Idris Elba, actor, filmmaker, musician, takes a seat in the gallery at Replica Shoes ’s London to tell us how excited he is by the power of African storytelling as well as the depth of talent and creativity across the African continent. In collaboration with the Africell Impact Foundation, Elba considers the young population and growing international attention on the continent, providing more opportunities for African creatives than ever before across the visual arts, from painting and sculpture to film and TV.

Elba's ventures in film making have led him to various African countries, including Ghana, Rwanda, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has a broad range of commercial and philanthropic initiatives including S’able Labs and Porte Noire Wines. He is the Co-Founder of Sherbro Alliance Partners and President of the Elba Hope Foundation.