Character bios
Character biographies for Black Earth Rising.
Published: 5 September 2018
Kate Ashby (Michaela Coel)
A strong, fiercely intelligent young woman, Kate has long struggled with the dark shadow of her past. She was rescued from the horrific aftermath of the Rwandan genocide as a child, then adopted and raised in the UK by international lawyer Eve Ashby.
Kate now works as a legal investigator in the same chambers as Eve, under leading barrister Michael Ennis. She recently stepped back from her job while grappling with mental health issues. Her mother was a rock while she recovered. But now Kate’s return to work coincides with Eve taking on a new and controversial prosecution case, and soon long-buried secrets about her mother’s past and Kate’s own history start to come to light.
Michael Ennis (John Goodman)
American born, but living and working in the UK, Michael is a world-class international barrister with a brilliant track record. In possession of a restless, brilliant mind and an unflinching moral compass, Michael has always been driven to better the world using due legal process.
Once married, now divorced, he has experienced heartbreaking familial tragedy in his recent past. On top of this, the past year has also seen him fight a cancer diagnosis. A longstanding friend of Eve Ashby’s, Michael cares deeply about Kate, and is determined to guide, support and protect her. But is he keeping secrets from her, albeit with the best of intentions? And will that ultimately doom their relationship?
Eve Ashby (Harriet Walter)
Intelligent, determined and empathetic, Eve is a formidable barrister with lengthy experience delivering international justice. She was a key player in early attempts to bring those responsible for the Rwandan genocide to justice. That period also has a deeply personal significance for her, as it was when she rescued Kate, bringing her home to the UK as her adopted daughter.
Eve is utterly devoted to Kate, and determined to protect her. But she is also deeply aware Kate must ultimately stand on her own feet and face disturbing truths about both their pasts.
Alice Munezero (Noma Dumezweni)
Alice’s strength and intelligence were forged early in life, in the crucible of her experiences as a child refugee from Rwanda. Despite a loving family, Alice lived a life with little security and many dangers. As a young adult she served in a military force fighting to return to her native country – a force which ultimately put an end to the ongoing genocide there. Alice was finally able to return home, and today she serves in the Rwandan civilian administration.
She has a steely commitment to progressive values. But together with Michael Ennis, Eve Ashby and Eunice Clayton, Alice has long been complicit in burying certain dark secrets from the past.
Eunice Clayton (Tamara Tunie)
In the cut-throat world of US politics, Eunice has displayed the brio, style and smarts to rise to the top. She now serves as Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of African Affairs within the US State Department.
Years before she worked with an NGO during the chaos that followed the Rwandan genocide. It was during this period that she first came to know Michael Ennis, Eve Ashby and Alice Munezero. Now Eunice hopes to use her political sway to revisit past injustices that have long been ignored and buried.
Bibi Mundanzi (Abena Ayivor)
Steely and authoritative, Bibi serves as the Rwandan President. She was recently re-elected to office by an overwhelming majority, and enjoys approval at home and respect on the world stage.
As a child Bibi lost her entire family, fleeing from Rwanda as a refugee. The deep-seated trauma from that time may have caused long-reaching health issues, which remain, as yet, publicly unexpressed.
Returning from Uganda, she fought to end the genocide in 1994 and was integral to Rwanda’s subsequent reconstruction. She is determined her country remains forward looking, progressive, and economically successful - ensuring it never again turns in on itself with the savagery of the past.
David Runihura (Lucian Msamati)
With a silver tongue and a penchant for apposite parables, David is Special Advisor to the President of Rwanda, serving Bibi Mundanzi loyally for years.
He fought alongside Bibi during the campaign to end the genocide. Every decision he now makes he deems to be for the good of the President and the country as he sees it - even when those decisions exact a heavy price from him personally.
But are there uncomfortable deals made and facts buried that David is reluctant to see brought into the light? And how far would he go to prevent these truths being unearthed?
Blake Gaines (Hugo Blick)
Caustically intelligent and a hugely gifted barrister, Gaines seems to possess the ability to sell his conscience for the right price. A long-standing rival of Michael Ennis, and a formidable opponent in any court room, Gaines is supremely confident in his own abilities. This might be written off as arrogance, were his assessment not usually proved right.
But does Gaines’s drive and confidence, not to mention his epicurean taste for the finer things in life, hide an underlying sadness, well-hidden beneath his professional mask?
Simon Nyamoya (Danny Sapani)
An impressive bear of a man, Nyamoya, an ethnic Tutsi, is a onetime hero now turned villain. A Colonel in the military force that defeated the genocidal regime in Rwanda in 1994, Nyamoya subsequently entered the Congo where he became a rebel leader. He is alleged to have committed significant crimes against humanity, including the recruitment of child soldiers.
Given the rank of ‘General’ by his troops, he is indicted by the International Criminal Court - and Eve Ashby appears particularly concerned with his prosecution. But whether Nyamoya can ultimately be brought to justice remains to be seen.
Patrice Ganimana (Tyrone Huggins)v
A Rwandan Hutu and participant in implementing the genocide of 1994, Ganimana subsequently hid in refugee camps in Zaire, slipping away from international justice. Ganimana has survived through the years as a high-ranking militia leader in the jungles of the Congo - despite a consequent indictment for his arrest by the International Criminal Court for crimes committed during this time.
But now health issues and a desperate need for medical treatment finally force him into the light once again.
Florence Karamera (Emmanuel Imani)
At first a mystery man, Florence helps and protects Kate Ashby in her quest, revealing himself to be strong, determined - and dangerous when necessary.
Kate slowly learns the full truth about Florence’s background, which involves a personal journey every bit as tortured as Kate’s own.
Richard Ratzenburger (Timothy Walker)
The head of Kromin Mining, Ratzenburger embodies the drive and relentless ambition for which the international mining industry is renowned. Born in Britain, he was schooled in the mining industry through various placements across the globe. He has now helmed Kromin for seven years, leading the company to be a premier international player within mining and natural resources.
But Ratzenburger has further ambitions to push the company forward, and appears to possess the communication skills needed to persuade both shareholders and governments how Kromin represents their best investment opportunity.
