Nkonkonsa Celebrity Gossip From Africa
Ghanaian fashion designer, Dede Ayite has made history as the first Black woman to win a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Play at the 2024 Tony Awards.
The 2024 Tony Awards, held at Lincoln Center in New York, celebrated this historic moment in theater.
The honor was awarded to her for her efforts on “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” a production taking place in a Harlem salon and penned by Jocelyn Bioh.
Even though it had a short duration, the play received five Tony nominations, with Ayite’s costumes being essential to its narrative.
During her acceptance speech, Ayite expressed gratitude to her family, partners, and Bioh for the wonderful story.
She also recognized the important role of costume shops and makers, underscoring that the show wouldn’t have been as successful without them.
After her victory, Ayite described it as “huge” and wished that it would encourage others to persist and share important narratives. She stressed that her win was a team effort, thanks to the backing from her community.
NKONKONSA.com
