To playwright Jocelyn Bioh, the African hair braiders of Harlem are icons. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. “They’re a large part of ...

Jaja’s can sometimes veer a little formulaic or presentational: In the single-scene appearance of Jaja herself, Kakoma spends most of her time standing directly downstage center (in, not to spoil ...

Andrea Asuaje is a senior radio producer with “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.” Prior to her work at GBH, she was a senior producer and show runner at Rococo Punch; and a reporter, producer and ...

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. The Harlem hair salon at the center of “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” Jocelyn Bioh’s exuberant workplace comedy, ...

Nestled throughout Black neighborhoods, African braiding salons have served as the go-to spot for protective styles. Whether you’re getting traditional box braids or the latest popular bohemian locs, ...

Every few decades the theater needs its “Steel Magnolias.” Before Robert Haring’s beauty-shop dramedy opened in 1987, there was Clare Booth Luce’s 1936 comedy, “The Women,” which also made a beauty ...

Hair is sacred to Black women, as are the institutions that shift and mold our tresses, styling them for seasons and occasions. Beauty salons are staples in the Black community, but the braiding shop ...

From “Barbershop” and “Beauty Shop” to “Shear Madness” and “Steel Magnolias,” hair emporia have served for years as great settings for plays and movies. They’re community staples, home to countless ...

It's not often that I get to see plays and it's even more rare that I get to see plays with an entirely Black cast. "Jaja's African Hair Braiding" managed to merge the two worlds for a timely yet ...

Tuesday night was a gut punch that left me grateful for live theater. That evening, I had the pleasure of joining the audience at "Jaja's African Hair Braiding," the vibrant comedic play with a big ...

SOUTH BEND — Ericka Thomas grew up hearing family members have two different reactions to her hair. Thomas, 31, is the child of a black father and a Mexican mother, and responses she heard from ...