Danai Gurira was born in Iowa in the United States and raised in Zimbabwe. Her work spans theatre, film and television, including playing Michonne in The Walking Dead and Okoye in Marvel's Black Panther films.

Her play Eclipsed debuted on Broadway in 2016 with an all-Black, all-female principal cast and creative team, a milestone documented by TIME. The drama centres women affected by Liberia's civil conflict. Its Broadway production received major awards recognition.

Gurira has also worked to widen opportunities for African dramatic artists through Almasi Collaborative Arts. OurPride should connect her achievements to the wider record of Zimbabwean playwrights, directors, actors, designers and companies creating work at home and abroad.

Her Zimbabwean upbringing is part of the story, but it would be incorrect to say she was born in Zimbabwe. Her own account of 'Zimerican' identity illustrates the layered experiences of the diaspora.

Explore more documented Zimbabwean Firsts & Breakthroughs ↗ or nominate somebody worth recognising ↗

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