Dede Ayite Becomes First Black Woman to Win Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Play

BY HILARY LEWIS via https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/

Though nominated for her work on a few shows, Ayite won for her work on the now-closed ‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.’

Dede Ayite has become the first Black woman to win a Tony for best costume design of a play at the 2024 Tony Awards.

Though nominated for her work on a few shows, Ayite won for her work on the now-closed Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.

The show, which opened in October 2023 and closed the following month, is set in a bustling Harlem salon where West African immigrant hair braiders create masterpiece hairstyles for local women amid uncertain circumstances that ultimately face the community to confront being an outsider in a place they call home.

Written by Jocelyn Bioh, Jaja’s went into the 2024 Tonys up for five awards.

During her acceptance speech, Ayite, who was also nominated in the same category for her work on Appropriate and in the best costume design of a musical category for Hell’s Kitchen, thanked her family, including her brother cheering her on from Ghana, and her…

Read More: Dede Ayite Becomes First Black Woman to Win Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Play