David Oyelowo: We’re Not Asking to Be Seen, We’re Taking the Camera

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  Subscribe to Afropolitan Podcast For more unfiltered conversations with Africa’s boldest builders and storytellers. Twitter – https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/afropolitannation/ Website – https://www.afropolitan.io Join the Network State – https://afropolitan.io/join 🔗 Community – afropolitan.io/community Newsletter – afropolitan.io/newsletter  Sponsored by: VBan: The borderless banking app built for Africa’s digital workforce. Use code AFROPOLITAN to sign up → https://vban.com Inverroche Gin: South Africa’s premium craft gin that fuses heritage botanicals with innovation. Discover more → https://www.inverroche.com Risevest — Invest globally in dollar-denominated stocks, real estate & fixed income. Sign up → https://click.risevest.com/gb0g/afropolitan Convo by Afropolitan — Book 1-on-1 calls with Africa’s boldest thinkers. Visit https://convo.vip/ Listen Everywhere: YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@Afropolitan Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6YwRlkSOq8e35xU6bOp9pU Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afropolitan/id1808954585 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

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