In Conversation with The Cast and Director of Netflix’s Country Queen

There is no doubt that the Kenyan TV and Film industry has been growing at an encouraging rate over the last few years. This has been marked by more theatrical releases including Nafsi and a few films on Netflix including Just in Time and 40 Sticks. The number of Kenyan TV shows has also been steadily on the rise and become a staple of Kenyan entertainment including Maria and Selina. And now for the first time, a Kenyan TV show, Country Queen, will show on Netflix.

Country Queen is a contemporary family drama series that tells the story of ordinary Kenyans fighting against a corporate power that threatens to destroy their homes and lives. The series focuses on the issues of land grabbing and exploitation, and how these factors impact the lives and relationships of the main characters, their families and communities, and what happens when the past and present collide. 

I got the opportunity to interview some of the cast, Nini Wacera, Blessing Lung’aho, Nancy ‘Shix’ Karanja and one of the directors, Vincent Mbaya, at a media junket held at The Social House in Nairobi. The interview has been edited for clarity.

1. How did you get attached to this project?

Vincent Mbaya 

I was approached by the producer, Kamau Wandun’gu, who I had worked with before. I sent in my showreel and they loved my work so they sent me the script. Once I read the script, I was blown away by the premise, the story and the themes. You’ve got a family drama tackling important issues and interesting characters that jump off the page. I knew I wanted to be part of this project. I was part of the team that shot the pilot, and two years later when we got the greenlight, I was one of the directors.

Nini Wacera

I didn’t read a full script until I was part of the project, but what I did read had me hooked. What stood out for me was the relationship between my character, Vivianne, and her husband, played by Blessing Lung’aho. The writers weren’t afraid to explore sensuality and the interplay between the two characters is fantastic. When I finally read the full script, I didn’t know whether to love Vivianne or Akisa, played by Melissa Langat, because they’re both so well written. All the female characters are delicious and I knew I just had to be part of this project.

2. That leads me straight into my next question. You are playing a villain and there’s a taboo of women who are villains. How did you prepare for that role?

Nini Wacera

First of all, there’s nothing like playing a villain. You’d never describe anyone like that. People are pushed into certain forms of behaviour due to some trauma in their life. For me I didn’t play a villain, I played the kind of woman who feels like she’s protected herself from losing any kind of power or control over her life and therefore she tries to be in control of everyone else’s life. I went into the psychology of what drove Vivianne to behave that way and it’s a traumatised woman who felt she was denied certain things and is now trying to protect herself as she clamours to hold on to the life and company she’s built. 

Blessing Lung’aho

Nobody told me about the character I was playing for the audition. I was told I’d need to take off my shirt, so I went to the gym. In terms of getting ready for the role, I’m not the kind of actor that comes to set with a rigid frame of mind. I like to be open and allow the process to happen and focus on creating something amazing.

3. As you can tell from my name, Mwende, I’m Kamba and it was quite interesting that a lot of the characters are speaking Kamba even though that’s not their native language. What was the process of learning a bit of Kamba like?

Nancy ‘Shix’ Karanja

Yes, we had a dialect coach who helped us get the accent and pronunciations right. It was challenging but in a good way and I enjoyed getting into character. I play Kanini, a village girl, and it was a different character from what I’m used to playing, but I love versatility and I was excited to get a chance to step out of my comfort zone.

4. There’s a lot of cultural showcases in Country Queen. Was that deliberate from the beginning developed as you worked on it?

Vincent Mbaya 

The inclusion of culture was very deliberate. It was really important that we celebrate Kenyan culture. It’s not often we have off-dialect characters in Kenyan storytelling. We wanted to move away from the idea that Kenya is homogeneous where we are all Swahili and be bold and explore different cultures. 

5. You have 3 different directors on this show. What was the experience working with them like?

Nini Wacera

Working with different directors is always a plus on any project because every one of them comes with their own magic. I’d worked with Tosh before but that was 10 years ago, so to work with him again now was exciting because he had grown so much in his craft. I’d worked with Vincent but as an actor from our days at Phoenix, and this was my so I trusted him because he is an actor first and I felt I could trust him with my emotional body. I really loved working with different directors with their own brilliance.

Nancy ‘Shix’ Karanja

Working with different directors helps you grow as an actor. Every director has a different strength and vision and it helps you make your character more rounded. I enjoyed working with Vincent and Brian for the acting and Tosh for the technical. Being able to have all that exposure from different viewpoints was a great experience. 

Blessing Lung’aho

Vincent Mbaya is emotionally heavy. He takes you to places you never knew you could as an actor and nobody knows the material better than him. Tosh Gitonga is a visual director and helped me really hone my acting for the camera. Brian is a curious director and more collaborative with actors in the process. So working with all them stretched me wonderfully as an actor.

6. What does it mean to you to be on a Netflix show and to be global?

Nini Wacera

I’ve waited my whole life to be on a global platform. I’ve waited my entire career not wanting to be another talent having to go abroad to be successful. I didn’t want to be away from home and away from my people, where I couldn’t say that I’ve worked with Tosh and Vinie, and auditioned Shix and Blessing in the past and seen them grow as actors. And now for us to be here together on a global platform is just amazing and I feel so elevated.

Nancy ‘Shix’ Karanja

I love all the projects I’ve been on and don’t take it for granted that I’ve had those opportunities. All productions big or small I’m proud of. But yes, being on Country Queen and going global is a huge career milestone and I’m so proud.

Blessing Lung’aho

Being on Netflix and going global means that finally my cousins abroad can stop referring to me as a local actor. I’m global now!

7. Is there a season 2 and when can we expect it?

Vincent Mbaya

We actually don’t know yet. It’s really up to the audience. We hope that they love it and watch it. So everyone, especially Kenyans, get on Netflix and watch and support this show!

Country Queen will be on Netflix on 15th July 10am EAT. You can watch the trailer here. 

Main Cast and Crew Credits 

Directors: Vincent Mbaya, Tosh Gitonga and Brian Munene

Scriptwriters: Lydia Matata, Oprah Oyugi, Wanjeri Gakuru and Kimani Waweru

Executive Producers: Peter Obrist, Ravi Karmalker and Waltraud Ehrhardt

Producer: Kamau Wandun’gu

Art Director: Eugene Oyoo

Head of Wardrobe: Kambua Rose

Cast: Melissa Kiplagat, Melvin Alusa, Blessing Lung’aho, Nini Wacera, Mumbi Kaigwa, Muthoni Gathecha, Sheila Munyiva, Nyokabi Macharia, Joel Otukho, Eddy Kimani, Abu Sensei, Nice Githinji, Nancy Karanja, Maina Olwenya, Kael Njihia, Robert Agengo, Oliver Litondo, Vera Atsango, Peter King, Johnson ‘Fish’ Chege and Raymond Ofula.