See Idris Elba’s vision to transform entertainment industry in Africa

Idris Elba, known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, is now focusing on transforming Africa’s entertainment industry. Elba, who has roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, aims to build film studios across Africa, beginning with Zanzibar. This vision emerged after discussions with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan during the World Economic Forum in 2023. The Zanzibar government has already allocated nearly 200 acres for the project, marking the start of Elba’s goal to create a global entertainment hub in Africa.
The project isn’t limited to just films; Elba seeks to shift the portrayal of Africa on the global stage, emphasizing the continent’s youth and potential. Currently, Africa’s creative sector represents only 1% of the global economy, despite the continent housing 18% of the world’s population. With substantial growth potential, Elba is also tackling challenges in financing and copyright regulations, advocating for a robust creative industry.
To address payment issues for African creators, Elba has partnered with Stellar to launch Akuna Wallet, a digital platform that facilitates payments without traditional banks. This initiative, currently being piloted in Ghana, aims to include more unbanked creatives in the economy, providing financial autonomy for artists, filmmakers, and musicians.
Elba sees tremendous opportunity in Africa’s creative sector, akin to South Korea’s entertainment boom, and believes that with the right infrastructure and government support, the industry can flourish.