Winston Duke, a well-known actor recognized for his portrayal of M’baku in the movie ‘Black Panther,’ has been granted Rwandan citizenship.
Duke recently made headlines for participating as one of the namers at the 19th Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony. During the event, he bestowed the name “Intarumikwa,” which signifies “Resilient Giant,” upon a baby gorilla, as a tribute to his late mother’s dedication to conservation.
Explaining the significance of the name, Winston Duke stated, “Intarumikwa translates to resilient giant. I know you may think that I may have chosen that name because of myself, but no. I chose that name in honor of a resilient giant in my own life. My dear mother that passed away last year, who as a single mother taught me the meaning of resilience.
I am so proud and absolutely grateful for the work that Rwanda is doing in the space of gorilla conservation. To me, all of you and this beautiful country are also Intarumikwa. You are all shining examples from your history to the work that you are doing today and will continue to do. You are all resilient giants.”
According to Marvel, Duke’s character in the film ‘Black Panther’ possessed superhuman abilities, extraordinary strength, and a towering physique, capable of lifting up to 10 tons. The character also exhibited enhanced endurance, agility, and durability, with a fighting style reminiscent of a gorilla.
In a special meeting at Village Urugwiro on September 2, President Kagame welcomed Duke, who also serves as a Partners in Health Global Ambassador, along with his co-star Danai Gurira, an actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.
Winston Duke was born on November 15, 1986, in Argyle, Saint Paul, Trinidad and Tobago. He spent his formative years in Brooklyn, New York, where his family relocated when he was nine. The actor has gained acclaim for his performances in blockbuster films such as ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ ‘Us,’ ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ among others.
Additionally, Duke lent his voice and talent to ‘Batman Unburied,’ a scripted podcast produced by Spotify that features iconic DC characters.
Duke pursued his education at the University at Buffalo, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre. Subsequently, he completed a Master of Fine Arts program in acting at the Yale School of Drama in 2013.
