Idris Elba set to move to Africa ‘to boost film industry’

Idris Elba, the British actor and producer, has revealed plans to relocate to Africa within the next decade to contribute to the continent’s film industry.

Elba spoke to the BBC on Wednesday while attending the Africa Cinema Summit in Accra, Ghana.

The 52-year-old film star emphasised the need for Africans to take control of their narratives on the global stage. He said he plans to move to Africa in the next 10 years but will not commit to a specific location.

“I would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider, it’s going to happen,” he said.

“I think [I’ll move] in the next five, 10 years, God willing. I’m here to bolster the film industry.

“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.”

The movie star criticised the predominantly negative representation of the continent in films and media, adding that the portrayals focus primarily on trauma and fail to capture the diverse and true experiences of Africans.

“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 is just war and when you come to Africa, you will realise that it is not true,” he added.

He also shared his ambition to one day shoot films in his planned Accra studio and showcase the potential of locally produced stories.

In March, Elba shared plans to transform Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone into an “eco-friendly smart city.”

The Hollywood star will also reprise the iconic role previously played by Pete Edochie, the ace Nigerian actor, in ‘Things Fall Apart’.

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