Eugene Wanangwa Khumbanyiwa

Eugene Khumbanyiwa is a Malawian South Africa-based stage, television, film and voice actor, popularly known for playing the role of Obesandjo in the 2009 Oscar nominated sci-fi hit District 9. Early life and education Khumbanyiwa was born at Cobbe Barracks Hospital in Zomba, Malawi's former capital. His father is Major Stewart Khumbanyiwa, a retired soldier, and his mother a retired primary school teacher. He got fascinated by performing arts at a very young age. He stated that as a kid, growing up at Nandolo in Zomba, his mother would take him and his siblings to Zomba Gymkhana club to watch the late Malawian playwright, director, actor and founder of the first professional theatre company in Malawi, the Wakhumbata Ensemble Theatre Du Chisiza Junior, perform on stage, as well as to University of Malawi, Chancellor College's The Great Hall, where they would watch popular drama groups like Kwathu Drama Group perform. Also, his father loved classic western and action movies, and he would take him and his older brother over the weekend to a hall nearby at St Charles Lwanga parish center, where a film company called ASTRA cinemas would come and show movies. His father's joy, subconscious gestures, and the excitement when watching these movies made the young Khumbanyiwa believe in the magic of movies and cinema, how movies can bring out various emotions in people and at the same time make for a great family time. He was attracted to that magic and dreamt of being a part of it. While in high school he started performing in self-penned plays on stage. Sometimes he would get in trouble with teachers for performing funny and entertaining skits in class. He attended his primary school at Cobbe Barracks, Mponda and Police primary school. His Secondary school at Blantyre and Malawi Army Secondary School. Upon completion at Army Secondary School, he was voted the most popular student by fellow students. This was largely due to his love and passion for performing arts.