As Idris Elba strode the halls of the Africa Cinema Summit in Ghana’s capital Accra, it was clear the Golden Globe-winning British actor was not just a guest.
Born and raised in London to a father from Sierra Leone and a Ghanaian mother, the star of both television and the silver screen was at the continent’s premier film industry event as a passionate advocate for the future of African cinema.
Elba, who has starred in Africa-focused films such as Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and the shot-in-Ghana Beasts of No Nation, has long been vocal about his deep-rooted connection to the continent.
At this year’s summit, which brings together stakeholders in the industry, Elba took on the role of ambassador for the importance of African stories and how best to tell them to the world.
“African cinema is not young. We’ve been around for a long time,” the 52-year-old pointed out, noting the rich film heritage of French-speaking Africa. “But our stories have yet to springboard on that wider landscape.”
The African continent has the world’s youngest population but only around 1,700 cinemas, compared with around 44,000 in the United States and 75,500 in China, according to the National Film Authority of Ghana.
Elba’s belief in African cinema’s untapped potential was palpable as he spoke. For him, the key is raising its profile through better infrastructure, distribution channels, and connecting filmmakers with audiences on the continent and globally.
“We need bums on seats,” Elba said. “The future relies on us… our own distribution. We must fill the cinemas with our people first.”
This Africa-first focus distinguishes Elba’s vision from other industry luminaries who often focus solely on international recognition.
Elba said he wanted African cinema to succeed domestically as much as it does abroad. AFP
