British actor Idris Elba has revealed his plans to relocate to Africa within the next decade to support the continent’s growing film industry.
The 52-year-old star, best known for his role in *The Wire*, told the BBC that he is dedicated to helping Africans tell their own stories through film.
“I would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider, it’s going to happen,” Elba said during an interview in Accra, Ghana. “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.”
Elba, whose mother is from Ghana and father from Sierra Leone, has a deep connection to Africa. He is currently involved in two projects to build film studios, one in Zanzibar and the other in Accra. However, he hasn’t committed to living in just one location, reflecting a Pan-African spirit. “I’m going to live in Accra, I’m going to live in Freetown, I’m going to live in Zanzibar. I’m going to try and go where they’re telling stories – that’s really important,” he explained.
Elba stressed the importance of Africans controlling their own narratives, both in front of and behind the camera. “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… So, it’s really important that we own those stories of our tradition, of our culture, of our languages.”
He added that his long-term goal is to one day make a movie at his studio in Accra.
Elba believes the African film industry has great potential, but said facilities are “lacking.” A 2022 UNESCO report confirmed this, noting issues like piracy, limited training, and the absence of official film institutions as major barriers to growth.
Despite these challenges, Elba is optimistic, saying, “We have to invest in our storytelling because when you see me, you see a little version of yourself and that encourages us.”
He hopes that with government support and proper investment, Africa’s film industry can reach new heights.
