania has approved Idris Elba’s film studio plan.

The Tanzanian government has allocated land to Idris Elba for a film studio in Zanzibar.

Idris Elba and President Samia talked about building a studio in January 2023 at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

After the discussions, the president’s spokesperson said, “If successful, the project will help not only Tanzania but also eastern and central Africa.”

Zanzibar’s investment minister says the new studio could be like those in Hollywood or Bollywood and might be named Zollywood.

In 2023, Idris Elba also spoke of his plans to build a film studio in Ghana.

He told a Ghanaian media outlet in February 2023, “Currently, we call it West African Studios, but that’s a working title. We’ve been working on this for three or four years to raise a plan that puts a facility at the centre of African filmmaking.”

With African ties, Idris Elba is passionate about filmmaking opportunities in Africa.

He told the BBC, “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 colonised, how it’s just war and when you come to Africa, you will realise that it’s not true.”

“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,” he added.

Elba acknowledged the talent of African filmmakers but said they need better facilities. He has made it his goal to work on that.