Wait, What? Idris Elba Plans to Create a Film Industry in Africa That Rivals Hollywood

As if we didn’t already have enough reasons to love Idris Elba, the actor is embarking on a journey designed to stimulate Africa’s economy. “The Wire” star has pledged to invest money and resources into Africa’s film industry, hoping to turn it into an internationally recognized creative hub.

Part of Elba’s plan includes building film studios across the continent, starting with Zanzibar. After a meeting with Zanzibar’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the 2023 World Economic Forum in Davos, the government gave him permission to start building, according to BBC.

Speaking to African filmmakers and producers at the African Cinema Summit earlier this month, Elba stressed the importance of securing the resources and talent that will help them produce quality content. Then, he says, the rest of the world will have to take notice of the wealth of talent across the continent.

“We also have to pay attention to quality. We can’t make films that do not keep to the standard of the rest of the world,” he said. 

Although Africa is currently home to nearly 20 percent of the world’s population, it currently only represents one percent of the world’s creative economy. Elba’s investment could help bring 20 million jobs and an additional 20 billion dollars to Africa’s GDP by 2030, according to UNESCO.

Elba also plans to improve the banking system across the continent to help those working in the film industry manage their money.

“Popular platforms for monetizing creative work often require bank accounts, which excludes many young Africans,” he told CNN. “We need a financial model that allows for consistent quality creation.”

Shariff Ali Shariff, Zanzibar’s Minister for Investment, is optimistic about Elba’s plan and its ability to help put the country’s film industry on the world stage.

“Idris Elba will be building a modern studio similar to Hollywood, Nollywood (in Nigeria), or Bollywood,” he told an audience at the Zanzibar International Film Festival in August. “I’m not sure how we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zollywood or Zawood.”