Aba Arthur On Purpose And Owning Your Story

On an episode of WOMAN, host Lerny Lomotey sat down with actress, producer and storyteller Aba Arthur for an intimate and deeply reflective conversation on identity, resilience and purpose.

From the outset, Aba Arthur made it clear that self-awareness played a crucial role in her journey. Reflecting on personal challenges, she explained that instead of allowing painful experiences to define her, she chose to interrogate them.

“There’s something about this particular wounding that is speaking to me personally… so let me rather figure out what that is.”

Growing up in a Ghanaian household, Arthur credited her upbringing for grounding her sense of identity. She described her parents as strong-willed and intentional, creating a safe space where she could express herself and receive guidance.

This foundation, she noted, reinforced her confidence and self-worth, qualities that protected her from internalising harmful narratives around race and colourism.

Arthur also opened up about her early awareness of social injustice. She revealed that her passion for storytelling and entertainment was deeply tied to her desire to challenge inequality and reshape narratives.

“What bothers me is inequality… how do we make sure everyone has the same opportunity?”

Interestingly, she didn’t consciously choose entertainment, it found her. Her lifelong fascination with television, storytelling and character dynamics naturally evolved into a career path.

Her journey took a defining turn when she pursued theatre arts, where she discovered her true calling the moment she stepped on stage.

“The minute I started speaking, I said, ‘Oh… this is it.’”

From stage to screen, Arthur has built an impressive career, eventually founding her production company, The Ohema Project, to create authentic African-centred stories.

Her work has since expanded across theatre, film, and television, with credits including major productions such as The Color Purple and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Despite the challenges of breaking into Hollywood, she emphasised persistence, alignment and self-belief as key drivers of her success.

“It’s for the people who can’t go to sleep unless they’ve gotten the idea out of their mind.”

As the conversation wrapped on WOMAN with Lerny Lomotey, Arthur highlighted the importance of visualisation, community and staying grounded, principles that continue to shape her journey.