Mumbi Maina

Mūmbi Maina
Born (1985-01-14) 14 January 1985 (age 41)
Nairobi, Kenya
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Actress
  • production co-ordinator
Years active2009–present
Notable workZakia Sense8
AwardsKalasha awards

Mūmbi Maina (born 14 January 1985) is a Kenyan actress and dancer. She has appeared in several films since 2009 and is known for her roles in the soap opera Mali (2011–2013) and as Zakia in the Netflix science fiction series Sense8.

Maina made her acting debut in the 2009 film Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten, earning the Kalasha Award for the Best Supporting Actress.

Her film credits include the DStv Africa Magic original films 29, Terra Firma, Being Oti, Lovers Ransom, and Runaway Groom.

Career

Maina made her acting debut in the 2009 film Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten as Riziki. She appeared alongside Benta Ochieng and Nice Githinji in a story focused on HIV/AIDS. In 2011, she was cast in the Kenyan soap opera Mali. Later that year, she appeared in the film Shattered, alongside Rita Dominic and Robert Burale. In early 2015, she portrayed Jackie in the television series How to Find a Husband, alongside Lizz Njagah and Sarah Hassan.

In 2016, Maina portrayed Jane Mabagwa in the short film Lina and Zakia in seven episodes of the second season of Sense8. Her performance led director Lana Wachowski to cast her in The Matrix Resurrections as Eliister.

In 2021, Maina starred as Aisha in Nafsi, alongside Catherine Kamau. The film was produced by Reuben Odanga of Multan Production Limited. She portrayed Thabisa in La Femme Anjola, a film about a young Nigerian investment banker, which earned her a nomination for the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards in 2022. The film also starred Rita Dominic as Anjola and Nonso Bassey as Dejare.

In 2025, she starred as Vera in the Showmax Original The Chocolate Empire.

Filmography

Film and television

YearTitleRoleNotes
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 film
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

Awards and nominations

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
2017 Kalasha International Film and TV Awards Best Supporting Actress Film Lina Nominated
2022 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actress La Femme Anjola Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Mumbi Maina's biography". actors.co.ke. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ "The rise and rise of actress Mumbi Maina". Daily Nation. 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  3. ↑ "Berlinale Talents Project - Unseen, Unsung, UNFORGOTTEN". Berlinale Talents. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  4. ↑ "Unseen, Unsung, Unforgotten". diasporamessenger.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ "U, U, U synopsis". berlinale-talents.de. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Mali, United by blood:Divided by Greed". afrinolly.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  7. ↑ "Shattered". kenyabuzz.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  8. ↑ "How to find a husband". sodasandpopcorn.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  9. ↑ "How to Find A Husband #StoryLab". ghafla.co.ke. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  10. ↑ "The rise and rise of actress Mumbi Maina". Daily Nation. 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  11. ↑ "The rise and rise of actress Mumbi Maina". Nation.
  12. ↑ "5 highlights to know about 'La Femme Anjola' ahead of its March release". Pulse Nigeria. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  13. ↑ "LA FEMME ANJOLA - Genesis Cinemas". 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  14. ↑ Milimo, Dennis (27 March 2025). "Jimmy Gathu, Sanaipei Tande, Mumbi Maina feature in crime drama 'The Chocolate Empire". Mpasho. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  15. ↑ Wagwau (Writer), Adam (2012-11-16). "Full List: All Movies & TV Shows Nominated for Kalasha Awards". Ghafla!. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  16. ↑ munenemwarania (2017-11-15). "Mbithi Masya's Kati Kati Racks Up 12 Nominations At Kalasha Awards". The Sauce. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  17. ↑ Wamathai, James (2017-12-10). "Kati Kati and Sue & Jonnie among winners in the Kalasha Awards 2017". HapaKenya. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  18. ↑ Writer, Staff (2022-03-21). "Mumbi Maina, Sarah Hassan Among AMVCAs 2022 Nominees". Sinema Focus. Retrieved 2026-03-11.