Chioma Umeala
South African-Nigerian actress known for One Piece and The Woman King.
Chioma Antoinette Umeala (born 17 July 1996) is a South African-Nigerian actress and model. She is best known for playing Ayo Demi in *Isono: The Sin* (2020), Tara in *The Woman King* (2022), and Nojiko in Netflix’s *One Piece* (2023). Umeala was born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother, and she identifies with both Xhosa and Igbo heritage. She is based in Johannesburg. She trained in acting at AFDA, The School for the Creative Economy, and at the Indigo View Advanced Actors Academy. She also took audition technique classes through the South African Guild of Actors. Before her acting career took off, she worked as an assistant to the executive producer on *The Real Housewives of Johannesburg*. Her first on-screen role was in the student film *Look Closer* (2017), and she made her stage debut at Joburg Theatre in the production *Scene* (2018). Her breakout came when she played medical student Ayo Demi across 19 episodes of BET Africa’s daily drama *Isono* (2020). That same year, she appeared as a bridesmaid in South African rapper AKA’s music video for “Caiphus Song.” In 2021, she was photographed for *Vogue Italia*. In 2022, she played Tara in *The Woman King* and had a supporting role in *The First Last Tour*. For *One Piece* (2023), she portrayed Nojiko, the adoptive sister of Nami. In 2025, she starred in *Novocaine*. She has also worked on commercials for Starbucks South Africa, MTC Namibia, and Dark and Lovely.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1996-07-17
- Birth Place
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Education
- AFDA, The School for the Creative Economy / Indigo View Advanced Actors Academy
- Occupation
- Actress
- Years Active
- 2017-
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Umeala was born on 17 July 1996 to a Nigerian father and South African mother, of Xhosa and Igbo heritage. She is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She studied acting at AFDA, The School for the Creative Economy and the Indigo View Advanced Actors Academy, and attended audition technique classes held by the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA). She worked as an assistant to the executive producer on The Real Housewives of Johannesburg (RHOJ).
Umeala made her film debut on the student film Look Closer (2017) and her stage debut at Joburg Theatre in the production Scene (2018). She played medical student Ayo Demi in 19 episodes of BET Africa's multilingual scripted series Isono (2020), her breakout role. In 2020, she featured in the music video for South African rapper AKA's 'Caiphus Song' as a bridesmaid, and in 2021 she was photographed for Vogue Italia.
Umeala played Tara in The Woman King (2022) and had a supporting role in The First Last Tour. She played Nojiko, the adoptive sister of Nami (played by Emily Rudd), in Netflix's live-action series One Piece (2023). The character was originally Japanese in the comics, and Umeala advocated for black representation in anime. She has spoken at Comic Con panels and on the One Piece podcast about her role. In 2025, she starred in Novocaine (2025). She has collaborated with Starbucks South Africa and appeared in commercials for MTC Namibia and Dark and Lovely.
Reader's Guide
Chioma Umeala is a South African-Nigerian actress and model who gained prominence through her breakout role in the BET Africa series Isono (2020) and later appeared in major international productions such as The Woman King (2022) and Netflix's One Piece (2023). Umeala's career spans film, television, stage, and commercial work, including collaborations with Starbucks South Africa and appearances in advertisements for MTC Namibia and Dark and Lovely. Her background of Xhosa and Igbo heritage, along with her training at AFDA and the Indigo View Advanced Actors Academy, reflects a blend of South African and Nigerian cultural influences. Her significance lies in her ability to bridge local South African entertainment with global platforms, while her advocacy for representation in anime highlights her impact beyond acting.
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