WEAVING TOGETHER THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE
With our post election blues, and immigration becoming a hot button issue again, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding sends a message of love, hope and family of choice at Berkeley Rep. Debuting on Broadway last year, this traveling show is making its West coast debut. Original director Whitney White is still steering the helm of this story. Jocelyn Bioh’s story is set in Jaja’s Hair Salon in Harlem in 2019 right in the middle of Donald Trump’s first term in office. Harlem is considered to be a Black mecca and one of the biggest melting pots of different races and cultures. African immigrants were living in uncertain times. People were living in fear of being rounded up or turned in to ICE.
Awa Sal Secka (Bea) and Tiffany Renee Johnson (Aminata)
Jaja’s salon is the place where women gather for community to share stories, laughs and just have camaraderie. African-American women take pride in their hair. Braiding or wig-making is a skill that hairdressers provide to give women a sense of individuality. Jaja’s Salon has a full staff of women, all with their unique set of skills and know what their regular customers want. Jaja, (Victoire Charles) is more of an absentee manager at this point. She’s busy preparing for her upcoming wedding. Her daughter Miriam (Bisserat Tseggal) manages the shop and all the staff.
Tiffany Renee Johnson (Aminata) and Leovina Charles (Vanessa/Sheila/Radia)
Bisserat Tseggai (Miriam) and Mia Ellis (Jennifer) in the background
Jordan Rice (Marie) and Leovina Charles (Vanessa/Sheila/Radia)
All the stylists have their own individual talents and temperaments. Bea (Awa Sal Secka) is the older stylist who is somewhat abrasive and set in her ways. Working with the younger and seemingly more popular younger stylists has made her guarded and temperamental. Aminata (Tiffany Renee Johnson) is in a relationship with a younger man, James (Kevin Aoussou), who is probably using her to fund his questionable lifestyle. Ndidi (Aisha Sougou) has set up her chair in the salon at least on a temporary basis. Being the new person with new ideas and sense of style, her presence intimidates Bea who considers herself to be the Queen of the salon. Jaja herself makes a quick appearance at the salon as this is her wedding day and she wants to look perfect. Michelle (Melanie Brezil), Vanessa (Leovina Charles) and Marie (Jordan Rice) round out the cast as regular customers.
Tiffany Renee Johnson (Aminata), Bisserat Tseggai (Miriam), Jordan Rice (Marie),
and Aisha Sougou (Ndidi); Awa Sal Secka (Bea) in the background
Awa Sal Secka (Bea), Yao Dogbe (James), and Tiffany Renee Johnson (Aminata)
Leovina Charles, Aisha Sougou, Jordan Rice, and Mia Ellis in the background
Just like the movies where African-American men hangout and trade stories in the barber shop or Steel Magnolias where the women come together, there’s a lot of strong personalities under one roof. There’s unspoken resentments and some jealousies underneath the surface, but ultimately the women have each other’s back when it counts. While the audience is treated to a day in the life of a small business on the surface, we’re really seeing a makeshift family. They come together to get their hair done but more importantly establish friendship and camaraderie in a time of uncertainty. Just as in 2019 when the story takes place, fast forward five years and we’re all right there again.
Aisha Sougou (Ndidi), Leovina Charles (Vanessa), Melanie Brezill (Chrissy), Awa Sal Secka (Bea), Jordan Rice (Marie), Victoire Charles (Jaja), Bisserat Tseggai (Miriam), Mia Ellis (Jennifer), and Tiffany Renee Johnson (Aminata)
David Zinn’s detailed set also shows us outside the windows of the salon, with the chain link fence and people smoking cigarettes on the sidewalk on a warm afternoon. The salon looks to be a comfortable and safe place. Dede Ayite’s brightly colored costumes help each of the women establish their own unique identity. The delightful show is enhanced with original music and sound design by Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella. It sets up today’s age of reality TV with music videos thrown in establishing the all-consuming bits of inescapable pop culture. Everyone from any background and/or culture will appreciate and enjoy Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.
Aisha Sougou (Ndidi) and Melanie Brezill (Chrissy/Michelle/Laniece)
photos by Ben Krantz Studio/Berkeley Rep
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Berkeley Rep’s Peet’s Theatre, 2025 Addison Street @ Shattuck
ends on December 15, 2024
for tickets, call 510.647.2949 or visit Berkeley Rep
