Idris Elba is planning to open a film studio in Tanzania

A presidential aide in Tanzania has announced that award-winning British actor Idris Elba is interested in opening a film studio in the East African nation. According to the BBC, the aide said this comes after Elba and President Samia Suluhu Hassan held preliminary talks.

The Harder They Fall actor and President Hassan met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January. “The president met with Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina, they are keen to invest in a film studio in Tanzania. The talks are in the initial stage but if everything goes well then the studio will benefit not only Tanzania but east and central Africa,”  Zuhura Yunus, who is the director of presidential communications, said.

President Hassan was sworn into office after the death of her predecessor John Magufuli. Reports say she has since spearheaded multiple initiatives in foreign policy, business, trade, and investment. And if the 50-year-old actor’s project comes to light, he’ll join other A-list celebrities who have invested in Africa. During the holiday season, Ghanaian-American comedian and actor Michael Blackson opened his free school in his village of Agona Nsaba. The January 3 ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by traditional leaders, diasporan guests, and other dignitaries.

Blackson, who said the project was something he always wanted to do, took to Twitter to share a video of the colorful ceremony. “Today is the greatest day of my life because I’ve finally accomplished what I always wanted to do which is giving these kids a chance to be great,” the 50-year-old shared. “Greatness starts with education and foundational education shouldn’t come with financial barriers.”

As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, Blackson cut sod for the school project after he returned home in 2020.