Tony nominee Jocelyn Bioh puts braiders centerstage
May 21, 2024
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Playwright Jocelyn Bioh discusses her Tony-nominated play 'Jaja's African Hair Braiding' and the importance of African comedy. They explore themes of representation, the artistry of braiding, and finding humor in dark situations. The podcast also delves into revolutionizing African storytelling, ensemble casts, and the complexities of Black culture in playwriting.
Jocelyn Beo challenges typical African narratives with her comedy, portraying everyday life beyond struggle and strife.
Beo's play highlights diverse narratives in a braiding salon, adding authenticity to African diaspora representation.
Deep dives
Breaking Stereotypes Through African Comedy
Playwright Jocelyn Beo discusses her unique genre of African comedy in theater, aiming to portray everyday African life beyond typical narratives of struggle and strife. By focusing on everyday people living their lives, Beo challenges the singular narrative often associated with African stories, enriching the representation and diversity within the diaspora.
Exploring Intra-Community Tensions Through Theater
Beo's work delves into cross-cultural, diaspora-wide, and intra-community tensions, emphasizing the complexity of relationships among characters. Her play 'JoJo's African Hair Braiding' highlights the rich narratives within a braiding salon, showcasing the diverse backgrounds of braiders and customers, thus adding layers of authenticity to the portrayal of African diaspora experiences.
Finding Humor in Tense Themes Like Immigration
Amidst discussions on immigration issues, Beo's comedy 'JoJo's African Hair Braiding' uses humor as a medium to address serious themes. By grounding her comedy in truth and honesty, she explores the universality of finding joy in challenging situations, reflecting the necessity of humor in coping with adversity and fostering resilience within communities.
This week, Brittany Luse sits down with playwright Jocelyn Bioh, whose new play, Jaja's African Hair Braiding, is up for five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play. The two discuss Bioh's unique approach to comedy, what it took to bring a hair affair to Broadway, and how to find humor in dark situations.
Want to be featured on the show? Record your response to Brittany's question at the end of 'Hey Brittany' via voice memo and send it to ibam@npr.org.