British actor Idris Elba told BBC that he plans to move to Africa within the next decade to help grow the movie industry there.

Elba, who is 52 years old and famous for starring in the TV series The Wire, is working on building film studios in Zanzibar and Accra, the capital of Ghana. His connection to Africa runs deep as his mother is from Ghana, and his father is from Sierra Leone.

In an interview during an industry meeting in Accra, Elba said he is serious about moving to Africa in the next five to ten years, as he wants to support Africa’s film industry directly. He explained that he needs to be in Africa to make a real difference. He believes it’s essential for Africans to tell their own stories through film.

Elba, who once played Nelson Mandela in the movie Long Walk to Freedom, wants Africans to be involved in every part of the filmmaking process, including acting, directing, financing, and marketing.

He also wants the world to better understand Africa, beyond just stories about slavery, colonization, and war, which are often the focus in films about Africa.

According to BBC, Elba thinks it’s important to highlight African traditions, cultures, and languages so that people outside Africa can see its richness and diversity.

Elba acknowledged that Africa has talented filmmakers, especially in Nigeria’s Nollywood, which produces hundreds of movies every year. But he pointed out that the continent lacks the proper facilities to support its growing film industry.

A 2022 report from UNESCO confirmed Elba’s view, stating that while Africa’s film production is growing, issues like piracy, lack of training, and few official film institutions are holding the industry back.

Elba believes that with the right support from governments and investments, Africa’s storytelling can thrive, and people around the world will see themselves in the stories being told from the continent.

As he told BBC, investing in African stories is key to showing the world what Africa is really about.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98yz7pxrlko

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