Florence Kasumba

Biography:

Florence Kasumba was born on 26 October 1976 in Kampala, Uganda. She grew up in Essen, Germany, where she completed her primary and secondary education. At the age of 12, after seeing the musical Starlight Express, she became inspired to pursue a career in performance. She later studied acting, singing, and dance at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Tilburg, Netherlands. Kasumba speaks German, English, and Dutch fluently and currently lives in Berlin, Germany.

Kasumba secured her first professional acting role while still in college, portraying Silke in the successful Dutch film Ik ook van jou. After graduating, she built an extensive musical theatre résumé, performing in major productions including Chicago, The Lion King, Cats, West Side Story, Evita, and Beauty and the Beast. Her talent led her to New York City, where she was cast in the title role for the German premiere of Elton John’s musical Aida. She also played Lisa in the original German cast of Mamma Mia!.

Throughout her career, Kasumba has appeared in numerous Dutch, German, and English-language films and TV series.

She entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Civil War (2016), credited as a member of Black Panther’s security team. Despite her brief appearance, the moment where she confronts Black Widow with the line “Move or you will be moved” earned her notable praise. Kasumba returned as Ayo, a key warrior of the Dora Milaje, in Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

In addition to her MCU work, she portrayed Senator Acantha in Wonder Woman (2017) and took on the role of the Wicked Witch of the East in NBC’s series Emerald City. She continues to divide her time between American and German film and television projects.

In 2019, Kasumba voiced Shenzi in Jon Favreau’s photorealistic remake of The Lion King, starring alongside Keegan-Michael Key and Eric André as Kamari and Azizi.

Kasumba received a nomination for the Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television & Arts Award for International Rising Star in 2016, competing against notable talents such as Lupita Nyong’o, John Boyega, and Lisa Awuku. She later appeared with Nyong’o in Black Panther.