Kipsang Rotich

Kipsang Rotich, originally from Kenya and a student at the time, lent his voice to the character Nien Nunb in the Star Wars saga. Specifically, he voiced Nien in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, and Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. In addition to the films, Rotich also voiced Nien Nunb for the Rise of the Resistance attraction located at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

Ben Burtt recounts that Pat Welsh was acquainted with Rotich, who was an exchange student in college. Welsh then introduced Rotich to Burtt. Burtt noted that Rotich's English was quite proficient and that his native tongue was referred to as "Hyah." Burtt made recordings of Rotich telling folk stories in his native language and engaging in dramatic performances. Furthermore, Burtt had Rotich read some of the lines of Nien Nunb from the film, which Rotich then translated and read in his own language. Some of these translated lines were directly incorporated into the film's soundtrack, representing the actual translations of what Nunb was communicating to Lando Calrissian in Sullustese. Furthermore, Nien Nunb also delivered lines in the Kikuyu language.

The Sullustese lines spoken by Nunb resonated with African audiences who understood those languages, generating excitement. Rotich attained a degree of celebrity in his home country and made appearances on various talk shows.

Rotich returned to the role after three decades in The Force Awakens, and once more in The Rise of Skywalker. He was not involved in voicing Nien in the second film of the sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi, because his character, Nien Nunb, did not have any spoken lines in that particular movie. He later provided the voice for the Rise of the Resistance ride at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 2019.