Idris Elba Aims to Transform Africa’s Entertainment Industry with Film Studios and Digital Wallets for Creatives

23 Oct 2024

Idris Elba is focused on establishing Africa’s entertainment industry through creative spaces and better payment structures.

Idris Elba is building film studios across Africa to give Africans “the chance to tell their own stories.” The acclaimed actor, known for his success in the U.K. and U.S. entertainment industries, is now focused on transforming Africa’s entertainment landscape.

Speaking at the Stellar Development Foundation’s Meridian conference in London, Elba outlined his bold vision to create a global entertainment hub rooted in the African continent. “Many of the images about Africa are not even produced by Africans,” said Elba, whose heritage is Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian. “Media often portrays a negative narrative, but Africa’s median age is 19. These young people are full of hope and deserve the opportunity to tell their stories.”

Elba’s journey hasn’t been without challenges, but he remains confident in the growth potential. His first project is a state-of-the-art film studio in Zanzibar, the stunning Tanzanian island known for its beaches. The Zanzibar government has allocated nearly 200 acres for the development, which Elba sees as the cornerstone of a thriving entertainment hub. “Idris Elba will be building a modern studio, comparable to Hollywood, Nollywood, or Bollywood,” said Zanzibar’s Minister for Investment, Shariff Ali Shariff. The actor even floated possible names like “Zallywood” or “Zawood.”

A major hurdle for Elba is ensuring creators in countries with limited banking infrastructure are compensated fairly. To solve this, he teamed up with Stellar, a blockchain platform, to launch Akuna Wallet—a digital wallet designed specifically for the creative economy. This wallet will allow artists, filmmakers, and musicians to receive payments and royalties without relying on traditional banks. A pilot program has already launched in collaboration with Ghana’s government, aimed at improving payment systems for local creatives and fostering financial inclusion.

“Many platforms for monetizing creative work require bank accounts, which leaves out many young Africans,” Elba explained. “We need a financial model that supports consistent, high-quality creation across the continent.”