Uganda’s Queen of Katwe star Nikita Pearl Waligwa dies aged 15

Written by on February 17, 2020

Nikita Pearl Waligwa
Photo by Disney

Via BBC:

An actress who starred in the Queen of Katwe, a Disney film about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum, has died aged 15, Ugandan media report.

Nikita Pearl Waligwa had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The 2016 film was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, who took up chess aged nine despite not being in school and went on to compete in international tournaments.

It starred Lupita Nyong’o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher.


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