British actor Idris Elba to build film studio in Zanzibar

British star Idris Elba has been awarded land on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar to set up a film studio in the Indian Ocean archipelago.Idris Elba to build modern studio similar to Hollywood, Nollywood (in Nigeria) or Bollywood (in India)Zanzibar Investment Minister Shariff Ali Shariff said on Thursday, August 1.

The actor and rapper, who has Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian roots, had previously spoken of his desire to develop the film industry in Africa. The government of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous Tanzanian archipelago, granted the actor 80 hectares of land in Fumba, on the island of Unguja, according to the minister, who did not give further details on the conditions.

“I don’t know what we will call (the film industry) in Zanzibar, whether it will be Zallywood or Zawood, I don’t know” he joked to industry insiders at the Zanzibar International Film Festival. According to local media, the studio could boost Tanzania’s nascent efforts in international film production.

The studio project had already been discussed last year between the actor of the series Luther and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Famous for its turquoise waters, white-sand beaches and spice plantations, Zanzibar today relies heavily on tourism.