logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
26m 33s

The Fifth Floor: Leaving for an African ...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Hollywood star Idris Elba recently announced he'll soon relocate to Africa and promote the film industry there. He spoke to BBC Africa's Thomas Naadi about it. The British actor is not alone: BBC Africa Eye's Nour Abida has been following the journeys of a group of second generation French nationals who want to move back to Senegal. Her documentary, The Homecoming, is available on the BBC World Service YouTube channel.

Produced by Alice Gioia and Hannah Dean.

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

Up next
Today
Hope and fear: India's space revolution
India is revolutionising its approach to space exploration. Science journalist Alok Jha follows preparations for the country’s first human spaceflight mission. For decades, India focused its space programme on limited, inexpensive projects directly benefiting its citizens, such a ... Show More
49m 28s
Yesterday
How to spend billions – fast: Carney’s Defence Deadline
The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has given his generals and admirals an unusual command: spend money. Lots of it. Quickly. For years, it was the other way around. Canada wore the uniform of a serious NATO ally – while undershooting the alliance’s 2% of GDP defence spendi ... Show More
26m 48s
Mar 16
Mariam Issoufou: Designing a museum
Architect Mariam Issoufou has always been very ambivalent about museums: "Who decided that the only way to look at art is inside this intimidating, grand building, full of looted objects? For me, they are where history goes to die". So she was sceptical about accepting the job of ... Show More
26m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2020
New Thinking: African Europeans; Fidel Castro & African leaders; WEB Du Bois
From Roman emperor Septimius Severus to Senegal's Signares to the ten days in Harlem that Fidel Castro used to link up with African leaders at the UN, through to the missed opportunity to enshrine racial equality in post war negotiations following World War I; Olivette Otele, Sim ... Show More
44m 17s
May 2024
Zeinab Badawi: Setting the record straight on African history
Zeinab Badawi is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and the President of SOAS University of London. Born in Sudan, she has worked in the British media for several decades. She has recently published her first book which promises to reshape our understanding of Africa. Zeina ... Show More
55m 43s
Dec 2024
Cate Blanchett & Guy Maddin on RUMOURS, bog monsters & a giant brain
The ‘Rumours’ are true... screen superstar Cate Blanchett and director Guy Maddin are joining Simon this week to give us the gossip on their surreal new satire—once they’ve finished fangirling over the music of Sparks, that is. Following decades of avant garde work that’s made hi ... Show More
1h 7m
Apr 2025
Growing Up in Jaffa & Getting an Oscar Nomination as a Palestinian Director | Scandar Copti
In this episode of This is Not a Watermelon podcast, we're joined by Oscar-Nominated and award-winning Palestinian filmmaker, Scandar Copti. We dive into his childhood in Jaffa and growing up in a neighborhood with a rich and tumultuous history like Ajami, to his rise as an accla ... Show More
1h 9m
Mar 2024
Idris Elba’s plan to build a brand new city on an African island
Idris Elba, one of the actors rumoured to be the next James Bond, is leading a project to turn an island in Sierra Leone into an eco-city. The new plans for Sherbro Island include wind-powered renewable electricity, solar farms and a film studio. The hope is that the island will ... Show More
14m 42s
Oct 2024
Episode 2: Black History Month with Zeinab Badawi
<p>Joining us in our book-filled studio is broadcaster and author Zeinab Badawi, who shares her journey chronicling Africa's spectacular history through the voices of African historians, archaeologists, and local storytellers. Plus, we put your reading requests to award-winning a ... Show More
29m 29s
Mar 2025
Daniel Evans as Edward II, Laura Carreira's film On Falling, last night's Oscar winners
Sean Baker made Oscar history, becoming the first person to win four Academy Awards for directing, editing, writing and producing a single film, Anora. Larushka Ivan-Zadeh joins Samira to look at this year's Oscar winners and what they say about cinema today. The RSC's co-artisti ... Show More
42m 5s
Mar 2016
E006: The Nubian Mix
In this week's episode, OT flies out to Sudan to meet with one its most talented and underrated producers, Sufyan, and sets up a Skype call with Irshad and Toofless from Sufyan's studio. Sufyan is a Sudanese Hip Hop producer who uses his surroundings, Nubian heritage, and his cou ... Show More
37m 12s
Jun 2024
Richard Linklater, Ultimate 90s Bollywood Song, Esther Swift
American director Richard Linklater, who made his name with Boyhood and the Before Sunset films, talks about his new comedy thriller Hit Man, which stars Glen Powell as quiet teacher who leads a secret double life helping this police catch people trying to hire a hit man. The mov ... Show More
42m 20s