Jaja's African Hairbraiding on Broadway: A powerful showcase of culture and community
Image: Broadway Direct
The Audaz editorial team is back with another review! This time we headed to Broadway to check out the world premier of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, the new play that has just been extended until 19 November, and is causing a buzz in the theater world. Created by award-winning Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh, the story takes place in a busy hair braiding salon in Harlem. It stars Brittany Adebumola (The Other Black Girl), Dominique Thorne (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), and boasts Taraji P. Henson among its producers. During its 90 minute runtime, the play chronicles a hot summer’s day in the lives of a colorful cast of African immigrant women who work in the shop, weaving through their stories of love, loss and hardship with a healthy dose of humor as well.
Throughout the play, the thing that stood out the most to us was the authenticity of the entire production. As soon as we entered the theater, it was clear that this was going to be an unapologetically Black experience. From the set design to the costumes, it was evident that a significant amount of time, research and energy was invested into creating Jaja’s world and making it feel as real as possible. Anyone that has ever spent any time on 125th street in Harlem will attest to the fact that they nailed it!
While the characters were each definitely memorable, the one thing that was equally impressive was the hair! The hair design team’s creativity was on full display as the audience experienced the braiding of so many different beautiful hair styles, and their evolution, throughout the play. On top of being entertaining, hilarious and having an amazing soundtrack, the story touched on several themes including the importance of sisterhood and coming together against all odds, as well as the need for us to take up space as Black women and not be afraid to speak our minds.
The Cast of Jaja’s African Hairbraiding, Image: Ebony.com
After the production ended, we stayed for a discussion with members of the cast and were interested to learn that some of them had a personal connection to the immigrant story. During the Q&A portion, we heard from several audience members from different parts of the world who were able to find a point of connection in the play despite having lived in places that were very different from Harlem - a testament to the universality of the story! Another highlight of the discussion was hearing from a young Black playwright who expressed how the play has inspired her to keep working on her craft despite the barriers faced by creatives of color in the industry.
As we left the theater, we reflected that even though the play we had just witnessed was clearly an African immigrant story, it is also a story that centers love and community, which are relevant, relatable and important in all parts of the world. So hit up the group chat, grab a friend, and get your tickets to see this wonderful, heartwarming play - you won’t be disappointed!
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