Idris Elba discusses his recent trip to Ghana and meeting Asantehene

British actor Idris Elba has opened up about his recent trip to Ghana where he met with the Asantehene.

In a recent interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,  the award-winning actor discussed his new film ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ and shooting a documentary about Ghana.

Elba, whose kente photo went viral, said his recent trip to Ghana was fascinating.

“I was in Ghana making a documentary about gold, The Gold Coast and how human beings are fascinated by gold,” said the actor who’s of Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian descent.

“While I was there, in Ashanti kingdom which is in Kumasi, the Ashanti King said hey I am a big fan, why don’t you come to my yearly procession and meet all of my kingdom of which is a very big, vast kingdom.” he explained

READ ALSO: Idris Elba attends Akwasidae in Asante Kingdom

“So, I showed up in my jeans and they were like no..no. You got to wear this and that was the outfit,” he said. “It was really a fascinating day and I mean that was beautiful. The tradition was rich.” he added

He concluded his response with the symbolism of wearing a Kente and greeting the king.

“This is a Kente outfit. [points to the picture] It is a system. When you meet the king you have to lower the shoulder down a little bit and then shake the king’s hand,” he said, adding that it was his first time wearing it and was afraid it would fall.

“My thing kept unraveling and I was like I am going to meet the king and this is going to fall and I will be standing there in my boxers.”

During a work trip to Ghana in February last year, Idris Elba was seen paying homage to the Asantehene and his entourage at the Akwasidae festival in Kumasi.

In a meeting with Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the award-winning actor and People’s Hottest Man Alive disclosed that efforts were being made to establish a film studio in West Africa, including Ghana.