WAAFRIKA 1-2-3; A Queerly Scripted Tragic Rise to African Fantasia by Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko

Meet Awino; s/he is he is African is non-binary is a non-believer in gender
Meet Bobby who self-identifies as biracial, African-American queer lesbian woman Peace Corps volunteer
They fall in love---
BUT
in 1992 Kenya, Awino and Bobby do not exist
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WAAFRIKA 1-2-3; A Queerly Scripted Tragic Rise to African Fantasia

Recommended by

  • Gina Femia:
    2 Jul. 2022
    “ This play shook me to my core, gave me language I didn't know my heart needed, took me for a ride that I didn't want to end. This is an incredible, exciting piece of theater. I stand in awe of this play and this playwright and can't wait to read more work and see this play, and others, produced across many stages. ”
  • Timothy-Talia M. Gadomski:
    2 Jul. 2022
    “ After only reading the excerpt, I imagine this would be a beautiful piece. For someone far out the the gender spectrum, as is Awino, the close bodied scene with Bobby felt so familiar and even helped me to better understand myself. I can only imagine the danger they are in but, I have a feeling that our amazing playwright tells the story very well and I know that I must see this on stage when it is produced. ”
  • Diana Burbano:
    9 Nov. 2017
    “ This play. This play made me cry, scream, rage. There are points in it where I stopped breathing. A necessary narrative, masterfully told. Produce it. NOW! ”

Character Information

  • CHIEF
    Kenyan man, cis. Late 40’s, 50’s or older. Wears traditional African garb befitting his honored status as Chief: lavish colors, gold embroidery. He carries a staff-like wooden cane or walking stick symbolic of royalty.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • AWINO Odhiambo
    20's-30's (even 40's or more if they look/act young),
    Black
    ,
    gender non-conforming, trans/masculine of center presenting, non-binary presenting
    Pronouns: they-them, he-him, hir, hyr, s/he, ze, etc. Kenyan Luo. 20’s to early 30’s (and possibly older). S/he is a large-boned, extremely boi(boy)-ish person who often “passes” (for a man). Transgender, genderqueer, gender-variant, non-conforming gender pronouns like they, them, hir, hyr, he-him and s/he (pronounced “ze”) are welcome when describing, referring to and casting Awino who was assigned female at birth (AFAB) but is of a non-conforming gender presentation.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • BOBBY
    BIPOC
    ,
    woman, non-binary on the feminine spectrum
    American cis (queer) woman. Late 20’s to mid 30’s. Ex-Peace Corps volunteer. Her emotional and tonal range is that of someone feminine, delicate, and sensitive but tough; sarcastic but loving. Her toughness should not be underestimated when casting this character (because she and AWINO are evenly matched).

    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • MAMA MUGABE
    Chief’s first, oldest wife (40’s or older)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • MAMA OTIENO
    MAMA OTIENO: Chief’s fourth wife (30’s)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • MAMA OPIO
    MAMA OPIO: Chief’s youngest, most recent wife (20’s)

    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • RADIO ANNOUCERS & VIGILANTES---Wives (Mamas Mugabe, Otieno and Opio) doube as Radio Announcers & Vigilantes
    **WIVES DOUBLE AS RADIO VOICES AND VIGILANTES
    RADIO ANNOUNCERS:
    RADIO VOICE 2: African-American woman involved in community outreach
    RADIO VOICE 3: White American woman involved in outreach in communities of color
    KBC NEWS ANNOUNCER: Kenyan man or woman. Speaks in a Kenyan-British accent
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    NQT in conjunction with WORLD PRIDE
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    TheaterFirst
    ,
    2018

Awards

Selection
,
Queer Plays: https://newplayexchange.org/features/queer-plays?fbclid=IwAR2hkfoRDq9yavfWBm46NMzsHnlYzQmWucCwEiKiouGSTeqYt3byn4RvVkY
,
New Play Exchange
,
2019
Audience Choice
,
Goodreads Reviews
,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18358826-waafrika
,
2019
Audience Choice
,
Amazon Customer Reviews
,
https://www.amazon.com/Waafrika-Nick-Mwaluko/dp/3981386329
,
2019
Selection
,
Video
,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO-lTueZ2Wo
,
2018
Audience Choice
,
Interview:
,
http://www.tctwentypercent.org/nick-hadikwa-mwaluko/
,
2018
Selection
,
Lambda Literary
,
https://www.lambdaliterary.org/writers-in-schools/02/27/interview-nick-mwaluko/
,
2017