Who is Ayo?
Ayo was the first Dora Milaje warrior many viewers ever saw. Shaved head, red armor, a spear and absolutely no patience for outsiders. She speaks little and moves fast, and she treats her duty to the throne as something sacred.
What sets her apart from Okoye is her role as a bridge. Okoye commands, while Ayo is often the one sent out into the wider world, dealing with foreign agents, fugitives and old enemies. That makes her a key link between Wakanda's films and the rest of the MCU.
Ayo's appearances in watch order
- Captain America: Civil War (2016, film, essential)
- Black Panther (2018, film, essential)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018, film, essential)
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021, series, recommended)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022, film, recommended)
The first three are short appearances inside bigger stories. The series is where she becomes a full character.
Moments worth watching for
Her debut in Civil War is tiny but memorable: a brief standoff with Natasha Romanoff that ends with one of the coolest lines in the film. Black Panther then shows her among the Dora Milaje at home, during the challenges for the throne and the fight that follows. In Infinity War she stands with the Wakandan army when the battle reaches their borders.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier changes everything. Ayo tracks down a dangerous escaped prisoner abroad, and we learn she spent time helping Bucky Barnes recover in Wakanda. Their relationship is built on trust, which is exactly why one of her choices in the series hits so hard. She also squares off against Sam Wilson and Bucky in a fight that shows what the Dora Milaje can do when they are not holding back.
Wakanda Forever finds her serving a nation in mourning and facing a new threat from beneath the sea. Without giving anything away, her responsibilities grow.
Her allies
Ayo's loyalty belongs to the crown, which means to Black Panther, whoever wears the title. Her bond with Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, is the most personal relationship she has in the franchise. Sam Wilson starts out as someone she tolerates, then earns some respect. M'Baku, leader of the Jabari, is a rival turned ally who stands with Wakanda in the major battles.
Florence Kasumba as Ayo
Florence Kasumba has played Ayo from the start. She does a lot with very few words, using posture and silence to show who Ayo is, and the series finally gives her room for emotion. Her Civil War moment helped convince fans the Dora Milaje deserved more screen time.
She is also known for playing Senator Acantha in Wonder Woman and for voicing the hyena Shenzi in the remake of The Lion King.
How to watch her story
Watch the films in release order to see Ayo grow from a background guard into a full character. If you only want her biggest material, focus on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but see Civil War and Black Panther first so you understand Bucky's time in Wakanda and her duty to the throne.