Tony Win, US Tour for 'Jaja’s African Hair Braiding'

Jocelyn Bioh's play 'Jaja’s African Hair Braiding' has won a Tony Award and is being staged in multiple major U.S. cities, including a production by SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston. The play authentically portrays West African immigrant experiences in Harlem hair salons, highlighting the salon as a cultural safe space and a microcosm of immigrant life. Themes of community, identity, and immigration policies are explored, drawing from Bioh's personal history. In Boston, local coverage emphasizes the play's impact and the complexities faced by African women immigrants. Meanwhile, events like Jawara Wauchope’s 'Black Hair Reimagined: The New Era of Beauty Hair Show' in New York, held alongside the Met Gala, continue to spotlight the artistry and influence of Black hair in fashion. Together, these initiatives underscore Black hair's importance as an expression of creativity, identity, and community.