Idris Elba To Launch Film Studio In Zanzibar

Source: Tim P. Whitby / Getty

We didn’t necessarily need another reason to love and respect veteran actor Idris Elba, but here the 51-year-old is adding to his legacy and bringing more cinema to the continent by moving to launch a film studio in Zanzibar.

According to Deadline, the Luther actor has been allocated some land in Zanzibar to launch the studio, giving him the opportunity to help expand Africa’s increasingly growing and thriving film industry in the Tanzanian archipelago in East Africa. In fact, Zanzibar’s investment minister Shariff Ali Shariff said during the Zanzibar International Film Festival this week that the studio Elba is about to make happen will contend with “Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood” and might even become known as “Zollywood.”

As for Elba, Stringer Bell of The Wire is only doing what he previously said he would by honoring his roots and expanding his legacy and that of the art scene in Africa.

From Deadline:

Elba, who was raised in East London, has family roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, and has previously expressed his desire to play a part in building this kind of industry in Africa.

The BBC quotes Zanzibar president’s spokesperson saying: “If successful, the project will help not only Tanzania but also eastern and central Africa.”

In February 2023, Elba spoke of plans to build a film studio in Ghana: “Currently, we call it West African Studios, but that’s a working title. We’ve been working on this for three or four years to raise a plan that puts a facility at the centre of African filmmaking.”

It should be acknowledged that this is potentially the best thing for Black actors, writers, and directors since Tyler Perry opened up his own film studio in Atlanta. It could certainly serve as a boon for Black actors and filmmakers across the diaspora.

So, lets wish Edris Elba the best and find out what we can do to lend him our support, shall we?

The culture needs this.