Sherbro Alliance and Idris Elba’s Dream City in Sierra Leone
The Guardian newspaper reported that actor Idris Elba is working with his childhood friend to develop Sherbro Island, roughly the size of the Isle of Man. The West African nation [Sierra Leone] government gave the island enough autonomy to allow the work to advance as 'Dream City in Sierra Leone.'
By Chernoh Alpha M. Bah | Africanist PressThe Guardian newspaper reported that actor Idris Elba is working with his childhood friend to develop Sherbro Island, roughly the size of the Isle of Man. The West African nation [Sierra Leone] government gave the island enough autonomy to allow the work to advance as 'Dream City in Sierra Leone.'
This is not the end of the story
By Chernoh Alpha M. Bah | Africanist Press
A few months ago, the British media enthusiastically reported that “Idris Elba has shared details of his dream to turn an island off the coast of Sierra Leone, the country where his father was born, into an environmentally friendly smart city.“
The Guardian took the lead in the enthusiasm that surrounded the story. The newspaper specifically reported that “the actor [Idris Elba] is working with his childhood friend to develop Sherbro, which is roughly the size of the ‘Isle of Man’ after the island was given enough autonomy by the West African nation’s government to allow the work to go ahead.”
Chernoh Alpha M. Bah | Africanist Press
Idris Elba’s friend is Siaka Stevens (of course Stevens’ last name is a familiar one in Sierra Leone). In its reporting, the Guardian said Elba and Stevens both grew up together in east London, and they have decided to embark on the ambitious project of turning Sherbro into an eco-city. The newspaper revealed that Elba and Stevens had set up a joint company called Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP), and they had “reached agreements with the Sierra Leonean government, as well as several major firms, to build an eco-city as a public-private partnership.”
This is not the end of the story.
The Guardian further added that Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens have even “agreed on a deal with the energy company, Octopus, to build Sierra Leone’s first wind farm on the island, which lacks main electricity and is a two-hour ferry trip from the mainland.”
This was exciting news in Sierra Leone. News of these kinds of development projects has often been greeted with enthusiasm in the country. Many Sierra Leoneans, both at home and abroad, applauded Elba’s “dream city project.” Of course, the country badly needs real economic and social development, more so development projects and initiatives that are driven by citizens of the country.
However, Elba’s ideas are not new in West Africa; other African entertainers with new smart and eco-city dreams have been on the news lately.
Not very long ago, US-Senegalese singer Akon had also announced his own plans “to build a futuristic city in his ancestral homeland.” The first phase of Akon’s project was supposed to have been completed in 2023. The Guardian, which featured Elba’s dream project, had similarly reported in December 2023 that Akon’s city project faced “delays and controversy” and instead of the promised futuristic city, “only a youth center and the shell of what is planned to be the welcome center had been built.”
Africanist Press Updates: Listen! In this audio episode, the Africanist Press Chief Editor explores the proposed privatization of Sherbro Island and its planned transformation into a 'Casino Republic' in Sierra Leone. The legal and political implications of the proposed takeover of Sherbro Island by multinational corporations.The Guardian added that “while Akon received praise for the planned city’s Afrofuturistic aesthetics,” skeptics are now asking whether Akon’s proposed city “will ever come to pass.” Disappointment is slowly becoming the dream city’s outcome, the newspaper said. In the case of the proposed Sherbro city, the Guardian said Elba is unlike Akon: “he has been clear about where his strengths lie.”
“Never in my lifetime would I have thought I could build the foundation for a new smart city. I’m not qualified for that. But I am qualified to dream big,” Elba told the UK-based newspaper.
Nevertheless, the contrast begs the question: what stands between a “dream” and its “outcome?”
Many people say there are various kinds of dreams: good dreams and bad dreams. They say what separates one dream from another dream is similar to the differences between fantasies and nightmares; the reason why people dream whether they are asleep or wide awake.
Certainly, the UK-based Guardian was grappling with these differences in dreams when reporting on, and contrasting between, Akon’s “dream city project” and Elba’s “dream city project.”
To understand dreams of any kind – and perhaps their differences – one might have to consider the place of the dream and the moment(s) that produced the dream itself. What are the dreamer’s conditions and existential circumstances? What are the internal and external forces that drive an individual(s) to dream?
The totality of the circumstances has to be carefully considered when assessing the place and strength of a given dream. In doing so, we bring ourselves to the starting point of asking, and also debating, whether a particular dream is realistic or unrealistic. What are the dream’s real possibilities? Can those possibilities be actualized? If yes, how can they be actualized?
While thinking about dreams and their realities today, we looked up the “dream city project” of Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens. We looked at the various companies carrying out their dream city project: the Sherbro Alliance Limited and Sherbro Alliance Partners Limited; all incorporated in the UK.
Sherbro Alliance Limited was incorporated on 10th June 2019 as a private limited company (#12040217) under the UK Companies Act 2006. Idris Akuna Elba and Siaka Stevens are the two listed directors and shareholders of the company. On 13th November 2019, the company’s directors applied to voluntarily strike off the company from the UK Register of Companies, and on 26th November 2019, the Registrar gazetted the application to strike off the company from the register, and the company was eventually dissolved on 11th February 2020.
The second company, Sherbro Alliance Partners Limited, was also incorporated on 27th September 2019 (#12231721); similarly, as a private limited company in England and Wales. Siaka Stevens is the only listed company director, and the company’s shareholders, at the time of registration, are IE7 Holdings Limited and Siaka Stevens; each individually holding 50% shares. IE7 Holdings Limited was incorporated on 3rd April 2019 with Idris Elba as company director.
The unaudited financial statements of Sherbro Alliance Partners Limited for the year ended 31st December 2022 included an unsecured “loan of £2,861,393 due to IE7 Limited.” The loan “attracts an interest rate of 4% above the base rate of the Bank of England for repayments made outside of the repayment dates.” In FY2021, the said loan amounted to £2,227,255 and has since increased by £634,138 by the close of FY2022.
READ Idris Elba Arrived In His Father´s Native Sierra Leone For The First Time. Idris Elba arrived in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, where he is due to receive Sierra Leone citizenship and celebrate Christmas with the President, Julius Maada Bio, according to government sources. What does this tell us about dreams and their complexities, about the differences in dreams, the varied interpretations of dreams, and the accompanying realities of dreams? How do dreams inform our approach to, and understanding of, nation building and sustainable development?
In any case and by any rate, we attach herewith extract pages showing the registration details of the two Sherbro Alliance companies shouldering the Sherbro city dream project.
First published July 17, 2024. Feel free to share it or Post a comment in the Comments section.
Idris Elba Arrived In His Father´s Native Sierra Leone For The First Time
Idris Elba arrived in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, for the first time where he is due to receive Sierra Leone citizenship and celebrate Christmas with the President, Julius Maada Bio, according to government sources. Elba planned to visit Sherbro Island renowned for its pristine tropical beaches. The country hopes to revitalize its tourism industry. And, with Mr. Idris Elba as the country's Brand Ambassador, he brings with it new life and vitality.
Elba’s visit to Sierra Leone had been long-awaited
A native of Sierra Leone, Idris Elba, arrived in Freetown for the first time. Elba was born and raised in London; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and his father, Winston, from Sierra Leone, where he has expressed interest in investing in eco-tourism.
Idris Elba arrived in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, where he is due to receive Sierra Leone citizenship and celebrate Christmas with the President, Julius Maada Bio, according to government sources. Elba planned to visit Sherbro Island renowned for its pristine tropical beaches. The country hopes to revitalize its tourism industry. And, with Mr. Idris Elba as the country's Brand Ambassador, he brings with it new life and vitality.
A native of Sierra Leone, Idris Elba, arrived in Freetown for the first time. Elba was born and raised in London; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and his father, Winston, from Sierra Leone, where he has expressed interest in investing in eco-tourism. Mr. Elba’s visit to Sierra Leone had been long-awaited.
During a meeting at the State Lodge on Hill Station, President Bio said that Mr. Elba’s visit to Sierra Leone had been long-awaited, saying that he could feel his burning desire to come back home to be welcomed by his country people. He said that the country had gone through a lot with a scarred image, which needed a conscientious effort from everyone to change that perception and create a new narrative.
Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE is an actor, writer, producer, musician, DJ, rapper, and singer. Nickname DJ Big Driis (Idris) was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2016 New Year Honors for his services to drama. He is best known for his roles in Marvel franchise films such as "Thor" and "The Avengers." Others include Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire, DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther, and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. In 2018 was named People magazine sexiest man alive.
Friday 20 December 2019, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio issued the British Hollywood actor, and musician, Idris Elba, with a Sierra Leonean Diplomatic Passport and pronounced him a Brand Ambassador for the small resource-rich West African nation.
Friday 20 December 2019, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio issued the British Hollywood actor, and musician, Idris Elba, with a Sierra Leonean Diplomatic Passport and pronounced him a Brand Ambassador for the small resource-rich West African nation.
Receiving the passport, Idris Elba said that he was honored and thankful for the opportunity to become a citizen of his father’s country, noting that it was an honor for his family. He said he always wanted to come to Sierra Leone, adding, his career afforded him and his family the ability to rebrand the country.
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Last Updated June 19, 2023
Idris Elba passionately appeals for young Sierra Leoneans to exercise 'None Violence' during the presidential and parliamentary election slated for June 24, 2023.
Idris Elba passionately appeals for young Sierra Leoneans to exercise 'None Violence' during the general election for president and parliament that will take place on Saturday, June 24, 2023.
Idris Elba has called for a peaceful general election in Sierra Leone, which will take place on Saturday, June 24, 2023.
"This election, please let it be peaceful," he said in a message in Pidgin English - 'other African nations and the world will be watching us.' On the same day, the Commonwealth Observer Group in Sierra Leone, led by former Nigerian Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, called for peaceful elections to reflect; the will of the people.
Elba reminded young Sierra Leoneans that they have the 'power' in this vote and that if the country is destroyed due to violence, it will be down to us Sierra Leoneans to have to build it back up again.
The votes on Saturday will be the country's sixth presidential vote since a military takeover in 1992. It will see the incumbent, President Julius Madaa Bio of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), go up against Dr. Samura Kamara of the All People's Congress (APC) _the main opposition party.
There have been arrests of critical opposition voices in the run-up to the general election.