Idris Elba is building Entertainment Industry ‘Zallywood’ in Africa.

The popular Hollywood actor Idris Elba, born in London, has undertaken an ambitious project to establish film studios across Africa.

Yesterday, Sunday, American media outlet CNN reported that the Golden Globe-winning actor Elba is aiming to transform the entertainment industry in Africa. His first studio in Africa will be on the island of Zanzibar. Elba wants to make this autonomous white-sand island of Tanzania in East Africa a part of the global entertainment hub.

The report mentions that last year at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Elba shared his plan with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Following their discussions, a studio is being set up in Zanzibar. Last August, the Zanzibar government promised Elba approximately 200 acres of land for the studio.

Zanzibar’s Investment Minister Sharif Ali Sharif said, “Idris Elba wants to create a studio similar to Hollywood in the United States, Bollywood in India, and Nollywood in Nigeria.” He humorously suggested that it might be called “Zallywood” or “Zawood.”

Recently, in London, Idris Elba told CNN, “Most of the public’s perception of Africa does not come from Africa itself. There are plenty of media that give a negative impression of Africa. Africa’s median age is 19. Young people are very optimistic. They want the opportunity to tell their own stories.”

The report also stated that there are many opportunities to make money on this continent. It further mentioned that Elba’s parents are from Sierra Leone and Ghana. Thus, driven by his roots, Idris Elba is about to embark on a new journey in life, nearly 10,000 miles away.