British star Idris Elba has been granted land on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar to set up a film studio in the Indian Ocean archipelago, a local minister has stated.
The actor and rapper, who has Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian roots, had previously mentioned his desire to develop the film industry in Africa.
“Idris Elba will build a modern studio similar to Hollywood, Nollywood (in Nigeria, editor’s note) or Bollywood (in India, editor’s note),” said Zanzibar’s Minister of Investment, Shariff Ali Shariff, on Thursday.
The Zanzibar government, a semi-autonomous Tanzanian archipelago, has granted the actor 80 hectares of land in Fumba, on the island of Unguja, according to the minister, who did not provide 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 stated in front of industry actors at the Zanzibar International Film Festival.
According to local media, the studio could boost Tanzania’s fledgling efforts in international film production.
The studio project had already been discussed last year between the star of the series Luther and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Famous for its turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and spice plantations, Zanzibar heavily relies on tourism today.
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