BY OSA AMADI

The much ac-claimed stage production featuring a stellar cast of Nigeria’s leading actresses HEARWORD! Naija Women Talk True! opened on 26 January, 2018 to a diverse audience including  Nigerians in diaspora.  Since its debut in Nigeria four years ago, HEARWORD! has been telling stories of Nigerian women, playing to packed houses across the country and abroad.

*Stellar cast of Nigeria’s leading actresses of HEARWORD!
Naija Women Talk True!

The 90-minute play is in its second season at the prestigious American Repertory Theatre (ART) at Harvard University in Boston, USA, where it debuted last year to a successful but limited run. This season’s opening shows, in line with popular demand, has been a sell out, with the closing curtain coming down to a standing ovation.

Speaking on how the show is being received in America, co-writer and Director, Ifeoma Fafunwa said:  “It was a great show! Standing Ovation, No available seats, I am really humbled and proud to be here with my fellow Nigerian Thespians, telling our stories!”

HEARWORD! Naija Women Talk True! is billed to run for two weeks from January 26 to February 11, 2018.

Among the series of special events tied to A.R.T’s production of Hear Word! Naija Woman Talk True which began since February 1 is a series of post-performance conversations with cast members, scholars, creative team members and additional guests that are part of A.R.T.’s Act II initiative.

The post-performance conversation continues tomorrow, February 6, with conversation with Ufuoma McDermott, a Hear Word! ensemble member.

February 8 will feature conversation with Caroline Elkins, professor of History and African American Studies at Harvard University, and Ifeoma Fafunwa, while conversation with Ifeoma Fafunwa and Timothy Patrick McCarthy, director of Culture Change & Social Justice Initiatives at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard Kennedy School, comes up on February 9.

February 10 will see conversation with Daniel Jordan Smith, Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence, and Professor and Chair of Anthropology, Brown University. This will be moderated by Susan Cook, executive director, Cambridge office, Harvard University Center for African Studies.

A.R.T. is also hosting a Hear Word! WOC Support Circle for women of colour today, February 5,  at Loeb Drama Center, to talk about the show.  Another one will take place on February 12 at Dudley Square.

Combining song and dance with show of elasticity and impedance, Hear Word! tackles the  problems facing the lives of women across Nigeria, those conditions that impede their independence, leadership aspirations, and the making of meaningful contribution in society. They also tell how Nigerian women have traversed some man-made barriers to make significant achievements.

Among this group are Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Joke Silva, Bimbo Akintola, Ufuoma McDermott, Elvina Ibru, Omonor, Zara Udofia-Ejoh, Rita Edward, Debbie Ohiri, and Odenike, as well as drummers Emeka Christian Anokwuru, Frank Ebisidor Asiyai, and Blessing Akpofure Idireri.