Arinze Kene was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and in 1991 his family moved to London. He trained as an actor as well as working as a writer-director. He was a member of the Young Writer's Programme at the Royal Court Theatre and part of Soho Theatre's HUB writer's programme. Kene is the recipient of the 2009 Alfred Fagon Award and 2011 West End Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright.