Idris Elba Given Govt Permission To Build “Zollywood” Film Studio In Zanzibar, East Africa

Idris Elba has been allocated some land in Zanzibar to launch a film studio.

The BBC reports that the UK actor and DJ has been given the green light to play his part in developing Africa’s expanding film industry in the Tanzanian archipelago in East Africa – with a studio that could be similar to any in “Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood” and could become “Zollywood,” according to Zanzibar’s investment minister Shariff Ali Shariff speaking at the Zanzibar International Film Festival this week.

Elba, who was raised in East London, has family roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, and has previously expressed his desire to play a part in building this kind of industry in Africa.

The BBC quotes Zanzibar president’s spokesperson saying: “If successful, the project will help not only Tanzania but also eastern and central Africa.”

In February 2023, Elba spoke of 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 raise a plan that puts a facility at the centre of African filmmaking.”