Christmas came a week earlier for proud Sierra Leoneans who welcomed their son and world renowned actor Idris Elba who returned to his father’s land for the first time in 47 years of his life.

It was an activity packed visit as it was Elba was in a hurry to catch up with thing he has missed all his life – He paid a visit to the State House in Freetown, where he shared his vision for Sierra Leone and was officially presented with Sierra Leone’s citizenship.

Other activities includes:

Visit to his Father’s home town – BONTHE DISTRICT

He visited the Freetown City Council where he had a one on one talks with the Mayor Madam Yvonne Aki Sawyer

He paid a visit to Sierra Leone’s Bounce Island

On being presented with Sierra Leone citizenship Elba told BBC Africa’s Umaru Fofana that “citizenship was the biggest honour I could get from my country”.

I’m no stranger to Africa: I’ve been in Africa, I’ve made films in Africa, I’ve championed Africa,” he said. “But Sierra Leone, it’s a very different feeling because it’s my parent’s home

He also spoke about investing in developing tourism and boosting the entertainment industry in Sierra Leone.

In his words: “America or England cannot house my ambition. Africa can house my ambition, I can create another Disney here [and] I can’t do that in America.”

He believes that Sierra Leonean entertainment industry has the potential to tell its own stories to the rest of the world.

“There are a lot of bright kids here who are techno-heads, [they’re] really really smart. I feel like I could contribute to building a workforce that supports other nations in film and that’s part of my journey.”

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