Actor turned model turned actor Lwanda Jawar is the main man on Kona – taking up the role of troubled boxer Wanjala. The former Mr Kenya is thriving in his renewed ambition as an actor.

His acting career started back in 2000 when he was cast in a theatre group and up until 2007; Lwanda found himself involved in several TV productions including Siri and Mnazi lane and a few musicals like Malaika and Phantom of the opera.

One of his big breaks came in a role on The First Grader, an initiative by the BBC and South African government. But it was his performance on local movie The Rugged Priest that had tongues wagging.

Lwanda also had a four year stint as a model between 2008 and 2011, appearing in several fashion magazines including coming second in Africa in his quest to become Mr World in 2010.

Here’s what this AMAA award nominee had to say about his role in Kona.