Idris Elba has declared his intention to relocate to Africa within the next 10 years to help develop the continentâs film industry.
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The 52-year-old actor, who is best known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, was born in London to a mother from Ghana and a father from Sierra Leone.
Speaking to the BBC, he has now revealed his plans to honour his African heritage by building a film studio on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar, and additional one in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
âI would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider, itâs going to happen,â Elba said.
âI think [Iâll move] in the next five, 10 years, God willing,â he added. âIâm here to bolster the film industry – that is a 10-year process – I wonât be able to do that from overseas. I need to be in-country, on the continent.â
Elba explained that he hopes to be based in three different countries on the continent: Zanzibar, Accra and Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. âIâm going to try and go where theyâre telling stories – thatâs really important,â he said.
In a separate interview with CNN, Elba said that one of his aims to help Africans own their stories on the global stage. âA lot of media is centred around (negative depictions of Africa). But the median age in Africa is 19; these young people are optimistic and deserve the chance to tell their own stories,” he said.
In August, the BBC reported that Elbaâs project had been approved, with Zanzibarâs investment minister likening the potential to âHollywood, Nollywood or Bollywoodâ.
âIâm not sure how we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zollywood or Zawood,â joked Shariff Ali Shariff.
Back in April this year, Elba reiterated his intention to the return to the role of Luther, hinting a new project about the detective could be on the horizon.
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