Zollywood in Zanzibar

Hollywood star Idris Elba, a Golden Globes award-winner, has been allocated land in Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago, to launch a film studio. The British actor, who has roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, has long expressed his ambitions to develop Africa's burgeoning film industry. Now, roughly a year-and-a-half after discussing his plans with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Elba has received the green light from the authorities in the East African nation.

The proposed studio is expected to be on par with those in "Hollywood, Nollywood, or Bollywood" and could potentially give rise to "Zollywood," as noted by Zanzibar's investment minister in local media.

"I'm not sure how we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zollywood or Zawood," Shariff Ali Shariff quipped while addressing industry figures at the Zanzibar International Film Festival on Thursday.

President Samia met with Elba, best known for his roles in "Luther" and "The Wire," in January 2023 at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to discuss the project. Following their discussions, the president's spokesperson stated, "If successful, the project will benefit not only Tanzania but also eastern and central Africa."

Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region off the coast of Tanzania, is renowned for its stunning white beaches and is a major tourism destination. Last year, the 51-year-old Golden Globes winner also outlined his plans to build a film studio in Ghana. "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 develop a facility at the heart of African filmmaking," Elba told Ghanaian media in February 2023.

He acknowledged the talent within Africa's film industry but noted that the necessary facilities were "lacking." A 2022 report from Unesco supports Elba's observation, highlighting that despite "significant growth in production," the continent's film industries face challenges such as piracy, insufficient training opportunities, and a lack of official film institutions.

Elba's ambitions extend beyond filmmaking. He also dreams of building an eco-friendly "smart city" in Sierra Leone, his father's birthplace. Along with a childhood friend, Elba plans to regenerate an island off the coast of the West African country.