Akosua Busia
Last updatedAkosua Busia | |
|---|---|
 Busia in 1986 | |
| Born | Akosua Gyamama Busia 30 December 1966 Accra, Ghana |
| Education | Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, film director, songwriter, author |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Known for | Nettie Harris – The Color Purple |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Abena Busia (sister) |
| Website | www |
Akosua Gyamama Busia (born 30 December 1966) [1] [2] is a Ghanaian actress, writer and songwriter. She is known to film audiences for playing Nettie Harris in the 1985 film The Color Purple . She is the daughter of Ghanaian Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia.
Contents
Family and early life
Busia was born in Accra in 1966. She is the daughter of Kofi Abrefa Busia, who was prime minister of the Republic of Ghana (from 1969 to 1972) [3] and a prince of the royal family of Wenchi, [4] a subgroup of the Ashanti, making Akosua a princess too. [5] Her sister, Abena Busia, is a poet and academic, who was a professor in English at Rutgers University, [6] and since 2017 has been the Ghanaian ambassador to Brazil. [7]
Busia grew up in Ghana, and began her acting career at the age of 16, attending London's Central School of Speech and Drama on scholarship. [8] Her first acting role was as Juliet in an otherwise white cast, performing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet at Oxford University, where her siblings were studying. [8]
Career
Busia made her film debut in the 1979 adventure film Ashanti, with Michael Caine and Peter Ustinov. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 1980s, she was cast to play a supporting role in the slasher film The Final Terror, directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive). The film was not released until 1983, after several of its actors (including Daryl Hannah and Rachel Ward) had achieved public prominence.
Busia's film roles include a notable performance as Bessie in a 1986 film adaptation of Richard Wright's novel Native Son (with Geraldine Page and Matt Dillon. She also starred in Hard Lessons alongside Denzel Washington and Lynn Whitfield in 1986. [9] Busia played Nettie, the younger sister of Whoopi Goldberg's character Celie Harris, in Steven Spielberg's 1985 The Color Purple , [10] adapted from Alice Walker's novel of the same title, as Ruth in Badge of the Assassin (1985), as Jewel in John Singleton's Rosewood (1997), [11] and as Patience in Antoine Fuqua's Tears of the Sun (2003). [12] She has also appeared on television in the series ER . [4]
Busia is the author of The Seasons of Beento Blackbird: A Novel (Washington Square Press, 1997, ISBN 9780671014094). [13] [14] She was one of three co-writers for the screenplay adaptation of Toni Morrison's 1987 novel Beloved for the 1998 film version of the same name directed by Jonathan Demme. [15] In 2008, Busia directed a film about her father: The Prof. A Man Remembered. Life, Vision & Legacy of K.A. Busia. [16] Busia also co-wrote the song "Moon Blue" with Stevie Wonder for his album A Time 2 Love , released in 2005. [17] Her poem "Mama" is included in the 2019 anthology New Daughters of Africa , edited by Margaret Busby. [18]
After 18-year hiatus to raise her daughter, in 2016 Busia returned to acting in the off-Broadway and Broadway production of Danai Gurira's play Eclipsed , alongside Lupita Nyong'o. [19] For her performance off-Broadway, she received an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance as Rita [20]
Personal life
On 12 October 1996, Akosua Busia married the American film director John Singleton, with whom she has a daughter [15] — Hadar Busia-Singleton (born 3 April 1997); the couple divorced on 15 June 1997. Their daughter attended school in Ghana, before returning to the US. [4]
She co-founded with her sister Abena Busia the Busia Foundation International, aiming "to provide assistance to the disadvantaged". [21]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Ashanti | The Senoufo Girl | |
| 1983 | The Final Terror | Vanessa | |
| 1984 | Louisiana | Ivy | TV movie |
| 1985 | Badge of the Assassin | Ruth | TV movie |
| 1985 | The Color Purple | Nettie Harris | |
| 1986 | Crossroads | Woman at Boardinghouse | |
| 1986 | Low Blow | Karma | |
| 1986 | Hard Lessons | Cynthia Byers | |
| 1986 | Native Son | Bessie | |
| 1988 | Saxo | Puppet | |
| 1988 | The Seventh Sign | Penny Washburn | |
| 1991 | New Jack City | Courtroom Spectator | Uncredited |
| 1997 | Rosewood | Jewel | |
| 1997 | Mad City | Diane | |
| 1997 | Ill Gotten Gains | Fey | |
| 2003 | Tears of the Sun | Patience | |
| 2007 | Ascension Day | Cherry |
Related Research Articles
John Daniel Singleton was an American director, screenwriter, and producer. He made his feature film debut writing and directing Boyz n the Hood (1991), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director, becoming, at age 24, the first African American and youngest person to have ever been nominated for that award.
Kofi Abrefa Busia was a Ghanaian political leader and academic who was Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972. As a nationalist leader and prime minister, he helped to restore civilian government to the country following military rule.
Raphael Nii Amaa Ollennu was a jurist and judge who became a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana from 1962 to 1966, the acting President of Ghana during the Second Republic from 7 August 1970 to 31 August 1970 and the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana from 1969 to 1972.
Kofi is an Akan masculine given name among the Akan people in Ghana that is given to a boy born on Friday. Traditionally in Ghana, a child would receive their Akan day name during their Outdooring, eight days after birth.
Busia may refer to:
The Color Purple is a 1985 American epic coming-of-age period drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Menno Meyjes. It is based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker and was Spielberg's eighth film as a director, marking a turning point in his career as it was a departure from the summer blockbusters for which he had become known. It was also the first feature film directed by Spielberg for which John Williams did not compose the music, instead featuring a score by Quincy Jones, who also produced. The film stars Whoopi Goldberg in her breakthrough role, with Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, and Adolph Caesar.
Enid Margaret "Peggy" Appiah, MBE, was a British children's author, philanthropist and socialite. She was the daughter of the Right Honourable Sir Stafford Cripps and Dame Isobel Cripps, the wife of Ghanaian lawyer and political activist Nana Joe Appiah, and the mother of the philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah.
Efua Theodora Sutherland was a Ghanaian playwright, director, dramatist, children's author, poet, educationalist, researcher, child advocate, and cultural activist. Her works include the plays Foriwa (1962), Edufa (1967), and The Marriage of Anansewa (1975). She founded the Ghana Drama Studio, the Ghana Society of Writers, the Ghana Experimental Theatre, and a community project called the Kodzidan. As Ghana's earliest playwright-director, she was an influential figure in the development of modern Ghanaian theatre, and helped to introduce the study of African performance traditions at university level. She was also a pioneering African publisher, establishing the company Afram Publications in Accra in the 1970s.
Obed Yao Asamoah is a Ghanaian lawyer, academic and politician. Asamoah was the longest serving foreign minister and Attorney General of Ghana under Jerry Rawlings from 1981 to 1997. Asamoah was educated at King's College London and at Columbia University.
Victor Owusu was a Ghanaian politician and lawyer. He served as Attorney General and Minister for Justice on two occasions which were under the NLC and then Busia regime and also became Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Busia regime. He was the Popular Front Party's presidential candidate for the 1979 Ghanaian general election.
Ghana–Nigeria relations are the bilateral diplomatic relations between Ghana and Nigeria.
Abena is an Indian (Gujarati) surname; the Gujarati અબેના (Abēnā) possibly came from the Arabic name أبين (Abyan). As a given name, it is a girl's name of Ghanaian origin and means born on Tuesday. Day names are a cultural practice of the Akan people of Ghana. Although some might believe it is mostly practised by Ashanti people, it is actually practised by all Akan people who follow traditional customs. People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Abena has the appellation Kosia or Nimo, meaning friendliness. Thus, females named Abena are supposed to be friendly.
Theodosia Salome Okoh was a Ghanaian teacher and artist known for designing Ghana's national flag in 1957. She exhibited her artwork internationally. She also played a leading role in the development of hockey in Ghana. Her grandson is Ian Jones-Quartey, creator of OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, and her granddaughter-in-law is Rebecca Sugar, creator of Steven Universe.
Abena Pokua Adompim Busia is a Ghanaian writer, poet, feminist, lecturer and diplomat. She is a daughter of the former prime minister of Ghana, Kofi Abrefa Busia, and is the sister of actress Akosua Busia. Busia is an associate professor of Literature in English, and of women's and gender studies at Rutgers University. She is Ghana's ambassador to Brazil, appointed in 2017, with accreditation to the other 12 republics of South America.
Ama Bame Busia was a Ghanaian politician and a former member of the council of state. She was the sister of the late Kofi Abrefa Busia, former Ghanaian prime minister.
Akosua is an Akan given name to a female child born on Sunday (Kwasiada). Although some might believe it is mostly practised by the Ashanti people, it is actually practised by all Akan people who follow traditional customs. People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Akosua has the appellation Dampo meaning agility. Thus, females named Akosua are supposed to be agile.
Ashtown Ladies Football Club is a Ghanaian professional women's football club based in the heart Ashtown in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The club is founded on the principles of inclusivity, empowerment, and excellence and strive to create an environment where female athletes of all ages and backgrounds can develop their skills, build lasting friendships, and become positive role models in our community.
References
- ↑ Who's Who Among African Americans. Vol. 22. Gale Research. 2008. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-4144-3400-1.
- ↑ McCann, Bob (2010). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses In Film And Television . McFarland. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-7864-3790-0.
- ↑ Takyi, Charles (22 December 2009). "Busia's family endorses new secretary for NPP". The Ghanaian Chronicle .[ permanent dead link ]
- 1 2 3 Kiesewetter, John (7 April 1999). "'ER' actress dreams about having it all". The Cincinnati Enquirer . Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ↑ Wallace, Amy (1998-09-25). "War of Words". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ↑ "Busia, Abena - Professor", Department of Women's and Gender Studies. Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine , School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
- ↑ "The Ambassador". Ghana Embassy - Brasilia, Brazil. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- 1 2 Smith, Gail (4 December 1998), "Just don't say 'no'", Mail & Guardian (South Africa).
- ↑ Akosua Busia at IMDb .
- ↑ Rosenberg, Donald (19 June 1990). "Akosua Busia's Dual Performance In 'Color Purple' Still Astonishing". Rocky Mountain News .
- ↑ Levin, Jordan (30 June 1996). "On Location: Dredging in the Deep South". Los Angeles Times .
- ↑ Fuchs, Cynthia (8 March 2003). "Tears of the Sun: Review". PopMatters .
- ↑ Rush, George (17 April 1997). "D'Angelo joins Al's bev-y of beauties". New York Daily News .
- ↑ "Writer", Akosua Busia website.
- 1 2 Fierman, Daniel (October 16, 1998). "Brawl Over 'Beloved'". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 24 March 2007.
- ↑ "The Prof: A Man Remembered". Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "A Time To Love - Press Release | The wonder of it all". Detroit News . 8 October 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2023– via steviewonder.org.uk.
- ↑ Maxwell, Anne (19 July 2019). "The many urgent voices of women writers from Africa". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ↑ Mark Kennedy, "Akosua Busia re-emerges in the spotlight in ‘Eclipsed’", Washington Times , 23 March 2016.
- ↑ "Akosua Busia, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ↑ "Foundations". Akosua Busia. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
External links
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata
- Akosua Busia website
- Akosua Busia at IMDb
- "Ama K. interviews Akosua Busia", YouTube video.
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