His message aligned with the summit’s mission to empower creators, advance cultural dialogue, and reimagine how international narratives are shaped.
Actor Idris Elba at the BRIDGE Summit 2025 as its first guest speaker, shared insights from his three decades in film, music and philanthropy during a session titled Democratising the Role of the Creator in a Global Content World. Reflecting on his roots as a British-born son of African parents, Elba repeatedly described himself as a cultural bridge, an idea that framed his remarks throughout the discussion. “I’m happy to be at BRIDGE Summit, and I see myself as a bridge between different cultures,” he told the audience.
Discussing the range of his work as actor, DJ, filmmaker and philanthropist, Elba conveyed in his own person what it means to bridge the global media ecosystem in new and creative ways. His reflections aligned with BRIDGE Summit’s overarching mission to empower creators, accelerate cultural dialogue and rethink how global narratives are formed.
‘Son of Africa’ is how he was described by moderator Dr. Julie Gichuru, President & CEO, Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute. The name appeared fitting as he spoke of the many bridges he continues to build among content creators, artists and Africa’s youth. He emphasised that Africa holds thousands of untold stories and cultural narratives capable of shaping the global content landscape, noting that creators are uniquely positioned to reshape global perceptions of the continent.
Elba opened the conversation by reflecting on the educational and cultural purpose of art in society, and said: “I see myself as an actor that has been able to bridge stories, because what starts on a page becomes human via my body, my vessel. “I’m happy to be here today at BRIDGE Summit, and as an actor, I see myself as a bridge between different cultures through the stories I tell and the characters I portray.”
This self-understanding, he said, informs his understanding of the Summit’s critical role.
“I think we are at the edge of a bridge, at this junction in information and media, so let’s use this opportunity at the Summit to connect, form, create and distribute ideas”, Elba noted, making clear that the road ahead is not without peril, as misinformation and misuse of media proliferates.
His concern led him to reemphasise the importance of the summit. “This is a time when the supercharging of information often comes with fractures, when people are not sure what to trust, not sure where we’re going. But as we saw in that amazing film of BRIDGE Summit’s opening ceremony, communication is the key for all of us, so I think this is a really important time for these discussions.”
Throughout the session, Elba expanded on the importance of empowering young creators and strengthening Africa’s creative infrastructure. He highlighted that tools offered through initiatives such as his Akuna Group — including the Akuna Wallet — help creators access distribution, financing, and stability in their work. He stressed the importance of intellectual property ownership and fair compensation, noting that many African countries still lack the policy frameworks required to fully protect creators.
Elba’s work as bridge builder became apparent as he described his role as founder of The Akuna Group, which supports the Akuna Wallet and other initiatives that have become important for African creators. He also described his leadership of the Elba Hope Foundation, co-founded with his wife Sabrina to focus on gender equality, young people’s issues, and food security.
As he explained, the foundation is a practical platform for action rather than advocacy alone — teaching young people how to develop their own projects and generate long-term impact.
Throughout the conversation he expressed his deep concern for young creatives and content creators in Africa and the mission of his organizations to support them. “They’re an agile tool to be able to bridge various things, usually around youth, usually around Africa’s issues, and the bridge between Africa and the West. They are the infrastructural pieces we need for creation to live, to be strengthened, to sustain those creators,” he said. “And if the stories are good, if they resonate, then those young African creators can see value in their stories.”
He also stressed the importance of narrative sovereignty, ensuring that Africa’s stories are told authentically by African creators, supported through responsible use of technology, including AI: “Artificial intelligence isn’t a threat, it’s an additional tool, and real intelligence is much stronger… we must trust our instincts and practice critical thinking in how we use it.”
The debut edition of BRIDGE Summit takes place from December 8–10, 2025 at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. Expected to welcome more than 60,000 participants from 132 countries and over 430 speakers, the Summit provides a structured environment for leaders, innovators, and institutions to examine shared challenges, exchange perspectives, and explore practical collaboration across media, content, entertainment, technology, finance, culture and the wider creative economy.
