Akosua Busia

Akosua Busia, born on December 30, 1966, in Accra, Ghana, is the daughter of Kofi Abrefa Busia, the former Prime Minister of Ghana. Her early life included exposure to the arts, leading her to begin acting at the age of 16. She pursued formal training at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama on a scholarship. Her career commenced with a film debut in the 1979 adventure film “Ashanti.” Upon moving to Los Angeles in the early 1980s, she continued to build her acting portfolio with a supporting role in “The Final Terror” (1983).

Busia’s acting career gained significant traction with her portrayal of Nettie Harris in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film adaptation of “The Color Purple,” a role that brought her widespread recognition. She further expanded her filmography with roles in “Native Son” (1986), “Hard Lessons” (1986) alongside Denzel Washington, “Rosewood” (1997) directed by John Singleton, and “Tears of the Sun” (2003). Her television appearances include the series “ER.” Beyond acting, Busia is the author of the novel “The Seasons of Beento Blackbird” (1997) and co-wrote the screenplay for the 1998 film “Beloved,” based on Toni Morrison’s novel. She also co-wrote the song “Moon Blue” with Stevie Wonder for his 2005 album “A Time 2 Love.”

After an 18-year hiatus to focus on raising her daughter, Akosua Busia returned to acting in 2016, starring as Rita in Danai Gurira’s play “Eclipsed” on Broadway, for which she received an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance. Her recent directorial and production works include the 2024 drama film “In Search of a Blessed Life” and the documentary “Stevie Wonder in Ghana: In Search of a Blessed Life.” In addition to her artistic endeavors, Busia co-founded the Busia Foundation International with her sister, Abena Busia, a poet and academic, aimed at providing assistance to the disadvantaged.