KENYA’S VETERAN ACTOR RAYMOND OFULA MAKES AN APPEARANCE ON NETFLIX QUEEN SONO

In case you haven’t heard, Queen Sono, Netflix’s first African original series premiered on February 28. And even though the six-part spy thriller is set in South Africa and stars South African actress Pearl Thusi it also features Kenya’s screen legend Raymond Ofula who makes an appearance in Episode 3: The Devil’s Toys.

The ever charismatic Ofula plays the former President of Tanzania – President Magoro, an ally of Mandela during the struggle for liberation of Africa.

In an attempt to uncover the truth about the death of her mother the freedom fighter Safiya Sono, Thusi’s Queen Sono while on an undercover mission as a journalist at the Nairobi Security Summit enquires about President Magoro’s involvement in the transition period in South Africa after apartheid.

It’s a brief scene, not longer than five minutes but it gives us a glimpse of who Ofula’s character is certainly moulded from Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who speaks with wisdom and conviction only reserved for Africa’s founding fathers:

“We fought so that our children could have a better life. The struggle and our children were mutually linked. Now that the whole thing is spoilt, we have to find a way to make it right again for the people of this continent.”

Other than the delightful appearance by Ofula, Queen Sono also features Kenya’s band Sauti Sol in collaboration with South Africa’s Sho Madjozi and Black Motion its official soundtrack.

You will also notice some brief shots of Uhuru Park and the beautiful Nairobi skyline when Queen’s espionage takes her to Kenya which also happens to be the residence of Russian oligarch and Queen Sono’s ass-kicking villain Ekaterina Gromov.

In 2019, Ofula made an appearance in Netflix’s The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind alongside British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kenyan actors Maxwell Simba, Robert Agengo, Melvin Alusa, Martin Githinji and Eddie Mbugua.

He also featured the second instalment of the Angelina Jolie-led Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2003.