Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o, the voice behind Serengeti 2, the wildlife docuseries, shares the journey of Bakari, the babboon, one of the protagonists from the first season. By Team Viva

When we mention the name Lupita Nyong’o, you might recall her role in the Marvel film, Black Panther.  However, did you know that she was the narrator behind the stories featured in the popular wildlife docuseries, Serengeti?

She is back, at her animated best for the second season of the show. The Serengeti, a rich ecosystem in northern Tanzania, is known for its vast grasslands and prancing zebras. The first season of Serengeti grabbed eye-balls with the breath-taking stories from the wild. Lupita shares that season two will feature some new characters, fresh rivalries and tender moments that punctuate the lives of some of nature’s most captivating characters.

Read on for excerpts of the interview:

You’ve been fortunate to visit the Serengeti since the first series. How did you find the experience?

It was an extraordinary privilege to see the animals featured in Serengeti in real life, in the place where they were actually filmed. Growing up in Kenya, I was lucky enough to go on safari to our national parks often and it helped give me the passion I have for animals to this day. Being involved in the Serengeti series has been a great experience for me and has given me real insights into their family lives. Seeing them living out the dramas of their daily lives, amidst the beauty of the Serengeti, was quite a moving experience for me.

The story of Bakari was a particular favourite of yours in series one. What is next for him?

Everyone loves Bakari! In the last series he became leader of the troop and gained the admiration and loyalty of all the baboons. But peace never lasts long: this time there is dissent in the ranks and a whole new set of natural problems to deal with, while still trying to do his best for Cheka and their new baby.

Tell us about some of the new characters and stories you think audiences will particularly resonate with this time around?

There are quite a few new characters to fall in love with. Two adorable leopard cubs, Mzuri and Duma, who get up to all sorts of adventures that bring a smile to your face. There’s also Gnu, a wildebeest calf who has to face incredible challenges just to survive. The cheeky jackals, Shavu and Shaba, are also great fun to watch. They are new parents with some very cute pups, and they survive by stealing food from under the noses of the most dangerous animals in the savannah.

Did any animal behaviours you witnessed surprise you/ challenge your perceptions?

There were so many. The elephants rescuing their babies in the flooded river was incredibly emotional to watch and it made clear how intelligent and loving their families are. The wildebeest were a surprise as their whole lives seem to be a succession of almost impossible challenges. How they managed to survive jumping off these huge vertical cliffs to reach the river below was confusing. I also loved the scene where the baboon, Bakari, was trapped by lions in a tree and had to sneak down to escape without waking them up; it was very funny. Another great moment was when Bakari’s troop was trapped by a flood and had to make death-defying leaps to survive.

How did you approach your narration — what is the process? Is there anything you learned from narrating Series 1 that you did differently /or did more of, for this new series?

When I narrated the first series the director suggested I use my natural Kenyan accent, as he felt its East-African tones were apt for the programme, and also loved how the musical lilt of the accent worked with both picture and music. Having lived in so many different places, my accent does vary quite a bit, so it was sometimes hard to record in New York and find my natural Kenyan voice. This time it was so much easier as I had just spent four months back home in Kenya, reconnecting with my family and culture, so the accent came more naturally to me. 

Serengeti is hugely popular with a family audience, were you interested in nature-series growing up?

I did enjoy a few nature documentaries growing up. I loved learning about animals on other continents like Australia, South America and The Arctic. It has always been fascinating to witness the distinctions in nature depending on where you live.

(Serengeti 2 premieres on October 18 at 9 pm, on Sony BBC Earth.)