Uhura is from the United States of Africa and speaks Swahili (Star Trek episode: "The Man Trap"). James Blish's non-canon novels identifies her as Bantu, as does Gene Roddenberry's novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Uhura first appears in the episode "The Corbomite Maneuver". She joins the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise in 2266 as a lieutenant, serving as chief communications officer under Captain James T. Kirk. Inexplicably, she is replaced by Lieutenant Lisa in the communications officer chair in the final episode, Turnabout Intruder.