Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu has given Hollywood star Idris Elba the go-ahead to set up a film studio in the country, allocating a huge chunk of land.
This follows Elba’s discussions with President Suluhu at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in January 2023.
Elba, known for his roles in Luther and The Wire, has been vocal about his ambitions to develop Africa’s burgeoning film industry.
With roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, the British actor envisions a studio to rival those in Hollywood, Nollywood, and Bollywood.
Zanzibar’s investment minister hinted at the possible nickname ‘Zollywood’ during the Zanzibar International Film Festival, adding: “I’m not sure what we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zollywood or Zawood.
The President’s spokesman emphasized the potential impact of the project, saying, “If successful, the project will not only help Tanzania but also East and Central Africa.
Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region within Tanzania known for its stunning white beaches, is a major tourist hotspot, making it a prime location for the new studio. Elba’s vision for African cinema doesn’t stop at Tanzania. Last year he discussed plans for a film studio in Ghana, tentatively called West African Studios.
“We’ve been working on this for three or four years to come up with a plan that will put a facility at the center of African filmmaking,” Elba told Ghanaian media in February 2023.
Despite recognizing the immense talent in Africa’s film industry, he pointed out that the necessary facilities were “lacking”.
Beyond filmmaking, Elba dreams of building an eco-friendly “smart city” in his father’s birthplace, Sierra Leone. Together with his childhood friend, he plans to regenerate an island off the coast of the West African country.