*Sadly, Ugandan actress Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who was in the 2016 Disney film “Queen of Katwe,” has died at 15-years-old.
According to Variety, Waligwa was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and seemed to be on the road to recovery a year later. In 2019, another tumor was found. During the filming of “Queen of Katwe,” director Mira Nair helped raise money to fund Waligwa’s medial treatment.
The 2016 film starred David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o, and Madina Nalwanga, and depicts the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum who began playing when she was nine. Waligwa played the main character’s close friend who teaches her how to play chess.
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Oyelowo responded to news of his young co-star’s death on Instagram, writing in a post “She was a ball of light in Queen of Katwa and in life.”
Nyong’o also said on Instagram: “It is with great sadness that I post about the passing of Nikita Waligwa, the sweet, warm, talented girl whom I worked with on the film, Queen Of Katwe. She played Gloria with such vibrancy. In her real life she had the enormous challenge of battling brain cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and community as they come to terms with having to say goodbye so soon. May she truly rest in piece.”
Check out her full Instagram post above.
Waligwa secondary school also shared a touching message, “You were a darling to many and we have lost you to a brain tumour at such a tender age,” Gayaza High School said.
According to the BBC, Waligwa’s funeral service was held on Sunday, and she will be buried on Monday.
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