British actor, Idris Elba has disclosed plans to relocate to Africa to support the continent’s movie industry.
The 52-year-old star who was born in London, Elba, whose mother is from Ghana and father from Sierra Leone, has a strong attachment to Africa.
According to Elba, he wants to leverage his star power to back its burgeoning film business, stating it is vital that Africans get to tell their own stories.
The actor revealed this in an interview on the sidelines of an industry meeting in Accra, saying, “I would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider, it’s going to happen.
“I think [I’ll move] in the next five, 10 years, God willing. 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.
“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.”
Elba, who played South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela in the 2013 biopic Long Walk to Freedom, said he believes that it is vital for Africans to be centre-stage in the entire film-making process and that he harbours the goal to own a film studio in Accra one day.
He said, “This sector is a soft power, not just across Ghana but across Africa.
“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’s just war and when you come to Africa, you will realise that it’s not true.
“So, it’s 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 doesn’t know that.”
Elba has previously recognised the talent in Africa’s film industry, but said the facilities were “lacking”.
Elba stated that with the right momentum and involvement of governments willing to create an enabling environment, a virtuous circle can be established, saying, “We have to invest in our story-telling because when you see me, you see a little version of yourself and that encourages us.”
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