If you want to be part of my community, you must know it is based on gratitude and service. God, gratitude, joy, and service are the significant values in my interests. I want that for my family and community, and even in pop culture, there needs to be room for that. That means that I stopped consuming whatever was being advertised and started being intentional about who I support and where my money and time go. I want my money, interests, and help to go to anything for the growth of Africa.
Regarding celebrities, Idris and Sabrina embody my community values through their active involvement in investing in Africa, they make it so easy to stan and actively support. In October 2024, Idris Elba announced that he plans to move to Africa in the next two years to focus on building studios in East and West Africa.
This move should not surprise those familiar with their work beyond the industry's glitz and glamour. Elba has been outspoken about investing in initiatives to help expand Africa’s film and television industry, starting by collaborations that could attract foreign investment and spotlight African talent. In addition to taking on more roles that take on African / black stories, The Elbas have a skincare brand called S’ABLE Labs Skincare that uses natural African ingredients and is designed specifically for melanated skin. Sabrina told Conde Nast Traveller UK, “We both do a lot of philanthropic work with smallholder farmers in the agricultural sector. People don't usually conflate skincare with agriculture.”
I have seen them actively take on their roles as UN Goodwill Ambassadors and other nonprofits like FarmAfrica and Global Citizen, which work to improve food security and support small-scale farmers in villages. A mission that brings music to my ears.
In addition to supporting other organizations, the Elba family has a foundation called The Elba Hope Foundation, whose work centers on community empowerment, education, and sustainable development. They support programs that align with their mission from the United States, the UK & Africa.
Would you buy from S’able Labs Skincare if you knew that it uses African ingredients and works with rural farmers?
Who else is doing something small to give back to Africa? Those are the people I want to root for and learn from, and they don't even have to be the Elba status. How can we ensure that community and service are part of our values as we grow our businesses and ideas? That’s how we all win.