Akosua Busia talks to Uptown Magazine about ‘Eclipsed’

Actress Akosua Busia is a member of the cast of ‘Eclipsed’, currently playing on Broadway. It is the first play written by, directed by, produced by and starring black women.

‘Eclipsed’ is a stage production by American-Zimbabwean actress Danai Gurira. It tells the story of Liberian Civil War from the perspective of the captive wives of a Liberian rebel officer. With the arrival of a new woman who can read and the return of an old one who can kill, their possibilities are quickly transformed.

Busia, who is famous for her role as ‘Nettie’ in the movie ‘The Color Purple’ spoke to Uptown Magazine in a special cover story about how she joined the production.

Her sister, a professor at Rutgers University, told her to read the script because she knew of Gurira after being dazzled by her at an event for the African Women’s Development Fund.

“So I read it and a couple of days later I met with Liesl and Danai and when I was going back to the rail station, they asked ‘Where do you live?’ and I said, “Ghana.” When I got back to Penn Station, they said ‘You cannot go back to Ghana, you have to do this thing with us,’” she chuckled. So I did it and at the end of the run, they said this is going to Broadway. I went home and now I’m back.” She told the Magazine.

“This work resonated with me because of the work I’ve been doing with the refugee camp for Liberians. Ghana was one of the countries they fled to,” “Danai’s writing is so specific and although, as an actress, you cannot put every [thing] on that stage, you have to do your best and bring some kind of homage to the people who went through that.”

The productions also stars Academy award winner Lupita Nyong’o, Pascale Armand, Zainab Jah, and Saycon Sengbloh. It is directed by Obie Award winner Liesl Tommy.

Writer/Producer Gurira shared her inspirations for the production with the magazine.

“That for me is really the most important thing, the exposure of these voices. Honestly, the reason why I write what I write is because it’s kind of inexplicable the silence and the lack of representation around these types of women and these stories.”She said.

“That’s kind of the thing that excites me the most is the idea that we’re breaking that type of barrier with these types of women and hearing these particular voices on The Great White Way,” she said.

“It’s really time to break through those barriers and show that there isn’t a reason for the lack of representation or the under-representation.”