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Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night

Jaja's African Hair Braiding runs through Sunday, November 5, 2023.

By: Oct. 04, 2023
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Jaja’s African Hair Braiding officially opened last night, October 3, at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). Performances run through Sunday, November 5. Check out photos from inside the festivities below!

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding is written by Jocelyn Bioh (School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play) and directed by Whitney White (Our Dear Dead Drug Lord).

The cast of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding  features Brittany Adebumola (“The Other Black Girl”), Maechi Aharanwa (The Misanthrope), Rachel Christopher (for colored girls who have considered suicide/…), Kalyne Coleman (“So Help Me Todd”), Somi Kakoma (Dreaming Zenzile), Lakisha May (Skeleton Crew), Nana Mensah (“Presumed Innocent”), Michael Oloyede (Inanimate), Dominique Thorne (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Zenzi Williams (Mobile Unit of Henry V).

This dazzling world premiere welcomes you into Jaja’s bustling hair braiding shop in Harlem where every day, a lively and eclectic group of West African immigrant hair braiders are creating masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. During one sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish and secrets will be revealed. The uncertainty of their circumstances simmers below the surface of their lives and when it boils over, it forces this tight-knit community to confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home. This extraordinary new play is by the award winning Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh (School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play) and will be directed by Obie winner Whitney White (Our Dear Dead Drug Lord).

The creative team for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding includes David Zinn (Scenic Design); Dede Ayite (Costume Design); JiyounChang (Lighting Design); Justin Ellington (Original Music & Sound Design); Stefania Bulbarella (Video Design); Nikiya Mathis(Hair & Wig Design); Dawn-Elin Fraser (Dialect & Vocal Coach); Caparelliotis Casting, Kelly Gillespie, & Erica Hart (Casting); and Melanie J. Lisby (Production Stage Manager). 

Photo Credit: Bruce Glikas 

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Rachel Christopher, Zenzi Williams, Brittany Adebumola, Michael Oloyede, Kalyne Coleman, Somi Kakoma, Lakisha May, Director Whitney White, Playwright Jocelyn Bioh, Maechi Aharanwa, Nana Mensah and Dominique Thorne

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Rachel Christopher, Zenzi Williams, Brittany Adebumola, Michael Oloyede, Kalyne Coleman, Somi Kakoma, Lakisha May, Maechi Aharanwa, Nana Mensah and Dominique Thorne

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Director Whitney White and Playwright Jocelyn Bioh

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Director Whitney White and Playwright Jocelyn Bioh

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Nana Mensah and Playwright Jocelyn Bioh

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Playwright Jocelyn Bioh and Somi Kakoma

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Director Whitney White and Brittany Adebumola

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Rachel Christopher and Kalyne Coleman

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Maechi Aharanwa and Lakisha May

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Rachel Christopher, Dominique Thorne, Maechi Aharanwa and Lakisha May

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Dominique Thorne and Nana Mensah

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Playwright Jocelyn Bioh

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Playwright Jocelyn Bioh

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Director Whitney White

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Director Whitney White

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Maechi Aharanwa

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Maechi Aharanwa

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Michael Oloyede

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Michael Oloyede

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Dominique Thorne

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Dominique Thorne

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Kalyne Coleman

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Kalyne Coleman

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Lakisha May

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Lakisha May

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Rachel Christopher

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Rachel Christopher

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Zenzi Williams

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Zenzi Williams

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Nana Mensah

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Nana Mensah

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Nana Mensah

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Somi Kakoma

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Somi Kakoma

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Brittany Adebumola

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Brittany Adebumola

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Victoire Charles, Morgan Scott, Abigail C. Onuwunali and Onye Eme-Akwari

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Victoire Charles, Morgan Scott, Abigail C. Onuwunali and Onye Eme-Akwari

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  ImageVictoire Charles

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  ImageVictoire Charles

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Abigail C. Onuwunali

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Abigail C. Onuwunali

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Morgan Scott

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Morgan Scott

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Onye Eme-Akwari

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Onye Eme-Akwari

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Stage Managers Melanie J. Lisby and Monét Thibou

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Stage Managers Melanie J. Lisby and Monét Thibou

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Somi Kakoma

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Rachel Christopher, Zenzi Williams, Brittany Adebumola, Michael Oloyede, Kalyne Coleman, Somi Kakoma, Lakisha May, Maechi Aharanwa, Nana Mensah and Dominique Thorne

Photos: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING Cast Walks the Red Carpet on Opening Night  Image
Rachel Christopher, Zenzi Williams, Brittany Adebumola, Michael Oloyede, Kalyne Coleman, Somi Kakoma, Lakisha May, Director Whitney White, Playwright Jocelyn Bioh, Maechi Aharanwa, Nana Mensah and Dominique Thorne







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