Directed by Ifeoma Fafunwa
Starring Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Joke Silva, Bimbo Akintola,
Omonor, Elvina Ibru, Ufuoma McDermott, Zara Udofia-Ejoh,
Odenike, Rita Edward, and Debbie Ohiri
HEAR WORD! Naija Woman Talk True, the critically acclaimed Nigerian production making its U.S. premiere in Cambridge, is a powerful piece of performance art that combines artistry, social commentary, and true-life stories of inequality and transformation, delivered by a cast of ten women from Nigeria including Nollywood’s own Joke Silva, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Bimbo Akintola. The stories are based on real issues affecting the lives of women across Nigeria and examine what factors limit their potential for independence, leadership, and meaningful contribution. HEAR WORD! bravely examines the cultural and societal norms that oppress and limit African women and empowers women to break the culture of silence, unite, challenge the status quo, move beyond barriers and create solutions.
The production is presented by the Harvard Center for African Studies in association with American Repertory Theater; Harvard University Committee on the Arts; the Division of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences; Harvard Dance Center; Hutchins Center for African & African American Research; Harvard Law School; Mahindra Humanities Center; Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study; and the Theater, Dance & Media Concentration at Harvard University.
#HearWordNaija #HearWord
Need to know
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Notable dates
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Age Appropriateness
Ages 14 and up. The show contains adult themes including sexual content and violence.
Discussions
DISCUSSIONS
The A.R.T. of Human Rights presents a free public discussion with director Ifeoma Fafunwa on Monday, April 11. For more information, click here.
A post-performance discussion with the ensemble will follow the matinee on April 16.
A panel discussion featuring Sue Cook, Ifeoma Fafunwa, Biodun Jeyifo, Hauwa Ibrahim, and Pamela Nwaoko will follow the matinee on April 17. For more information, click here.
Features adaptations of monologues made available by the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)
Press
Credits
Creative team
Director
Ifeoma Fafunwa
Director
Ifeoma Fafunwa
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Ifeoma Fafunwa is the founder and creative director of iOpenEye, a Nigerian production company driving social change through performance art. She has over twenty years of creative collaborative experience on projects in theatre, architecture, film, and fine art in the US and Nigeria. Her directing work includes The Vagina Monologues and plays by contemporary Nigerian writers. Her work has been showcased at the British Council’s Lagos Theatre Festival and the Tate Modern. Ifeoma wrote the one- woman show Eggs and Fleas, which was nominated by the Los Angeles Weekly for Best Solo Performance Work. In 2012, she directed one of Nigeria’s cultural submissions for the London Olympics, and in 2014 she participated in the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT). Ifeoma is currently the Mary I. Bunting Fellow at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute, where she is developing a performance art project titled Who Would Choose to Be Gay and Nigerian!?
Finisher - Set Design
Benny Akinyemi
Costume Design
Ituen Basi
Lighting Design
Matthew Yusuf
Movement coach
Qudus Onikeku
Percussion
Blessing Idireri A.K.A Kacoman
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; Wakaa! the Musical, Lagos, London; SARO the Musical, Lagos, London; Love & Recession (dir. Ifeoma Fafunwa), Nigerian Tour; Fela Arrest the Music, Lagos; Gula; Moremi the Musical; Fela and the Kalakuta Queens; BJ Sax Live in Concert; AMAA Awards Kigali 2017.
Percussion
Emeka Anokwuru A.K.A. Make Beat
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; Love & Recession (dir. Ifeoma Fafunwa), Nigerian Tour; SARO the Musical, Lagos, London; Wakaa! the Musical, Lagos, London; Fela Arrest the Music; BJ Sax Live in Concert; Ajayi Write to Freedom; Dance of the Rivers; Moremi the Musical; Fela and the Kalakuta Queens.
Cast
Ensemble
Taiwo Ajai-Lycett
Ensemble
Taiwo Ajai-Lycett
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: The Lion and the Jewel, Royal Court Theatre; Murderous Angels, Dublin Theatre Festival; The National Health; Buddy Caravaggio, Replique, Traverse Theatre; Parcel Post. Film/TV: A Warm December (starring and directed by Sidney Poitier); “Some Mothers Do ‘Ve ‘Em,” “Crown Court,” BBC; “Tinsel”; “Dazzling Mirage”; “The Inheritors”; numerous soap operas. Awards/Honors: Officer of the Order of Niger (OON, awarded in 2006 by Nigerian Presiden Olusegun Obasanjo); Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists. Education/Training: City Literary Institute London, the Dance Centre, Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Taiwo founded Talhouse Private Schools and Taiwo Ajai-Lycett Arts Academy, for the promotion of the arts and the training and nurturing of young Nigerian artists.
Ensemble
Joke Silva
Ensemble
Joke Silva
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; Her Majesty’s Visit, Abuja; Little Drops, South South States Tour; Digging for Gold (dir. Ifeoma Fafunwa); A Past Came Calling; The Fight. Film/ TV: Potato Potahto; Bandits; Diamond in the Sky; Timeless; “Gidi Up,” web series; “Battleground” (Mama Egba), “Project Fame West Africa” 2007-2016; Widow’s Cot (AMAA Award, Best Actor in a Leading Role). Theater (Executive Producer/Producer): Heartbeat The Musical, The Lion and the Jewel, Naming Ceremony, The King Must Dance Naked, 2012 Olympics. Film (Executive Producer/Producer): Potato Potahto (Best Feature Film, Silicon Valley African Film Festival; Special Jury Prize, Chelsea International Film Festival; Best Feature Film, Baltimore International Film Festival); Subterfuge, Africa Magic. Awards/Honors: Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), Lifetime Achievement Award (Wim Biz/EbonyLife).
Ensemble
Bimbo Akintola
Ensemble
Bimbo Akintola
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017. Film/TV: 93 Days (AFIFF Globe Award, Best Actress of the Year); 8 Bars & A Clef; “Newman Street”; The Diamond Ring; Dangerous Twins; 90 Ninth Day; Hoodrush; Smoke & Mirrors; Heaven’s Hell. Education/Training: National Diploma Certificate, First Degree, Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Ensemble
Omonor
Ensemble
Omonor
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; Love & Recession (Adenronke), Nigerian Tour; The Fight (Mrs. Cole), Medicaid Cancer Foundation Abuja; Daniel (Queen Hajitha), The Vagina Monologues (Ensemble), MUSON Centre Lagos; V Monologues: The Nigerian Story (Ensemble), Lagos, Abuja; The Lion and the Jewel (Sidi), The Barbican, Theatre Royal Stratford East, UK Tour; Home (Pattie Mae), Nigerian Tour. Film/TV: “Wetin Dey,” “Twilight Di Zone,” “Against All Odds,” Anna P., Arakunrin Arabinrin Irinkunrin. Award: Best Actor, The Future Awards Nigeria A 2007. Education: B.S., Biochemistry, University of Lagos.
Ensemble
Elvina Ibru
Ensemble
Elvina Ibru
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; Caucasian Chalk Circle, National Youth Music Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, The Lyric Theatre London; The Vagina Monologues, MUSON Centre Lagos, Women’s Centre Abuja; Magic of the Musicals (Miss Hannigan), Ultima Studios Lagos. Film: Letters to a Stranger, Theo’s Dora, Cajole, Alter Ego, Women on Strike. Awards: University of Lagos Faculty of Arts Students Association (FASA) Award for Developing Youth through Entertainment; Beatz Award for On-Air Personality of the Year 2016; Excellence Special Awards, Special Recognition for Excellence in Entertainment. Education/Training: The London Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA); Webster University, Regents Park, London.
Ensemble
Zara Udofia-Ejoh
Ensemble
Zara Udofia-Ejoh
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; Morning Yet on Judgement Day (Mary), Freedom Park Lagos; Little Drops, NDDC, Nigeria Regional Tour, Azue; Okonkwo’s Inquest, Oxzygen Koncepts, Terra Kulture Lagos; Kakadu the Musical (Amonia, Theatre Production of the Year Award), Lagos, Davos; Heartbeat The Musical (Arinola), The Garden Theatre Lagos; Things Fall Apart, Collective Artistes, International Tour, Kennedy Center; Sense of Belonging, Royal National Theatre Studios London. Dance: Fear Abides With Me Constantly, Oxzygen Koncepts. Film/TV: “Everything In Between” (Dayna), TIERS Nigeria; “Best Friends,” EbonyLife TV, DSTV; Big Daddy, Amaka Igwe productions; “Battleground,” Africa Magic; 93 Days, Native FilmWorks, Michel Angelo Productions, Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions.
Ensemble
Ufuoma McDermott
Ensemble
Ufuoma McDermott
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017. Film/TV: over fifty movies and four TV series, including Okafor’s Law (Ify Omene); The Women (Omoh); Wives on Strike (Mama Amina); Wives on Strike 2, Christmas is Coming (Henri, Director, Writer, Producer); Jungle Jewel (Producer, AMVCA Award nomination); What Just Happened (Producer). Awards: The Nymph Award nomination, 50th Monte Carlo TV Festival (nominated alongside Tina Fey, January Jones, and Jane Krakowski); The Future Award; Terracotta Award; Nigeria Entertainment Award. Education/Training: M.A., Public and International A airs; acting certificate, New York Film Academy Los Angeles; certificate, London Business School; Relativity School Los Angeles; Hollywood Film Institute (student of Dov Simens).
Ensemble
Rita Edward
Ensemble
Rita Edward
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; Still Single in Gidi, Lagos Theatre Festival, Freedom Park Lagos. Film/TV: 93 Days, Native FilmWorks, Michel Angelo Productions, Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions; Isoken, 85 Pictures; “Tinsel,” Africa Magic; “Inspector K,” web series; Uncloaked, House5 and Iroko Productions.
Ensemble
Odenike
Ensemble
Odenike
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; The Wives (Tobi), Terra Kulture Lagos; Shattered, British Council Lagos Theatre Festival/Eko Hotel and Suites. Film/TV: What Lies Within (Best of Nollywood Award, Best Actress); Lunch Time Heroes, Pheban Films; “Battleground,” “Head Over Heels,” Africa Magic; “Ojo’s in d’House,” EbonyLife TV; “We’re Never Gonna Make It” (Writer), Accelerate TV. Education/ Training: Summer encore program, American Academy of Dramatic Arts; Screenwriting, Hatch Africa & British Council; “The Spirited Actor” (now Top Actor); B.S., Business Administration.
Ensemble
Deborah Ohiri
Ensemble
Deborah Ohiri
A.R.T.: HEAR WORD!; HEAR WORD! International Tour 2016, Harvard Dance Center, Connecticut State University, Frascati Theater Amsterdam. Theater: HEAR WORD! Nigerian Tour 2014-2017; Rubiewe, Pawstudios; The Secret Life of Baba Segi’s Wives (Actor/Lead Singer), Iyalode of Eti (Iyalode), AKE Festival in Abeokuta; SARO The Musical, Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions; Waiting for a Lottery, British Council Lagos Theatre Festival, Oxzygen Koncepts; Ajayi Write to Freedom (Music Director/Lead Singer, Quramo Publisher Award); Love & Recession (dir. Ifeoma Fafunwa). Film/ TV: “Project Fame West Africa” (Top 14 Finalist); “Busted” (Officer Titus); The Gods Are Still Not to Blame (Soundtrack); Taxi Driver (Oko Asewo, Soundtrack), Filmone/House 5 Productions; Stormy Heart (Judith Audu Productions). Award: POPA Awards 2017 Golden Voice of Theatre.