Biography

Biography

A Skilled Spy

Nakia was born in the African nation of Wakanda to the River Tribe. She grew up to be fiercely independent, though she also developed a romantic relationship with Prince T’Challa, son of King T’Chaka and heir to the throne. Though they seemed destined to wed, Nakia’s path led her to train for and become a member of Wakanda’s War Dogs, an elite espionage group. She excelled as a spy and spent more and more time away from her country as she delved deeper into missions that she believed helped not only Wakanda, but the greater cause of women, especially those being subjugated on the African continent.

Wise Warrior

Beyond her grasp of languages, covert operations, and espionage, Nakia’s masterful skill as a hand-to-hand combatant allow her to protect not only herself, but others around her. Her fighting disciplines include multiple forms of martial arts, as well as use of hand weapons, such as the Wakandan ring blades she favors.

Nakia and Okoye on a mission.

Nakia’s personal beliefs are very strong. She’s applied her sense of right and wrong beyond the borders of her nation to what she sees as injustices throughout the world.

Member of the Family

Having grown close to T’Challa, Nakia enjoys the friendship and love of Wakanda’s royal family and is looked upon as one of them by its members. Her relationship with the new king can be awkward at times due to their past romance, but the two know each other well and hold a great mutual respect for one another. Though they may disagree on certain points of Wakanda’s future, it appears as if a foundation on which they can rebuild their romance may still exist.

Nakia also enjoys a solid footing with Okoye of the Dora Milaje, the king’s personal guard, though Okoye perhaps sees even more potential in Nakia than she may in herself.

An Eye on Her Enemies

Nakia opposes all who would harm Wakanda and women in general, particularly slavers. Notably, she was among those who stood strong with T’Challa to stop Erik Killmonger’s takeover; though, in some ways, she and Killmonger agreed on the idea of opening Wakanda to the wider world, albeit in very different ways.

Ulysses Klaue also ranked as an opponent in her eyes, and while she met his lackeys in battle, she most likely would have appreciated a chance to end their boss’ evil spree once and for all herself.

A New Path

Nakia’s path led back to Wakanda after the untimely death of King T’Chaka and his son’s ascension to the throne. T’Challa wanted her to be present for the ritual in which he would become king and, along with Okoye, traveled to Nigeria to bring her back from a deep cover mission. When he found her, she was in disguise as part of a group of women being transported by slavers. Though T’Challa moved to rescue her, he was swiftly reminded that she was more than capable of handling herself.

Once back in Wakanda, T’Challa spoke of his belief in Nakia’s potential as the nation’s queen. But, Nakia expressed her desire to continue her work in the field and suggested that Wakanda could do more for the downtrodden people beyond their borders. Before the discussion could continue in earnest, the two flew off to South Korea to intercept their country’s longtime foe, mercenary Ulysses Klaue. During their confrontation with the man, Nakia exhibited her immense fighting skills and was instrumental in the takedown of Klaue’s agents.

Nakia and Okoye argue about loyalty.

Later, while Nakia was back in Wakanda, she witnessed the arrival of Erik Killmonger, T’Challa’s unknown cousin and a challenger for the throne. Horrified, she watched as Killmonger defeated the new king in ritual combat and took on his mantle as the Black Panther. Nakia helped remove the queen mother Ramonda and T’Challa’s sister Shuri from under Killmonger’s gaze and to the Jabari lands, an outlying area of Wakanda. There, she discovered her former lover T’Challa was in fact still alive, but barely so.

M’Baku, the ruler of the Jabari, saw to T’Challa’s convalescence. Once the healed T’Challa returned to the capital city in full force to engage the usurper, Nakia stood with Shuri and Okoye to battle Killmonger and those who fought with him. She even held her own against the man’s immense power. T’Challa took over the combat with his cousin after that and defeated him.

Nakia stands with T'Challa when he opens Wakanda to the rest of the world.

In the following days, he and Nakia seemed to rekindle their romance and looked to a possible future they would share together. Especially as T’Challa informed her that he would be doing as she’d long hoped: using Wakanda’s considerable knowledge and resources to help the larger world.