Ghanaian designer Dide Ayite made history at the 2024 Tony Awards by winning best play costume design, making her the first Black woman to win a Tony.
The Hollywood Reporter claims that although the trailblazer was nominated for multiple programs, she received the award for her work on the now-closed Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. Jaja has five nominations going into the 2024 Tony Awards.
The drama, which was set in a bustling Harlem salon where West African immigrant hair braiders create masterpiece hairstyles for local ladies in the face of uncertain circumstances that force the community to face being outsiders in a city they call home, was written by Jocelyn Bioh.
Ayite, who was also nominated in the same category for her work on Appropriate and in the Best Costume Design in a Musical category for Hell’s Kitchen, expressed gratitude to her family, particularly her Ghana-based brother, and her collaborators during her victory speech.
She also praised Bioh for “writing such a beautiful piece,” as well as the costume designers and makers, stating, “Without them, I would not be here, and the show would not look as amazing as it does.”
In the Tony Awards press room, Ayite marveled at her historic accomplishment, calling it “huge.”
She expressed, “People like me that are just starting out and aren’t sure and are fearful and just don’t know what it’s going to take, and you don’t know how to find that step to take you forward, so I’m just hopeful that this moment says, ‘Just keep at it.’ You know, tell the stories that matter to you, tell the story that you find value in, and the moment will meet you. That’s what’s happening for me right now.”
She continued, “It’s not just about me, but we did it: the community that supports me, the community of people that love me each day and cheer me on. For me, I just feel like it’s not just about me right now. It’s the community. It’s that we have done it together.”