HIGH-FLYING Zimbabwean writer-cum-actor, Danai Gurira, and US-born Kenyan actor Lupita Nyong’o recently celebrated the opening night of their new off-Broadway play, Eclipsed, at the Public Theatre in Manhattan.
Daily Mail/Arts Reporter
The Oscar-winning stars, in the African war drama, written by Walking Dead actor Gurira flashed big smiles, as they celebrated their latest artistic accomplishment.
Lupita showed her love of bright colours, wearing a deep glittery red gown with pretty pink crystal designfeaturing a deep V-neckline and sheer tulle skirt.
Gurira looked stylish in a blue and silver embossed dress with a belted waist.
The multi-talented actor and playwright said she was inspired to write the play, which follows five women in Liberia, after learning about female soldiers in Africa.
“I was enthralled by an image I saw in the New York Times in 2003 of women in the Liberian war right when it was at its climax,” she said.
“There were some women rebel fighters who were getting attention in the Western press because no one had ever seen anything like this.”
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Gurira said although she was raised in Africa, she had never seen formidable-looking women with AK-47s.
“I was keen to one day pursue that story and put it on the stage,” she said.
Gurira was born in Iowa but was raised in Zimbabwe from the age of five, after her parents moved back after the country gained its independence.
The off-Broadway play follows five women in Liberia – four wives of a warlord and a woman who is a peace negotiator.
The Walking Dead star travelled to the previously war-torn African nation in 2007 to conduct research.
Lupita stars in the drama, along with Pascale Armand, Zainab Jah and Saycon Sengbloh.
Gurira recently returned to TV screens as Michonne on AMC zombie drama The Walking Dead, which returned for its sixth season on Monday.
