Hilarious and witty, this play addresses current issues related to Africans and African Americans, stereotypes of the continent are beautifully deconstructed. Never Thought I Was Black Till I Came to America is an immigrant story narrated through comedy, storytelling, poetry, prose, music and collected anecdotes of artist Anna Mwalagho. It’s witty, comical, and provocative. Stay after the show for the artist talk-back.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born and raised in Kenya, East Africa, Anna Mwalagho began performing at the tender age of 8. She is a truly remarkable renaissance woman, an internationally recognized poet/spoken word artist, singer/songwriter, actress, storyteller, comedian, and dancer. She has performed in the USA for over 18 years and is Internationally recognized as “Mama Africa.” She has captivated many with her blend of spoken word, comedy, songs, acting, African dance, and storytelling into an electrifying one-woman show. Her performances inspire, entertain, evoke thought as well as educate all ages and races. Her music, poetry, and comedy have a unique message from the soul of the motherland, telling the immigrant stories with heart and humor, stories of life’s rough but fulfilling journeys. Anna and her band, “Afrofloetry Band” opened up for two legendary musicians from Africa; Hugh Masekela and Oliver Mtukudzi famously known as “Tuku Music” of whom she even collaborated with him doing her poem “Flavored world.” In 2006, she launched her first CD, “UKWELI” (The Truth), 2011 she released her second album “HAKI” (Justice) and “SHUKRANI” (Grateful) a children’s album of music was released December 2016, which made it to the first rounds of Grammy award nominations. In July 2018, she debuted her one-woman play “Never Thought I Was Black Till I Came To America,” which was highly received with sold-out house shows at the Black Box Theatre in Silver Spring, MD, and at the 2019 DC Black Theatre and Arts Festival.
To view excerpts of Anna’s work, visit www.annamwalagho.com
