Mumbi Maina Talks ‘The Matrix,’ African Accents In Hollywood

Mumbi Maina knows just how far a dream can take you.

The actress reached an international audience through the Netflix series “Sense8,” before later reuniting with the Wachowskis’ creative world for “The Matrix Resurrections.”

In this exclusive interview with The Blast, Mumbi speaks about how those experiences changed both her life and her understanding of what was possible as an artist. She also gets candid about Hollywood’s portrayal of Africa, recalling one bizarre encounter involving a supposedly “Kenyan” accent.

Mumbi Maina credits her international work on “Sense8” and “The Matrix Resurrections” with transforming both her career and her understanding of what was possible as an artist. In our conversation, she said the projects had “shifted the trajectory” of her life “in the most wonderful and fulfilling ways.”

Mumbi broke into the global spotlight with the Netflix show in 2017, before later joining “The Matrix Resurrections,” reuniting her with filmmakers and cast members from the sci-fi series.

In a 2023 interview with TRACE, Mumbi recalled receiving an email about a mysterious project called “Ice Cream” during the COVID-19 lockdown. With several “Sense8” cast members involved, she initially thought it was a documentary series being made while production on “The Matrix” remained paused.

Then came another email making the connection clear. “I was done, finished,” Mumbi recalled, describing tears, prayers and jumping around the house. She kept the news largely secret for months, telling only her lawyer-manager while waiting for her German visa.

Mumbi Would Be ‘Ecstatic’ To Return To ‘The Matrix’

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Stepping into productions of that caliber expanded Mumbi’s creative outlook and exposed her to a level in the industry she had long dreamed of experiencing firsthand. “I could never have properly understood how eye-opening and inspiring being in those environments would be,” she told us.

Just as important was the way she was treated once she got there. The actor recalled being met with “grace, kindness and professionalism,” adding that she felt valued for her work and presence. The experience also reinforced her belief in the wider impact art can have and showed her the value of working alongside people deeply invested in their craft.

That influence has stayed with her. We asked Mumbi whether she saw potential for more stories in the world of “The Matrix” beyond “Resurrections,” and whether she would return to the universe if offered the chance.

“Yes,” she replied. “That’s the thing about art. Just like the human experience, there’s always room to evolve. If [‘The Matrix’] did continue, I’d be ecstatic to return to that world!”

The Actress Weighs In On Questions Around African Storytelling In Hollywood

Mumbi’s experience navigating both African and Hollywood productions also gave us an opening to ask how she feels African stories and characters are being represented on the global stage.

The conversation about Hollywood’s handling of African stories has found new life with “Children of Blood and Bone,” particularly in its use of accents. The upcoming film, based on Tomi Adeyemi’s eponymous debut novel, has faced criticism well before its release.

To start, the casting of Amandla Stenberg and Thuso Mbedu drew complaints of colorism, and Adeyemi later said she had distanced herself from the film.

Reaction to the trailer has also been mixed. Reddit users criticized everything from the performances and costumes to the production, with several saying it felt disconnected from its Nigerian inspiration.

Mumbi Maina Recalls Producers Searching For A ‘Kenyan’ Accent

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For Mumbi, it brings back memories of one particularly puzzling experience of her own. A few years ago, producers approached her about a voice-acting role after seeing her work on “Sense8.” She was cast, recorded the part, and thought everything had gone smoothly.

Then, through a friend who had no idea she had already landed the role, Mumbi discovered the production was looking for someone with a “Kenyan” accent. “We genuinely all scratched our heads at that because… what is a Kenyan accent?” Mumbi tells The Blast.

The actress was born and raised in Kenya and has lived there all her life. Even so, she says fellow Kenyans have occasionally told her that she has an accent. “I just talk how I talk,” Mumbi says. “And that raises a bigger question for me: who is the authority on what an African should sound like?”

Mumbi Maina Wants African Film To Follow The Afrobeats Blueprint

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What made the experience even stranger was that the producers already knew exactly what she sounded like before casting her. Mumbi suspects they may have been searching for the generic “African” accent Hollywood audiences have heard for decades.

“I think that’s where the conversation becomes disheartening,” she says. “The narratives that are pushed about Africa aren’t always true to home.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean only Africans can tell African stories, in Mumbi’s view. For her, the bigger issue is how those stories are handled.

“I don’t know if it matters so much who is telling the story as much as how the story is being told, who is included in the process, and whether there is a genuine understanding of the people and culture it comes from,” she explains.

Mumbi ultimately wants African film to follow a path similar to Afrobeats, reaching audiences worldwide without losing the identity that made it resonate in the first place.