Transforming for roles: gaining weight for Selma

David Oyelowo, award-winning British actor, producer, and founder of Mansa, the streaming platform reshaping Black storytelling, joins The Afropolitan Podcast to discuss why Africa and platforms like AFRIFF (Africa International Film Festival) are paving the way for the next global film powerhouse.

From his Oscar-nominated role as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma to produce the first major screen adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart with Idris Elba, David reveals the truth about Hollywood, representation, and building a platform that returns creative ownership to Black filmmakers worldwide.

He opens up about:
◼️ Why now is the greatest moment in history to be an African filmmaker
◼️ The rise of Mansa and how he raised $8 million to build a Black-owned streaming platform
◼️ The truth about Hollywood gatekeepers and why he built his own house
◼️ How he secured the rights to Things Fall Apart and why it must be filmed in Nigeria
◼️ Lessons on grief, faith, and family and why excellence is the best weapon against prejudice

If you’re a creator, filmmaker, or visionary shaping culture from Africa and the diaspora, this episode will inspire you to build systems, not seek permission.

Follow David Oyelowo

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/davidoyelowo/
Mansa – https://www.mansaplatform.com 

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Hosted by:

Eche – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/
Chika – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/

📍 CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:45 Why Now is the Greatest Moment for African Filmmakers
03:10 How Technology Solved Piracy & Changed Nollywood
06:00 Representation & Dreaming in White: The Power of Narrative
08:00 Becoming the First Black King at the Royal Shakespeare Company
10:30 Playing Dr. King and Shifting Global Perception
14:00 Founding Mansa: The Netflix for Black Stories
18:00 Building a Streaming Platform from Nigeria
21:30 Raising $8 Million for Mansa & The George Floyd Moment
25:00 The Hardest Lessons in Building Tech as a Creative
28:00 Trade-Offs, Resilience & Reinventing Yourself
31:00 Why Mansa Chose an AVOD Model & Free Access
33:30 Hollywood Gatekeepers & Proving the Diaspora Market
36:00 Selma, The Butler & The Reality of Being “Undervalued”
38:30 Black Lives Matter: Missed Opportunities and Systemic Cycles
42:00 Reclaiming Our Stories Beyond Slave Narratives
46:30 The Fall of Hollywood & Why Africa is Next
49:00 Navigating Gatekeepers & Building Your Own House
52:00 Things Fall Apart with Idris Elba
56:00 Black British vs Black American Actors Debate
59:00 The Future of African Cinema & Ownership
01:02:00 Authenticity, Resources & Legacy in Storytelling
01:06:00 Convincing the Achebe Family & Shooting in Nigeria
01:10:00 Advice to His Son: Excellence vs Nepotism
01:11:30 Selma & Oscar Snub: Turning Pain into Purpose
01:14:30 Timeline Grief & Losing His Mother
01:19:00 Why He Makes Films for Legacy and Home
01:22:00 Reparations, Heritage & Black Brilliance
01:25:00 Favorite Food, Directors & Dream Projects
01:32:00 Who He Wants Next on the Afropolitan Podcast
01:33:30 Legacy, Faith & The Future of Black Cinema