Akuna Group

Elba and Premier League: ‘Time for Other Industries to Step Up’ in Fight Against Youth Knife Crime

Akuna Group — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:41:38 +0000

Actor highlights trauma faced by young people during meetings with police, teenagers and coaches at community football scheme

Idris Elba has highlighted the trauma faced by those at risk of youth violence, including knife crime, at a meeting with police and community figures, adding that he was confident the government would “pay attention” to the issue.

The actor and campaigner has been a vocal supporter of tackling knife crime and youth violence, and recently fronted a documentary on the issue.

At a roundtable discussion on Monday evening with regional community figures and the national lead for knife crime in Dagenham, east London, he called for “joined-up thinking” on the issue.

He said: “I describe myself as someone who’s got a soapbox. I’m a parent, that’s it. I’m no expert on youth crime, but I do know that we’re in a crisis and that we’ve got to stand up and do something and there has to be joined-up thinking.”

Elba’s appearance at the event was to support the Premier League Kicks programme, which provides free, weekly football sessions across the country for young people at risk of antisocial behaviour, including youth violence.

After meeting teenagers and coaches from the West Ham Foundation, which runs the local sessions in Dagenham, Elba joined community leaders from across the country involved in the programme, some of whom have been affected by knife crime or serious youth violence, to discuss the issue.

In the course of the discussion, the topic of trauma arose, particularly how it was a common experience among those involved in, or affected by, youth violence.

Elba said he had asked some of the teenagers whether the sessions helped young people “stay away from knife crime and violence”. They told him they did.

“There was a massive real impact of it and that sense of belonging was important in the understanding about trauma, dialogue and understanding. You never know what any of these kids are going through at home, what their environment is. But here feels like family.”

Last month, Elba fronted a documentary highlighting the issue of knife crime in the UK. Before its release, he called for kitchen knives to be sold only with rounded ends, and, last year, he urged the government to ban the sale of machetes and “zombie” knives.

Elba told the Guardian he had decided to host the documentary because he did not understand the issue “as much as I needed to”. He said: “It’s one thing saying: we’ve got to stop knife crimes, we’ve got to ban knives, but understanding why was really important to be effective in messaging.”

Last September, Elba participated in a summit on knife crime. He was joined by the prime minister, Keir Starmer; the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, and those who had lost loved ones to knife crime.

Elba said he was confident that the government would “pay attention” to the issue. “I’m hoping that the recent awareness that we’ve seen happen is enough of a driver to push them to do change. Needless to say, no – one wants to see any more needless or senseless deaths,” he said.

Stephen Clayman, the national lead for knife crime for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said that grassroots initiatives such as the Premier League scheme could “make the biggest difference”.

“We’ve got to think about what young people would be attracted to,” he said. “Anything that could get attention of someone who is distracted by other things in their lives, gives them a route in and helps them make better life choices.”

He said such programmes needed investment to continue running. “Whether that’s government investment or private investment from other industries, it is fundamental that we don’t give up because this is where you make the biggest difference,” he said.

Idris Elba takes the stage at SXSW festival in London

Akuna Group — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:50:01 +0000

Festival is bringing Texas to Shoreditch with a star-studded lineup of panellists and performers

Idris Elba, Tems, Katherine Ryan and Deepak Chopra are among the starry names confirmed for the European debut of South by Southwest festival in London this summer.

In an announcement shared on Tuesday (11 February), organisers said that the London instalment of the festival – known as SXSW – will see some of the world’s biggest talent from across music, film, tech and culture appear at its inaugural stint in Shoreditch, east London.

Conference headliners include DJ and actor Idris Elba, wellness guru Deepak Chopra, comedian Katherine Ryan, rapper and producer Wyclef Jean, electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre and celebrity fitness coach Joe Wicks.

Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW has begun expanding globally with organisers hoping the festival will represent a cultural touchpoint for the global creative community.

The festival first branched out from its Austin roots in 2023 with the launch of SXSW Sydney. For SXSW London, talent from the UK and Europe will take centre stage with a series of talks, music showcases and innovations in tech, gaming and screen. The London instalment marks the festival’s European debut.

The festival will explore the intersection between film, art and music, with presentations including feature films, shorts, music videos and a selection of immersive works.

The first UK film retrospective of the award-winning filmmaker Jenn Nkiru will be presented at the festival, as well as the London premiere of her latest work The Great North.

In terms of music, the SXSW London’s Music Festival has unveiled Nigerian Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Tems as its first headliner for a show on 5 June at London’s east London venue Troxy.

The festival will also include an immersive concept from Abbey Road Studios, involving live music performances and talks.

The organisers said: “Reflecting their core themes of music creativity, innovation and learning, this unique collaboration will highlight the continuing cultural relevance and innovative spirit of Abbey Road for festival delegates.”

Anna Bogutskaya, Head of Screen at SXSW London, told The Independent that the festival will celebrate and platform boundary-breaking storytellers in the industry.

“No one occupies the intersection of film, art and music better than Jenn Nkiru, whose vision I’ve admired for years. I’m excited she is trusting us to present a retrospective of her work so far,” said Bogutskaya.

Adem Holness, Head of Music at SXSW London, added: “One of the things I love most about London is that you can step out of any tube station and find yourself in a distinct community. So, that’s exactly how I want our festival to feel – each of our venues will be space to experience underground music scenes from all over the world.”

“I feel so honoured to be collaborating with the most exciting international new music pioneers and presenting the future of music from their unique perspectives. I can’t wait to share artists they’re choosing to platform.”

SXSW London will run from 2 to 7 June 2025. Find out more information at sxswlondon.com.

Source: Independent

Idris Elba Partners with Stellar Development Foundation Amidst Crypto’s Troubled Waters

Akuna Group — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 12:45:51 +0000

British actor and filmmaker Idris Elba has reportedly been observing the crypto landscape closely.

Idris Elba is a British actor, filmmaker, and musician, widely recognized for his versatile roles in both television and film. Born on 6 September 1972 in London, England, Elba gained international fame for his portrayal of Stringer Bell in the critically acclaimed TV series “The Wire.” He further solidified his reputation with his role as DCI John Luther in the British crime drama “Luther,” for which he received multiple award nominations.

Elba has also appeared in blockbuster films such as “Thor,” “Pacific Rim,” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” showcasing his range as an actor. In addition to acting, he has ventured into directing, with his debut feature film “Yardie” released in 2018. Elba is also a DJ and a musician, performing under the name DJ Big Driis. Known for his charisma and talent, he has become a cultural icon, recently turning his attention to the potential of blockchain technology for social impact.

According to Wired, while many celebrities jumped on the crypto bandwagon during its boom, Elba remained cautious. Earlier this month, he partnered with the Stellar Development Foundation to explore the potential of blockchain technology for financial inclusion, especially in West Africa.

Wired’s article, which was published on September 27, says that in 2021, crypto businesses invested hundreds of millions of dollars to bring celebrities on board for endorsements. These celebrities, in turn, released their own lines of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or even their own crypto coins. Elba, however, chose not to participate in what he saw as a “gold rush,” feeling uncomfortable with the idea of being used merely as a promotional tool.

The crypto industry has faced significant setbacks in the past 18 months, according to Wired. The collapse of the Terra Luna stablecoin, the failures of hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, crypto lender Celsius, and crypto exchange FTX have all contributed to a downturn. This period, often referred to as a “crypto winter,” has led to increased regulatory scrutiny and tarnished the reputation of remaining businesses.

Despite the industry’s challenges, Elba remains interested in the technology, states Wired. He is particularly intrigued by how crypto could address financial inclusion issues in West Africa, where less than half of the adult population has access to banking services. Elba sees crypto’s underlying blockchain technology as a means to remove financial barriers in emerging markets.

The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a nonprofit organization established in 2014 to support the development and growth of the Stellar network, an open-source blockchain protocol. The foundation aims to foster financial inclusion and democratize access to financial services by leveraging Stellar’s blockchain technology. Unlike traditional financial systems, Stellar enables quick, low-cost cross-border transactions and has been designed to facilitate the issuance and exchange of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and tokens.

The SDF provides technical guidance, grants, and other forms of support to businesses and developers who wish to build on the Stellar network. It also plays a crucial role in maintaining Stellar’s codebase and working with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance. Over the years, the foundation has formed partnerships with various financial institutions, tech companies, and nonprofits to broaden Stellar’s reach and impact. Its focus on real-world utility and financial inclusion differentiates it from other blockchain initiatives.

Wired says that Elba is collaborating with the Stellar Development Foundation. Initially starting as a paid brand ambassador, the relationship has apparently evolved into a more mutual business partnership. Elba appreciates Stellar’s focus on real-world utility rather than mere token promotion.

While the specifics of the partnership remain unclear, Wired suggests that the goal is to provide West Africans with an alternative means of financial transactions and money management. Elba likens the potential shift from traditional banking to crypto-based financial services in West Africa to the transition from physical mail to email.

Wired concludes by highlighting Elba’s cautious approach to wielding his influence in the crypto space. Unlike other celebrities who may have misused their influence, Elba aims to promote the idea of financial inclusion through crypto, rather than pushing a specific coin or token.

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by the author, or any people mentioned in this article, are for informational purposes only, and they do not constitute financial, investment, or other advice. Investing in or trading cryptoassets comes with a risk of financial loss.

Source: Crypto Globe

Denelle Dixon and Idris Elba Discuss What It Takes to Unlock Human Potential

Akuna Group — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:39:07 +0000

Exclusive: Idris Elba on Financial Inclusion and Technology

Akuna Group — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:39:07 +0000

Abu Dhabi and Idris Elba form strategic alliance on food and water

Akuna Group — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 14:10:37 +0000

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has announced a partnership with actor and humanitarian Idris Elba. The alliance with Elba is facilitated through his impact investment company, The Akuna Group (TAG), of which he is the president and founder. It is aimed at accelerating the development and implementation of food and water sustainability solutions.

It was shared that TAG supports the growth of African industries and entrepreneurship through strategic multi-sectoral partnerships, impact investments, innovative technologies, and high-level advisory services across the continent and behind.

As an initial undertaking, Elba will engage in global conversations and awareness initiatives to inspire and accelerate the transformation of food and water systems, using Abu Dhabi as a model to drive positive economic and social impact.

This will include collaborations with global institutions to highlight the worldwide impact of Abu Dhabi’s initiatives.

Commenting on the partnership, Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, said: “Transforming constraints into opportunities, Abu Dhabi strives to be at the forefront of innovation in food and water production, sustainability and growth. Together with our partners, we are continuing to pioneer and implement cutting-edge solutions that address global nutritional and environmental challenges. We are excited to align with fellow visionaries, and our collaboration with Mr. Elba will be instrumental in reimagining the future of food and water for the region and beyond.”

Elba said: “Drawing inspiration from the pioneering blueprints that have shaped the United Arab Emirates, we are set to journey globally in our mission to provide a better future for all. By engaging with innovators, engineers, and tech entrepreneurs dedicated to addressing the world’s most critical challenges, we are set to build on the ambition of dreamers in the UAE and discover new solutions that foster positive economic and social change.”

Octopus Energy partners with Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens’ Sherbro Alliance Partners

Akuna Group — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:40:29 +0000

Agreement with Idris and Siaka’s Sherbro Alliance Partners aimed at bringing green energy to the ongoing Sherbro Island City development
Initial project will see up to five wind turbines built with solar and battery storage to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy
Milestone partnership marks Octopus’ first move into developing renewables in Africa and will see the companies set up offices in Sierra Leone

London/Dubai, 30th November 2023 – Octopus Energy’s generation arm has entered into a milestone partnership with Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens’ development company, Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP), to build Sierra Leone’s first wind farm as part of the Sherbro Island City project.

Announced at COP28, the collaboration and project will help accelerate the country’s monumental renewables opportunity and collect vital data to foster greater investment into green energy on Sherbro Island, across Sierra Leone and beyond.

The deal will see Octopus build a first-of-its-kind renewables project for the country in 2024, with the potential to expand the partnership in the future.

Up to five wind turbines and solar panels with batteries will generate clean electricity for local communities. The partners are exploring options for the location of the site on Sherbro Island, which will create green job opportunities and training for local people.

SAP is an infrastructure development company co-founded by award-winning actor Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens, the grandson of the former President of Sierra Leone.

Sherbro Island is a designated semi-autonomous Special Economic Zone, which allows private sector entities and investors to lead in the island’s development activities. SAP is on a mission to transform Sherbro Island into a vibrant West African economic hub and dynamic eco-city, where global citizens can live, learn, research, work and play.

The vision is to replicate the transformative economic shifts seen in places like Singapore and Dubai, with a focus on efficient governance, robust infrastructure including high speed connectivity, alongside healthcare, education, arts, film, entertainment, business, and talent development.

The agreement will also see SAP and Octopus open offices in Sierra Leone.

Octopus’ green energy projects – worth $7.5bn – already span over 15 countries in Europe, Asia and Australia, with plans to rapidly scale. This partnership marks Octopus’ first move into renewables in Africa.

This comes as around 28% of Sierra Leone’s population are estimated to have access to electricity, with the country targeting 85% renewable electricity capacity by 2030* – underscoring the massive potential to rapidly scale clean, cheap energy to more people.

Idris Elba, co-founder of Sherbro Alliance Partners, said: “We look at the pristine beaches of Sherbro Island, with the goal of creating a culturally diverse international city that blends African tradition, dynamism, and pride with state-of-the-art infrastructure and services, where development sits in harmony with sustainability. We’re pleased to partner with Octopus Energy who share a profound commitment to sustainability and energy which will be a backbone to development on Sherbro.”

Siaka Stevens, co-founder of Sherbro Alliance Partners: “Sherbro Island City is being founded on sustainable principles, and will be fuelled by clean energy sources. Over the last few years, our mission has been to transform Sherbro and ignite a new way of building African cities, Africa needs new cities. We are focusing on making a significant impact across the region and beyond with partners in the UK, Europe, Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. Our collaboration with Octopus is the first of many partnerships which will allow us to achieve this world class vision.”

Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, said: “This is a momentous day for Octopus as we kick off our first renewables project in Africa. We are incredibly excited to be working with Idris, Siaka and their team who are real visionaries creating a vibrant and sustainable future in Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone. Green energy represents a monumental opportunity across the African continent. Through projects like this, we can get cheap, green electricity to even more people and leverage renewables data to unleash the power of renewables and encourage others to follow suit.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

Sources:

*World Bank & SEforALL

Press Contacts

Octopus Energy Group

press@octoenergy.com

+44 (0)20 4530 8369

Sherbro Alliance Partners

chloe.payne@edelman.com

+27 (0) 72 673 0535

About Octopus Energy Generation

Octopus Energy Generation is driving the renewable energy agenda and building green power for the future. This means reshaping the market by leading the transition to a cleaner, greener future through renewable projects connected more deeply to customers and businesses. As one of Europe’s largest investors in renewable energy, its fund management specialist team launched in 2010 with a mission to accelerate the transition to a future powered by renewable energy.

This team manages 3.2 GW of renewable energy projects like wind and solar farms across over 15 countries, worth £6bn. These projects generate enough green energy to power 2 million homes every year, and is the equivalent of taking over 1 million petrol cars off the road. The business also launched the Fan Club, the world’s first local energy tariff that provides cheaper, greener energy to customers living near local turbines when it’s windy, with a discount of up to 50%. For more information, check out our website.

About Sherbro Alliance Partners

Founded in 2019 by Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens, Sherbro Alliance Partners is an infrastructure development firm spearheading the Sherbro Island City project in Sierra Leone. With a mission to establish the world’s inaugural Afro-Dynamic Eco-City, the organisation aims to create a secure, diverse, sustainable, and pioneering hub for business and tourism. This visionary project will serve as a home for islanders, Sierra Leoneans, the diaspora, individuals of African descent, and global expatriates. Sherbro Alliance Partners

About Octopus Energy Group

Octopus Energy is a global energy and technology group, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Its operations span 17 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £6 billion portfolio of projects – one of Europe’s largest.

Octopus serves 5.9 million customers globally through its retail arm, and has licensed its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 50 million customer accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, E.ON, Origin Energy and Tokyo Gas. Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide. For more information, check out website.

Source: Octopus Energy