Jocelyn Bioh has been named the 2024 winner of the Horton Foote Prize for her play Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. The work premiered on Broadway via Manhattan Theatre Club last season and is currently on a mini-regional tour.
The award comes with a $50,000 prize and a limited edition of Keith Carter's iconic photograph of Foote, part of the permanent collection of Washington, D.C.'s National Portrait Gallery. Whitney White, director of Jaja's, will present Bioh with the honor October 7 at a private celebration held at New York's Lotos Club.
Jaja's African Hair Braiding is set in a Harlem hair braiding shop, following the West African employees and the community they serve. The play opened on Broadway October 3, 2023, earning five 2024 Tony nominations, including for Best Play. Dede Ayite won for her costume design, and hair and wig designer Nikiya Mathis was honored with a Special Tony for her work on the production as well. The Broadway production is currently at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., with further stops planned for Berkeley Repertory Theatre in November and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in January 2025.
This year's prize was decided by a judges panel comprising honorary chair Kathleen Chalfant, Michael Urie, Patricia McGregor, and Jennifer Chang.
"This play is a perfect example of how the more specific a work of art, the more universal its reach," says Chalfant in a statement. "Jaja takes us into its very particular world and seduces all of us with its beauty and humor and great heart and dares at the end to tell the truth about this difficult place we live."
"A joyful ride and so funny…Fabulous characters, setting, and action, with a stunning and powerful final turn," adds Urie.
Also being presented at the October 7 event is the 2024 Horton Foote Prize Gratitude Gift, which will award a $10,000 gift to Rattlestick Theater.
Visit HortonFootePrize.org.
Nana Mensah, Dominique Thorne, and Somi Kakoma in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Nana Mensah, Michael Oloyede, Maechi Aharanwa, and Lakisha May in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Kalyne Coleman and Maechi Aharanwa in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Michael Oloyede and Nana Mensah in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Brittany Adebumola and Dominique Thorne in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Lakisha May and Nana Mensah in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Nana Mensah, Lakisha May, Maechi Aharanwa, and Kalyne Coleman in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Kalyne Coleman and Maechi Aharanwa in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Rachel Christopher and Zenzi Williams in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Brittany Adebumola and Dominique Thorne in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
