Madina Nalwanga facts for kids

Madina Nalwanga (born March 15, 2002) is a talented actress from Uganda. She became famous for playing Phiona Mutesi in the movie Queen of Katwe (2016). This film tells the true story of a young Ugandan girl. She lives in a poor area called Katwe. Phiona learns to play chess and becomes a very skilled player. Madina's acting in this role won her several important awards. She received the Most Promising Actor award at the 2017 Africa Movie Academy Awards. She also won an NAACP Image Award and other honors.

About Madina Nalwanga

Madina was born in the Katwe neighborhood. This is a poorer area in Kampala, Uganda. When she was a child, she helped her family. She used to sell corn on the streets.

Her Role in Queen of Katwe

Madina's life was very similar to her character, Phiona. Phiona also grew up in Katwe. Madina had never seen a movie before filming Queen of Katwe. During filming, actor David Oyelowo took her to see Jurassic World. She was so surprised she asked, "Is that what we are doing?" When she finally watched Queen of Katwe, it was only her second time ever in a movie theater.

Achievements and Impact

Madina's talent was recognized worldwide. When she was 17, Forbes magazine named her to their "30 Under 30" list in 2018. She was the youngest person on that list. Her movie also had a big impact in Uganda. A study by the University of Oxford found something amazing. Students in Uganda who watched Queen of Katwe got better grades. This was true for their national exams.