Idris Elba is building an entertainment industry in Africa

New York (CNN) —& Idris Elba has conquered Hollywood with iconic roles in “The Wire” and “Luther.” Now, the London-born actor is shifting his focus to a new stage — one that’s 10,000 miles away. Elba, whose parents hail from Sierra Leone and Ghana, is on a mission to transform the entertainment industry in Africa.His vision is ambitious. Elba aims to build film studios across Africa, starting in Zanzibar, the Tanzanian semi-autonomous island renowned for its white sand beaches. The idea took root last year when Elba met Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Their discussions led to plans for the first studio in Zanzibar — a move Elba believes could be the first building block of a global entertainment hub.In August, the government of Zanzibar promised him nearly 200 acres to begin construction.“Idris Elba will be building a modern studio similar to Hollywood, Nollywood (in Nigeria), or Bollywood,” Zanzibar’s Minister for Investment, Shariff Ali Shariff, announced. He even joked about naming the industry “Zallywood” or “Zawood.”The project goes beyond film. Elba believes Africa’s creative sector is underrepresented globally.“Much of the imagery about Africa isn’t even generated from Africa,” Elba told CNN at the...