While critics may argue that cultural authenticity is compromised by not casting a Nigerian actor, this risks falling into ‘cultural-essentialism’, where only those from a specific cultural background are deemed capable of telling or embodying its stories.

In an interconnected, globalized world, such rigid boundaries undermine the richness of diasporic identities and the idea that African narratives can be shared across and beyond national borders.

Elba’s participation demonstrates the evolving nature of African identity, where the continent’s stories are not bound by geography but can be shaped by the broader African diaspora.

J.