Idris Elba pays tribute to Nelson Mandela, records album

Actor Idris Elba has recorded an album as a tribute to South African president Nelson Mandela.

The 41-year-old worked on the project in South Africa after he finished shooting for Mandela's biopic "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom".

"The album will be called 'Mi Mandela'. I went back to South Africa and worked with some great musicians. I'm really proud of the album. I'll wait until the film has died down so it doesn't get muddled but I'll release it in the new year (14). Basically it's a love letter from me to Mandela about me playing him," dailystar.co.uk quoted Elba as saying.

Mandela died Dec 5. He was 95.