Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble is excited to present Diaspora Monologues 2020: VA-NA-KU-LA, an exploration of language and innovations that mark identity, community, resistance, solidarity, and creative agency across the African diaspora.

Word Dey! is a performance of original stories, poetry, spoken word, and personal narratives from the community reflecting how language shapes identity and inspires creativity.

Guests are also invited to check out the Come Shop: Fehinty Marketplace, open on Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays at 5:30, and Sundays at 1:30 from February 21-March 8. Shop in the marketplace to support local entrepreneurs’ art, decor, food, accessories, clothing, and more.

Word Dey! tickets are $20 online, or $25 at the door (cash or card accepted).

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Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble, Arts + Public Life inaugural Theater Company-in-Residence, is led by Artistic Director Olateju S. Adesida, and believes that performance illuminates many trajectories and common humanity. Their mission is to stage creative works from Africa and its diaspora through a process that actively engages African communities, facilitates the development of emerging artists and fosters dialogue and creative exchanges. Fehinty grew out of a community that wanted to tell stories that represented them in a new world. While African plays were not an anomaly in the early 2000s in Chicago, what there was did not reach or connect with the African immigrant community. As much as there are plays/stories that are culturally representative, it is as paramount that African Diasporans also be the tellers of those stories. Fehinty is a platform for the development of emerging African writers, directors, actors, and designers in diaspora and provide space and support for their work.

Learn more about FATE at fehintytheatre.org.