Idris Elba reveals why he plans to relocate to Africa in the next 10 years
Topics: Africa, Film and TV, Idris Elba, Entertainment
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images/Nicky J Sims/Getty Images
Topics: Africa, Film and TV, Idris Elba, Entertainment
While Idris Elba originally made a name for himself in Hollywood despite living in London, he isn't planning on living in either destination in the future.
Elba has been taking up residence in made up locations for his latest flick Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but it's certainly a real place the actor is heading next.
While the 52-year-old may be from the UK, he has starred in roles that take place across the globe.
The actor is, of course, best known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, but he has also played former South African president Nelson Mandela in the 2013 biopic Long Walk to Freedom.
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The role saw Elba embrace his African roots, with his mother from Ghana and father from Sierra Leone.
And Elba now plans to honour his roots by helping develop the film industry across several nations in the continent.
The Luther actor is aiming to build film studios on Tanzania’s Zanzibar islands, as well as in Ghana's capital, Accra.
As well as helping the film industry develop in Africa with the studios, Elba is even planning to relocate to the continent in the future.
He recently told the BBC: "I would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider, it’s going to happen.
"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."
So, where exactly in Africa is Elba planning to settle down?
Well, not just one location actually, with Elba telling the BBC he is planning to have homes in Zanzibar and Accra.
And going back to his dad's roots, the actor is also planning to live in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.
"I’m going to try and go where they’re telling stories - that’s really important," he told the BBC.
The BBC reported back in August that Elba's ambitious project had been approved, which is good news all round, right?
Zanzibar's investment minster even suggested the potential could propel his country's outlook in film to 'Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood' status.
Shariff Ali Shariff joked: "I’m not sure how we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zollywood or Zawood."
The film industry has long struggled to excel in many African countries, with officials blaming a number of factors such as lack of funding and piracy.
Elba added: "Popular platforms for monetizing creative work often require bank accounts, which excludes many young Africans.
"We need a financial model that allows for consistent quality creation."