IDRIS Elba has revealed his intention to relocate to Africa to strengthen the sub-Saharan film industry, asserting, “it’s going to happen.”
The renowned actor, celebrated for his roles in Luther, The Wire, and films like Beasts of No Nation and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, shared his aspirations at the Africa Cinema Summit in Accra, Ghana.
Elba, who has plans to build a film studio in Tanzania, believes that his mission to enhance African filmmaking requires him to be on the continent. “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 stated.
He mentioned his desire to reside in various locations, including Accra, Freetown in Sierra Leone, and Zanzibar, to immerse himself in local storytelling. “I’m going to try and go where they’re telling stories – that’s really important.”
Elba, whose heritage includes a father from Sierra Leone and a mother from Ghana, expressed his enthusiasm for the diverse narratives in Africa. He remarked, “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.” He emphasised the need to reclaim these narratives: “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 addition to his film ambitions, Elba is part of a consortium developing an “eco city” on Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone.
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