'Course correction' of African narratives needed: Idris Elba

Idris Elba walked onto the Bridge Summit stage to a wave of cheers — and an unmistakable African ululation from moderator Dr Julie Gichuru — before settling into a wide-ranging conversation that moved from the power of storytelling to the urgency of repairing Africa’s global narrative.

- Haneen Dajani

Idris Elba, actor, filmmaker, DJ & philanthropist, with moderator Dr Julie Gichuru, President & CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute, at the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

(PHOTOS BY SHIHAB/ KHALEEJ TIMES)

“A bridge, a connecting device, a two-way street,” is how the acclaimed actor, producer, DJ and creative entrepreneur described himself as he spoke before a packed Abu Dhabi audience that included policymakers, industry leaders and young content creators.

Born in the UK to Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean parents, Elba said his life’s work has become inseparable from linking cultures, correcting misconceptions and opening opportunities for the next generation.

Reflecting on playing roles that range “from drug dealers to presidents,” Elba said his craft is fundamentally about bringing humanity to stories that shape how the world understands people and cultures.

“What starts off on a page becomes a human being via my body... a bridging device for entertainment, for education, for understanding,” he said. That, he noted, has pushed him into rooms not traditionally occupied by actors, where he now finds himself discussing media, representation and youth aspiration. “I find myself being a beacon for young people that also want to be in this industry.”