Actor Idris Elba and activist Sabrina Dhowre Elba announced their commitment to changing how the world perceives Africa during a recent event in New York City.

This initiative seeks to counter negative stereotypes and highlight the continent's economic and social potential through targeted investment and philanthropy. By leveraging their global platforms, the couple aims to foster a more equitable view of African development.

The remarks took place during the TIME100 Impact Dinner, which occurred between May 21 [1] and May 22, 2026 [2]. The couple said their work through the Elba Hope Foundation emphasizes the need for a narrative shift regarding the region.

A central component of their strategy involves tangible development projects. The couple is investing in an eco-city on Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone [3]. This project is designed to demonstrate sustainable urban growth and attract further investment to the region [3].

Sabrina Dhowre Elba, a businesswoman and activist, has worked alongside her husband to integrate these philanthropic goals into their public life. The couple, who married in 2019 [4], recently celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary [5].

Their approach combines high-profile advocacy with grassroots infrastructure. By focusing on specific projects like the Sherbro Island development, they intend to provide a blueprint for modern, sustainable African cities that can compete on a global scale [3].

“The couple is investing in an eco-city on Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone.”

The Elbas are attempting to move the conversation about Africa from one of aid and crisis to one of investment and sustainable innovation. By focusing on an eco-city in Sierra Leone, they are shifting their philanthropic model toward 'impact investing,' where the goal is to create scalable economic infrastructure that challenges Western biases about the continent's stability and potential.