Idris Elba's Zanzibar studio plan sparks dreams of 'Zollywood'

Idris Elba has been allocated land in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar to set up a film studio.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersIdris Elba's studio plan sparks dreams of 'Zollywood'Getty ImagesIdris Elba, a Golden Globes award-winner, also has plans to build an "eco-city" in Sierra LeoneHollywood star Idris Elba 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 previously voiced his ambitions to develop Africa's expanding film industry.

Roughly a year-and-a-half after discussing his plans with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the authorities in the East African nation have given Elba the green light.

The studio would be similar to any in “Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood" - and may give rise to “Zollywood”, Zanzibar's investment minister is quoted by local media as saying.

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8808gyxr8jo

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