In the words of Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o, "no matter where you come from, your dreams are valid." This phrase has been adopted as a motto for Kenyan women who continue to burst through international glass ceilings, excelling in their respective fields and gaining global recognition.
Lupita Nyong'oShe first lit up our screens in the 2009 TV show Shuga. But before then, Lupita was a production assistant in Hollywood. She acted in a few movies while pursuing her Masters in Acting at Yale School of Drama. She landed a role in Steve McQueen's historical drama 12 Years a Slave, and it has been a non-stop meteoric rise since then. Her role as Patsey earned her an Academy Award, becoming the first Kenyan woman to win one. She has gone on to star in blockbusters like Star Wars and Black Panther, and has graced the covers of every noteworthy fashion magazine.
Mumbi MainaMumbi is evidence that hard work and resilience truly pays. Not only is she an actress but a gifted film producer. She featured in some great Kenyan productions such as Mali and a lead role in How to Find a Husband, before securing her bag in Hollywood where she landed a career-making role in Netflix's Sense 8 where she played a pansexual journalist called Zakia.
Wanuri KahiuMention the name Wanuri in a room full of thespians and her praises will overwhelm you. This gifted film director, producer and author won countless international honours for her controversial gay movie Rafiki - also the first ever Kenyan movie to screen at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The overwhelming global reception of Wanuri and Rafiki landed her a once-in-a-lifetime gig of directing a feature length Hollywood romcom set in Los Angeles.
Judy KibingeImagine getting a call from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences then being asked to join the Oscars Academy. That's exactly what happened to Judy Kibinge in 2017. And as you might guess, her answer was a big YES. The Project Daddy and Something Necessary filmmaker and founder of DOCUBOX was in the same Academy Class as huge stars like Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Hemsworth and Priyanka Chopra. She gets to vote at every Oscar Awards ceremony for a lifetime.
Wangechi MutuFor over 20 years, Brooklyn-based contemporary Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu has used the female body as her muse in creating works of art. Her paintings have been showcased in galleries and museums across the world including her first U.S. solo exhibition, Wangechi Mutu: A Fantastic Journey in the United States, back in 2013. She appeared in Jay Z's music video for his song Picasso Baby which featured other Art royalty like Marina Abramović. Singer Beyoncé also named her among her favourite artists.
