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‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’s’ Jocelyn Bioh on Breaking Barriers for Black Woman Playwrights: ‘It’s for Every Single Black Woman Who Has Put Pen to Paper’
'Jaja's African Hair Braiding' writer Jocelyn Bioh made history by becoming the first Black woman playwright nominated for a Tony award.
In 2019, Bioh, who is Ghanian-American, was inspired by her regular 10-hour sits in the chairs of hair braiders and the tensions caused by the Trump administration’s policies about immigration to write a first draft of a play that would get to the heart of this all-too relatable conversation. The play, produced by LaChanze and Taraji P Henson, premiered on Broadway to rave reviews, strong ticket sales and two extensions in its run, which ended in November after 56 performances. The entire experience of making “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” has had a pseudo-surreal quality, bursting with full-circle moments that shine a light on Bioh’s journey from theatre lover to actor to history-making playwright.
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