‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’ To Open At Berkeley Rep In November

BERKELEY, CA — Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, a celebrated new play by Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh, will open at Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s Peet’s Theatre on November 8 and run through December 15.

Tickets are available through berkeleyrep.org or by calling 510-647-2949.

Set in a bustling Harlem hair braiding salon, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding invites audiences into the heart of a vibrant West African immigrant community. Against the backdrop of a scorching summer day, the play delves into the lives of the salon’s braiders and customers, capturing moments of romance, ambition, and the bonds that unite them. Beneath the lively atmosphere, however, are deeper questions of identity and the challenges of being outsiders within their own neighborhood.

The production is directed by Obie Award-winning Whitney White and praised by Entertainment Weekly as “equally affecting as it is hilarious.” Known for previous works like Goddess and School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, Bioh brings humor and pathos to her latest story of love and resilience.

Tickets are available online or by phone Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.