The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Film Authority (NFA), Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, has criticized the BBC for failing to properly credit the Africa Cinema Summit 2024 in its reporting on actor Idris Elba’s comments.
The BBC recently reported that Elba plans to relocate to Africa but did not specify that these statements were made during the Africa Cinema Summit 2024, held in Accra. Instead, the report generically referred to the comments as being made at an “industry event in Accra.”
Asante, who served as the convener of the Africa Cinema Summit, expressed her disappointment on social media, stating, “It is disingenuous for a global and reputable channel like BBC News to fail to give credit where it’s due.”
In her statement, Asante emphasized that the Africa Cinema Summit featured Idris Elba as a headliner and that the BBC was invited to interview him as part of the event. “We arranged a dedicated space for the interview, recognizing Idris as a prominent figure promoting African cinema,” she noted.
“During the interview, he made several significant announcements, including his intention to move to Ghana and his deep connection to Africa.”
Asante criticized the BBC for framing the comments without acknowledging the context of the summit. She questioned, “Had Idris stated he was moving to the UK, would the BBC have merely mentioned Europe?”
She further lamented the lack of recognition for the Africa Cinema Summit, which has been pivotal in showcasing African cinema.
Addressing Ghanaian media outlets that also published the article without proper acknowledgement, Asante stated, “This lack of credit affects us all. I choose to voice my thoughts on this matter because it highlights a broader issue in the industry.”
She called for reflection on the implications of such reporting practices, noting the importance of acknowledging contributions to the African cinema landscape.
