As part of promotions for her new chess-themed Disney movie “Queen of Katwe,” Lupita Nyong’o recently was interviewed by Zendaya on the beauty of the game. Zendaya admitted to not knowing much about chess and Lupita told her she was fortunate to receive a lesson by Ugandan chess player Robert Katende, about whom the movie is based.
“The skill you learn in chess that is so applicable to life is to look at where you are and where you need to go and figuring out how to get there, figuring out the obstacles in your way,” explained Nyong’o.
She noted the skills were especially important for the children of Katwe (a neighborhood in Kawala, the capitol of Uganda) depicted in the film, adding, “It is so applicable to the life they lead. Where even just to fetch water you to figure where the bully is and where is the ditch and all that and how to get there safest, fastest and in one piece.”
“Queen of Katwe” is now in theaters.
Zendaya & Lupita Nyong’o Discuss All Things Chess – ‘Queen of Katwe’ pic.twitter.com/qa8SdqwDpq
— Zendaya Media (@ZendayaMedia) October 9, 2016