Game Of Thrones, Tuchel- Global Personalities Spotted In Kenya So Far
Raving about your favourite icon is one thing, meeting them is an entirely different affair.
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We are only just two and a half weeks into 2023 and already, some of the most prominent names across various sectors in the world have made surprise visits to Kenya.
In comparison to other big names who would usually swing by State House to meet the President, some of the personalities we only see on television have landed in the country secretly and their presence has been exposed by Kenyans taking selfies on social media.
Raving about your favourite icon is one thing, meeting them is an entirely different affair. Viral Tea takes a look at famous names that have made stealthy visits to Kenya in 2023:
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones)
The Danish actor well known for his role as Jaime Lannister in the hit HBO series was the latest A-list celebrity to be spotted in the country.
Gituru Mwai on Tuesday, January 18 tweeted "Has to be the most random workout partner I've ever had" after bumping into him by chance at a gym in an undisclosed location in Nairobi. News of his visit triggered speculation regarding the objective of his visit; whether for a project or on vacation.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau during a past Game of Thrones episode. /FILE
Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama that explores politics, power struggles, and the human condition through the lens of a medieval-inspired fantasy world. The show premiered on HBO in 2011 and concluded in 2019, and during its eight-season run, it amassed a huge following of dedicated fans.
Coster-Waldau played the role of Jaime Lannister, a member of House Lannister and one of the main characters in the show. He is known for his complex and morally ambiguous character, who starts as a villain but eventually becomes a more sympathetic character as the series progresses.
His portrayal of the character was well-received by critics and audiences alike, and he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in the series.
In addition to his successful acting career, Coster-Waldau is also a dedicated philanthropist, and he has used his fame and influence to raise awareness about various social and environmental issues. He is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and he has been actively involved in the UNDP's work to combat poverty and promote sustainable development.
Thomas Tuchel
In the midst of his former football club Chelsea's horrendous form, no one would have expected the coach to take his globe-trotting expeditions post-managing the English Premier League club to Kenya.
Tuchel prior to the visit was seen in different countries ever since he was sacked by the Blues in early September 2022. He is yet to land a job at a new club.
On the night of Thursday, January 5 when Chelsea played Manchester City, a photo of Tuchel posing for a selfie with locals at the Hell's Kitchen in Marafa, Kilifi County went viral across the country and thereafter worldwide.
"I initially thought it was a Thomas Tuchel lookalike but I was really surprised and lost for words when he confirmed that indeed it was him.
"He was just walking around the neighbourhood with his family and seemed to be in a hurry but we spoke for like a minute or so and he even allowed me to take a quick selfie. It was unbelievable," Watamu-based chef, Mpathe Mwaringa, told Mozzart Sport.
Mpathe was the one who first posted the selfie on Facebook, revealing his meeting with the tactician at Marafa, a popular tourist attraction site, even though he actually met him on the streets of Watamu. Tuchel left Kenya on Saturday, January 7.
Madonna
The American singer, whose original name is Madonna Louise Ciccone, visited Kenya for the second time in two years. In her Instagram stories uploaded on Tuesday, January 3, the singer revealed her arrival and embarked on charity work.
On the first post, the singer uploaded a photo of the entrance of Shofco - Kibera School For The Girls, captioning it “Girl power in Kibera.” The school is run by a non-profit organisation, Shining Hope For Communities (Shofco), which is described on its website as “a grassroots movement that catalyses large-scale transformation in urban slums by providing critical services for all, community advocacy platforms, and education and leadership development for women and girls.”
She shared photos while bonding with children at the institution, with captions like “New Friends” and “We are Family.”
Madonna celebrated some renovations and recent accomplishments of Shofco in Kibera, including a collage of “the tree of life”, a water tank and a new library. She also visited an art gallery in Kibera, sharing photos of some of the artists and their work.
The Material Girl hitmaker was last in Kenya in January 2021, when she was accompanied by her ex-partner Ahlamalik Williams. At the time, the seven-time Grammy winner explored Samburu county and marvelled at the rich culture.
“Spending time with the Samburu tribe is always an honour. They are nomadic warriors and here the men are singing, dancing and telling stories to attract the attention of the females,” she wrote then.
Singer Madonna at Kibera slums. /FILE
