Idris Elba To release An Album Inspired By Nelson Mandela | Mi Mandela Release Date Revealed

Actor Idris Elba is due to release an album of songs inspired by Nelson Mandela. It looks like Idris Elba playing the role of the late icon Nelson Mandela and spending time in Mzansi had a lot of impact on the British star.  

Idris has officially announced that he has plans for an album inspired by his experience playing the late anti-Apartheid leader in the hit movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

The album is to be titled “mi Mandela” and will feature South African musical talent and guest vocals from acts like Mumford & Sons, James Blake, Maverick Sabre and Mr. Hudson.

For this studio debut, Elba has enlisted the help of artists including James Blake, Mumford & Sons, Mr Hudson and Nothembi Mkhwebane.

Elba began listening to South African music when he was preparing to play Mandela in 2013’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. 

“[It] was part of my research,” he said in a promo video. 

“I wanted to understand what music [Mandela] liked, and so in that journey I discovered the roots of South African music ... At the time I had [a] studio [in] the apartment I was staying in ... a little keyboard, a laptop, and as an experiment to myself I vowed to keep making music.”

This is not Idris’ first attempt at music as he has released music under the name “Dris” and also stared in the video for Mumford & Sons – “Lovers of The Light“.

Speaking in a video announcing the album, Idris said;

“South Africa has numerous different tribes, and each one has a musical expression, and each one has a very unique, different sound style“.  

“I had my studio at the apartment I was staying in while I was making Mandela – a little keyboard, a laptop – and as an experiment to myself, I vowed to keep making music.“

The album is set o be released on Monday 24th November 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa; Mali and London.

Watch Idris talk about the album below;