Sometimes, in order to achieve success you make a huge sacrifice like moving out of your home country and leaving your loved ones behind. Today we gathered some of the people who have enjoyed success after leaving Kenya.
1. Lupita Nyong’o- Big Screen and Broadway Actress
Before she enrolled at Yale to pursue a master's degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama, Lupita was a small time actress who appeared in various local and international productions like ‘Shuga’.
Away from the screens, Lupita worked hard behind the screens and produced her award winning documentary about albinism called ‘In My Genes.’ She was also part of the production crew for movies such as The Constant Gardener (2005), The Namesake (2006) and Where God Left His Shoes.
After moving to Hollywood, Lupita joined the cast of ‘12 Years a Slave’ which earned her an Oscar, starred in ‘The Jungle Book’s as Raksha and in Star Wars as Maz Kanata.
She has also had her stint on Broadway and was part of the cast of ‘Eclipsed’ which has earned her a Tony Award nomination.
2. Owuor Arunga-Trumpeter/Producer/Music Director
Known as the Sultan of Swag and the Cool Cat, the Seattle-Based Kenyan trumpeter is celebrated as the producer, music director and trumpeter of American hip hop artist Macklemore.
Together, the team has recorded albums, toured the world and won four Grammies at the 56th annual Grammy Awards, among other equally impressive feats.
Last year, he joined the 3rd Season of Coke Studio Africa where he produced mash-up collaborations between Alikiba and Victoria Kimani.
3. Daniel Adongo: NFL Player
He graduated from Strathmore High School in 2006 and later joined the Kenya Harlequins junior team before going on to play for Kenya’s U-18 and U-19 national teams. He later attended the Sharks Academy (a rugby academy) in South Africa where he honed his skills and got to play for various South African Teams.
His big break came when he joined the ‘Counties Manukau Steelers’ in New Zealand as that is where the Indianapolis Colts (NFL team) scouted him and signed him as an outside linebacker until 2015.
4. Wangechi Mutu-Artist
Wangechi Mutu is a Kenyan artist and sculptor who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
Being the outstanding African artists she is, her work has been exhibited in some of the world's most important art galleries and museums like Gladstone Gallery (New York), Wiels Contemporary Museum (Brussels), Museum of Contemporary Art (San Diego), Susanne Vielmetter Gallery (Los Angeles), Ill Capricorno (Venice), The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Sompo Japan Museum of Art (Tokyo) among others.
She burst into pop-culture after she appeared in Jay Z's video ‘Picasso Baby’ shot at the Pace Gallery in New York City.
Aside from Jay-Z she has worked with singer and producer Santigold on an 8-minute animated film titled The End of Eating Everything.
Wangechi is the brains behind ‘Africa’s Out’, a movement that aims to show support for the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer And Intersex) community.
5. Victor Wanyama- Footballer
You know you have made it when you play in the premier league. In July 2013 Wanyama became the first Kenyan to play in the premier league after he was signed to Southampton FC.
Previously Wanyama was signed to the Celtics and became the first Kenyan player ever to score in the UEFA Champions League
Locally he serves as the Harambee Stars captain at only 24.
6. Edi Mue Gathegi-Actor
He was born in Nairobi’s Eastlands area before relocating to Albany California where he grew up.
He bumped into acting by accident after a knee injury completely crushed his basketball dreams.
As we speak, Edi has been in movies like Twilight, Gone Baby Gone, Death Sentence, Crank and Criminal Activities.
He has also made his mark on TV in the Blacklist, House, Nikita, Into the Badlands, Phineas and Ferb and the Family Tools among others
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