At the inaugural SXSW London festival, Idris Elba unveiled an ambitious vision to transform Africa’s cinematic landscape. The British actor, known for his roles in “Luther” and “The Wire,” announced plans to establish a continent-wide cinema chain dubbed the “African Odeon.” This initiative aims to bolster Africa’s film industry by enhancing infrastructure and providing platforms for local storytelling.
Idris Elba has said he is planning to move to Africa as part of his plans to bolster the sub-Saharan film industry, saying “it’s going to happen” reported the guardian
Elba’s commitment to African cinema is longstanding. He has previously announced plans to build film studios in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Ghana, aiming to create production hubs that rival Hollywood and Nollywood. These endeavours are part of his broader mission to empower African creatives and reshape global perceptions of the continent.
He added: “I’m going to live in Accra, I’m going to live in [Sierra Leone capital] Freetown, I’m going to live in Zanzibar. I’m going to try and go where they’re telling stories – that’s really important.”
The London-born Elba, whose father was from Sierra Leone and mother from Ghana, is enthusiastic about the possibilities for film-making on the African continent. He boldly stated “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 and when you come to Africa, you will realise that it’s not true.
“So, it’s really important that we own those stories of our tradition, of our culture, of our languages, of the differences between one language and another. The world doesn’t know that.”
In addition to his cinematic pursuits, Elba introduced the Akuna Wallet at SXSW London—a blockchain-based digital wallet designed to facilitate payments for artists and creators in regions with limited banking infrastructure. This tool seeks to address financial barriers that many African creatives face, enabling them to manage payments and royalties more effectively.
Elba’s initiatives align with the broader goals of SXSW London, which aims to foster innovation and creativity across various sectors. The festival, held in venues across Shoreditch, features a diverse lineup of talks, screenings, and performances, highlighting the intersection of technology, film, and culture.
Through these ventures, Idris Elba is not only championing African cinema but also creating tangible opportunities for the continent’s creative industries to thrive on a global stage.
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After 28 years in corporate life, I swapped spreadsheets for screenplays and now write movie reviews and celebrity articles for Geekhub. It’s been a year of creative freedom, storytelling, and loving what I do—plus the occasional dramatic reaction to plot twists. No more meetings, just movies—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
