International Women’s Day 2014: Mumbi Kaigwa
To celebrate women today, we profile Award winning thespian
What Mumbi Kaigwa does can barely be summed up in a few words. Glancing at the plethora of titles that she has been known by such as playwright, dancer, painter, actor, director, producer, fashion designer and mentor, it is easy to see how her references have become ubiquitous in the Kenyan arts and culture scene. With an affable nature she has entertained whilst keeping true to the message she has for the audience. Following the essence of her name, Mumbi – the Kikuyu name for the first woman, she has broken ceilings that many did not even know existed for the Kenyan female creative. With 42 years in the film and entertainment industry under her belt, she does not take for granted the importance of working on projects that bear value to society.
Mumbi had her first taste of the film set when at the tender age of 10, she was cast in Wole Soyinka’s the Stong Breed that was aired on KBC TV and her shine has only grown brighter. For some of her other talents, such writing and directing, she attributes to necessity. “We couldn’t find enough scripts to perform, so I decided to write one” she says. Mumbi had her international debut when she travelled to Yugoslavia to feature in, the Floods written by the legendary John Muganda. At that point, she was still in Form 5, an indication of the importance she gave to education. Continuing her academia, she was educated in both the University of Nairobi and the United States International University. Mumbi realized that she was not a commercial actor but one who was passionate about every role. She began working at the United Nations whilst acting when she found parts that spoke to her. In 1999 the acting bug had refused to wither and she dropped her tools to follow her heart. “It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ll never regret taking that leap of faith” says the multi-talented thespian. Her story is a testament to the saying that- with great risk comes great reward.
Brushing shoulders with the likes of Robert Redford at the Sundance Film Festival and being a part of his Theatre Lab in Utah in 2007 Mumbi was somewhat validated by learned thespians’ appraisal of her performances. “I realized, I am an actor”, she says and this was the point that she realized that she did not require papers to validate what was intrinsically Mumbi. One of the few Kenyan actors to feature in IMDb listings, Mumbi has had roles in Broadway, the Australian family favorite, Neighbours and has featured along-side Ralph Fiennes in 2005’s adaptation of the Constant Gardener. After featuring in countless plays and shows throughout the world, Mumbi roots her contemporary work that questions the social construct of what it means to be a woman. In 2003, she produced and directed, for the first time in Kenya the Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues. The courageous performance has been widely acclaimed in its evocative take on violence against women.
There is much to be said about today’s storytellers addressing issues that are otherwise swept under the carpet. Instead of the murmurings that Kenya is not ready the frank dissection of womanhood and consideration of all its shades and nuances, Mumbi found that it had indeed been a long time coming. What she did in effect, was to open dialogue regarding potent issues that many young and even mature women face but do not address. In 2013, she was awarded by South African CEO magazine the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to arts and culture in Africa. “So many opportunities have opened up for me since I realized I could invent my own life” she says and we are unsure whether she is aware of the profound words uttered.
Mumbi Kaigwa’s the Arts Canvas presents, Bintis in the Wood celebrating women on Saturday March 8th 2014 at Karura Forest.
- By Amal Mohamed
