UKumara ‘Kumi’ Naidoo wazalelwa eThekwini ngo-1965. Ubushoshovu bezepolitiki bukaKumi Naidoo baqala eneminyaka engu-15. Ngo-1981, waxoshwa esikoleni ngenxa yokubhikishela ubandlululo. UKumi wayehlukunyezwa njalo ngamaphoyisa. Ngo-1986, umbuso wobandlululo wamemezela isimo esibucayi. UKumi waboshwa wabekwa icala lokwephula izinhlinzeko zombuso; wabaleka eNingizimu Afrika ngo-1987. Waya ekudingisweni eNgilandi. Ngalesi sikhathi wayeyisifundiswa saseRhodes e-University of Oxford futhi wagcina ethole ukuba u-D.Phil kwezenhlalo yezombusazwe.
Wabuyela eNingizimu Afrika ngemuva kwenyanga uNelson Mandela ekhululiwe futhi wasebenza ekusunguleni i-African National Congress njengeqembu lezombangazwe elisemthethweni. Wayebambe iqhaza elikhulu okhethweni lokuqala lwentando yeningi ngo-1994 lapho asebenza khona iKhomishini Yokhetho Ezimele njengomqondisi wezokuqeqesha kuzwelonke futhi wasebenza njengomkhulumeli osemthethweni.
Umqondisi Omkhulu Wamazwe Omhlaba weqembu lomhlaba jikelele lezemvelo i-Greenpeace. Ubengumuntu wokuqala wase-Afrika ukuphatha le nhlangano. Usebenze njengonobhala-jikelele we-Global Call to Action Against Poverty. WayenguNobhala-Jikelele we-Civicus, umfelandawonye wamazwe omhlaba wokubamba iqhaza kwezakhamizi, kusuka ngo-1998 kuya ku-2008.
UKumi ubuye wasebenza ngezindlela ezehlukene njengomcwaningi, intatheli, umfundisi waseyunivesithi kanye nomeluleki wentsha, futhi ushicilele futhi wakhuluma kabanzi ngezindaba eziphathelene nezinhlangano zomphakathi, ezemfundo kanye nokumelana nobandlululo. Muva nje, uhole i-Global Call for Climate Action.