top of page

Umuada by Justina Kehinde : Play Review

Umuada is a straight one act play that tackles one of the longest running taboos in the African Diaspora culture, the issue of Mental Health. Jam packed with relevant truths, belly laughs and many deja Vu moments for second generation immigrant children. Umuada hits a nerve still raw for many of us.

In this naturalist new writing, Kehinde delves in to the mechanics of the average Nigerian home. Where the father's deliberate absence due to building a house in Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria is largely felt by the family left overseas in London. Ironically a house that never seems to end due to problems in the foundation, a foreshadowing of events to come. When the absence of the father figure is gone the 'ticking over' of the family unit rests apon the mothers head. Which is portrayed in an honest monologue at the opening of the play where Tomi Ogunjobi who plays the mother' refers to us women as forever shrinking ourselves.

Consequently, the two British daughters are navigating their way through the intangible hardships by finding different ways to carry the bruden. The youngest daughters anger towards her situation resonated with me as Jess Layde's delivery of minute waves of anger and defeat with subtle tones of inner strength was beautiful to watch!

The cast on a whole blended fantastically as I saw a real family come to life before me on the stage. They embodied Kenhide's words and made it their own.

This fourty five miniute piece ambitiously cut to the root problem of denial when it comes to cracks within the family unit. Breaking the unspoken rule of expressing inner most feelings and communicating with your elders showing that traditionally it does more harm that it does good. Leaving us the audience with some pending questions. Are we creating safe space for open communication in our homes?

I was in awe of the simplistic staging and blocking being able to encapsulate home life. Having most of the dialogue centered around the kitchen table preparing food felt oh so authentic because the centre of many African Dispora families is cooking and preparing food. It was almost like entering a Time Warp as I myself have cut Plantain and boiled rice with my mother in preparation of big events.

I truly believe that Umuada has a long life ahead of it's self. The themes partnered with the beautiful use of Nigerian collquialisms makes for excellently articulated play.

Umuada is soul food for the African community and I wholeheartedly support it's journey to The National and beyond!

Photo Credit Victoria Taiwo
bottom of page