By Olyvia Kahuthu
Viewers tend to associate actors with the characters they play in a production. After interacting with the stars of the newest Swahili series in town at the launch of Sumu La Penzi, Olyvia Kahuthu discovered that there is more to these characters than meets the eye.
Serah Ndanu, plays Mariam; a classy go-getter dating two guys on the sly but still harbors feelings for her ex-boyfriend. Mariam would do anything to live a high profile life, except work for it. She knows she’s hot, and uses this to her advantage. The real Ndanu is quite the contrary. She’s just as beautiful and glamorous in real life, but refreshingly humble and down to earth. The air of arrogance that encompasses her presence on screen is stripped away by her innocent look and calmness. She’s as likeable as they get on first impression, nothing like the character she plays on Sumu La Penzi.
Next is Avril, who plays Eva, a hardworking businesswoman dating a married man who couldn’t care less about her and their daughter. Eva lives on the hope that one day this man will leave his wife for her. If only wishes were horses, Eva would be a world class jockey. On the other hand Avril is quite the definition of a beautiful confident woman, who seems to know exactly what she wants. She has style and drive; quite contrary to the needy character she plays on the show.
Joyce Maina, plays Tindi, a fresh secretarial diploma graduate who moves to Nairobi with the hope of finding employment. Tindi is the definition of naive, as she tries to find her place in the big city. This naivety is nothing to mirror Joyce by. The stunningly beautiful actress is confident, bubbly and light-hearted. She enjoys a good laugh and wears a permanent smile. It’s refreshing to be around her, as her confidence is contagious; simply loveable!
Naomi Ng’ang’a plays Ama, a feisty no-nonsense bar manager, who is all about the business and has her girls’ backs. Ama is a very strong-willed character, who always gets what she wants, and doesn’t mind stepping on people’s toes to get to the top. Naomi has a bit of Ama’s wit and zeal, but is such a delight and usually the life of the party. She’s a jolly spirit, with a very friendly nature, unlike the stern Ama we know.
The fact that the cast members are so different from the characters they play just goes to show how talented they are in what they do. Seeing the faces behind these characters is quite delightful, and would give anyone a reason to catch them onscreen.
Catch these sassy females every Monday and Tuesday night at 8pm EAT (East African Time) on Africa Magic Swahili DSTV Channel 158 and GOtv Channel 103.