Mumbi Maina
Kenyan actress (born 1985)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mūmbi Maina (born 14 January 1985) is a Kenyan actress known for her role in the soap opera Mali.[1]
She is an actress and dancer who has starred in both local and international films since 2009.[2]
Mūmbi is well known for her role as Zakia in the Netflix sci-fi show Sense8. After garnering her first play in 2009, she played Riziki in "Unseen Unsung Unforgotten" and won her first Kalasha award for the best supporting actress.[3]
Mūmbi became a household name through the award-winning NTV show Mali (2011–2013) and received her Kalasha nominations for Best Supporting Actress.
She has starred in many other films, including DSTVs Africa Magic original films such as 29, Terra Firma, Being Oti, Lovers Ransom, and Runaway Groom.
Career
Mūmbi Maina made her debut in the entertainment world in 2009 when she starred in the film Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten as Riziki. She appeared alongside Benta Ochieng and Nice Githinji. The story mainly focused on HIV/AIDS.[4][5] In 2011, she was cast as one of the leads in the Kenyan soap opera Mali.[6] In November 2011, she shared credits with Rita Dominic and Robert Burale in the film Shattered.[7] In early 2015, she starred in the television series How to Find a Husband.[8] She plays Jackie, who is friends with Abigail and Carol. She works alongside Lizz Njagah and Sarah Hassan.[9]
In 2016, Mumbi featured in a short film, Lina, as Jane Mabagwa and also played Zakia in Sense8 for seven episodes of the second season. Her role lead director Lana Wachowski to cast her in The Matrix Resurrection to play Eliister. [10]
In 2021, Mūmbi starred in the Nafsi film [11] as Aisha, alongside Catherine Kamau who played Shiko her best friend who offered to be a surrogate mother to save Aisha's marriage after she and her husband had challenges conceiving. The film was produced by Reuben Odanga of Multan Production Limited. She played Thabisa in La Femme Anjola, a thriller about a young Nigerian investment banker. Mumbi got nominated for Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards in 2022 for her role as Thabisa. [12] On this project, she worked alongside Rita Dominic who played Anjola and Nonso Bassey as Dejare. [13]
In 2025, she starred in the new Showmax Original The Chocolate Empire as Vera.[14]
Filmography
Film and television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten | Riziki | |
| 2011–2015 | Mali | Nandi | Soap opera, main cast |
| 2011 | Shattered | Mumbi | |
| 2014 | Jane & Abel | Cecelia | Soap opera, main cast |
| 2015 | How to Find a Husband | Jackie | Limited-run series, main cast |
| 2015 | Runaway Groom | Leah | TV movie |
| 2016 | Kati Kati | Jojo | |
| 2016 | Lina | Jane Mabagwa | Short film |
| 2017–2018 | Sense8 | Zakia | Recurring role (season 2) |
| 2021 | The Matrix Resurrections | Ellster | |
| 2021 | Nafsi | Aisha | |
| 2021 | La Femme Anjola | Thabisa | Nigerian neo-noir crime thriller |
| 2022 | Salem | Zara Mufasa | Main cast |
| 2022 | Crime and Justice | Mrs. Mumbi | Episode: "The Death Squad" |
| 2023 | Second Family | Katherine | Telenovela |
| 2025 | The Chocolate Empire | Vera | Recurring role |
Nomination and Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Show | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Kalasha International Film and TV Awards | Best Supporting Actress Film | Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten | Won | |
| 2012 | Kalasha International Film and TV Awards | Best Supporting Actress Film | Shattered | Nominated | [15] |
| 2017 | Kalasha International Film and TV Awards | Best Supporting Actress Film | Lina | Nominated | [16][17] |
| 2022 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actress | La Femme Anjola | Nominated | [18] |
