Idris Elba Receives Green Light To Build Film Studio In Zanzibar: “Zollywood”

Move over Nollywood as the Africa’s only thriving film market that because Idris Elba has been granted land in Zanzibar to establish a film studio, as reported by the BBC. 

Okay Hollywood is in Nigeria and that’s the world’s third largest film market after Hollywood and Bollywood in India. 

The UK actor and DJ best known for roles in The Wire and Luthor, received approval to contribute to the burgeoning film industry in the Tanzanian archipelago. Zanzibar’s investment minister, Shariff Ali Shariff, mentioned at the Zanzibar International Film Festival that the studio could rival those in “Hollywood, Nollywood, or Bollywood” and might be dubbed “Zollywood.”

Zollywood. That sounds fun but feels a long way from competing with established film hubs around the world. 

Get this, Elba, who grew up in East London and has familial ties to Sierra Leone and Ghana, has previously expressed his ambition to help develop the film industry in Africa. According to a spokesperson for the president of Zanzibar, “If successful, the project will help not only Tanzania but also eastern and central Africa.”

Back in February 2023, Elba discussed his plans for a film studio in Ghana, saying: “Currently, we call it West African Studios, but that’s a working title. We’ve been working on this for three or four years to raise a plan that puts a facility at the centre of African filmmaking.”

We’re all for bringing commerce to the continent. Somebody has to plant more money trees so why not Idris.

The post Idris Elba Receives Green Light To Build Film Studio In Zanzibar: “Zollywood” first appeared on The Source.

The post Idris Elba Receives Green Light To Build Film Studio In Zanzibar: “Zollywood” appeared first on The Source.