Idris Elba is known for The Wire, Luther, and his role as Heimdall in the MCU. Idris Elba has expressed his interest in building a film industry in Africa, particularly Ghana. He met the president of Africa Nana Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House to discuss and elaborate on his plans on 3rd February. Before visiting Ghana, the actor traveled to Tanzania and met with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Idris Elba promises to build a studio in Africa
The actor sat with the president and laid out his plans for the industry and how Africa will benefit from it. The industry will support and encourage more local talents, which increase the number of Africans involved in filmmaking and bring in much-needed income opportunities. Having a film studio in Africa will also reduce the chances of people facing racism.
it’s Excellency nice to see you again ..um.. and Tony Tego my partner in our program to build film studios across Africa. Currently, we call it West African Studios but that’s because it’s a working title we’ve been working at this for you know three or four years to raise a plan that you know puts a facility at the center of African filmmaking. There’s a lot of African filmmaking but the facilities around that are something that is lacking in South Africa they have a big facility a lot of Film Production goes there but quickly as we’re planning this we realized that policy is where the actual groundwork needs to be laid.
“You know we’ve studied the models of obviously South Africa who have granted incredible incentive packages and around Europe. Greece, Morocco these are all places where they’re you know they realize the value of the filmmaking dollar and I’ve brought that um policy into play. Tony Denny and the is it the film um National film Authority have you know done the work uh put together a very comprehensive plan to Propel Ghana into the Forefront”
Idris Elba, once considered the sexiest man alive, also highlighted intentions to create a film studio across Africa and the need for a comprehensive plan to catapult Ghana to the forefront of movie-making.
Idris Elba takes to Twitter to respond to partiality accusations
The actor made some big promises but people are still not happy. The actor shared a screenshot of people asking about a studio in Sierra Leone after he expressed his wants to develop a studio in Tanzania and Ghana. Many claims that he was forgotten the land his mother belonged to, but Elba replied with this tweet.
African Governments move at their pace not mine but progress for ONE is progress for ALL. SL 🇸🇱 peeps don’t worry I haven’t forgotten about you ….. My mother always told me this saying in krio….. Patient dog go eat fat bone 🍖 #UpdateSoon pic.twitter.com/I6pp7LyJVZ
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) February 5, 2023
He pleads people to be a little patient as these things take a lot of time. Many are extremely happy that someone is looking after them, thinking of their benefit and development. However how much of it will come true or if the studios will have a positive impact on African people? are questions no one has answers to.
To the actor’s credit he made sure his recent film Beast was shot in Africa. He sincerely believed that it was necessary for the film because the location was also a significant character in the film. The film was released on 19 August 2022. The film is about a Doctor who is trapped amidst bloodthirsty lions and traps set up to kill them. The protagonist with his two teenage daughters has to survive a lion, scorching heat and keep his daughters safe.
Beast is Streaming on Prime Video
Source: Youtube
