ENTERTAINMENT NEWS: BRITISH ACTOR, IDRIS ELBA REVEALS RELOCATION PLANS TO AFRICA
British actor Idris Elba has revealed plans to relocate to Africa within the next decade.
According to a BBC report on Wednesday, the aim is to play a key role in supporting the continentās film industry.
The actor was born in London to a Ghanaian mother and a Sierra Leonean father.
Speaking on the sidelines of a film industry meeting in Accra, Idris noted that he is already involved in projects to build film studios in Zanzibar, Tanzania and Accra, Ghana as part of his vision to bolster local filmmaking.
He highlighted the importance of Africans telling their own stories on the global stage.
āI would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider, itās going to happen,ā he said.
He added, āI think [Iāll move] in the next five, 10 years, God willing. Iām here to bolster the film industry ā that is a 10-year process ā I wonāt be able to do that from overseas. I need to be in-country, on the continent.ā
It was recently announced that the English actor will portray Okonkwo, the protagonist in Chinua Achebeās classic novel, Things Fall Apart, in a new TV series adaptation.
Elba, also known for his roles in Beasts of No Nation, Pacific Rim, and Thor, said he would not commit to living in a specific place.
āIām going to live in Accra, Iām going to live in Freetown Sierra Leoneās capital, Iām going to live in Zanzibar. Iām going to try and go where theyāre telling stories ā thatās really important,ā he added.
He said he is committed to leveraging his influence to elevate the regionās film industry.
āIām here to bolster the film industryāthat is a 10-year process.
āI wonāt be able to do that from overseas. I need to be in-country, on the continent,ā he said.
He believes that the film industry serves as a āsoft powerā that can reshape global perceptions of the continent.
āIf you watch any film or anything that has got to do with Africa, all youāre going to see is trauma, how we were slaves, how we were colonised, how itās just war and when you come to Africa, you will realise that itās not true.
āSo, itās 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 doesnāt know that,ā he stated.
He dreams of shooting films in his Accra studio one day, showcasing the potential of locally produced stories.
āWe have to invest in our storytelling because when you see me, you see a little version of yourself, and that encourages us,ā he said.