Idris Elba, the renowned actor from London with roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, is venturing into a new chapter of his career that is close to his heart.
His mission is to revolutionize the entertainment industry in Africa by building film studios across the continent, starting with Zanzibar, Tanzania.
This visionary idea was sparked after Elba met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the World Economic Forum in Davos last year.
The discussions between them led to plans for the first studio in Zanzibar, a move that Elba believes could be the first step towards creating a global entertainment hub.
The government of Zanzibar has allocated nearly 200 acres of land for the construction of the studio, which is set to rival the likes of Hollywood, Nollywood in Nigeria, and Bollywood.
The Minister for Investment in Zanzibar even suggested whimsical names like “Zallywood” or “Zawood” for the burgeoning industry.
Elba’s vision goes beyond just filmmaking. He believes that Africa’s creative sector is often overlooked globally and that it is crucial for African voices to be heard and represented in the media landscape.
With Africa making up 18% of the world’s population but only accounting for 1% of the global creative economy, there is huge untapped potential for growth and innovation.
Recent reports by UNESCO have shown that Africa’s film and audiovisual industry could create millions of jobs and boost the continent’s GDP significantly by 2030.
Global players like Netflix and Disney have already made investments in countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria, paving the way for further growth and development.
Elba acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead in structuring a new industry, particularly in terms of financing and payment systems in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
To address this issue, he has partnered with Stellar to introduce Akuna Wallet, a digital wallet designed for the creative economy that enables secure peer-to-peer transactions in digital currencies.
With a pilot program launched in Ghana, Elba aims to streamline payments for local creatives and promote financial inclusion within the industry.
By demonstrating the economic potential of the entertainment sector, Elba hopes to garner support from local governments to foster its growth and sustainability.
