Ifa Bayeza facts for kids

Ifa Bayeza is a talented playwright, producer, and theater artist. She was born Wanda Williams. She is best known for writing the play The Ballad of Emmett Till. This play won her the Edgar Award for Best Play in 2009. Ifa Bayeza is also the sister of the famous writer Ntozake Shange. She even directed one of her sister's plays, called A Photograph: Lovers in Motion.

Early Life and Family

Ifa Bayeza was born Wanda Williams in Trenton, New Jersey. She grew up in an upper middle-class African-American family. Later, she changed her name to Ifa Bayeza. She said this change helped her connect with her African heritage. She felt it was a special step in her life.

Her parents were very supportive. Her father, Paul T. Williams, was a doctor who helped many people. Her mother, Eloise Williams, was an educator and social worker. Ifa grew up in Lawrenceville. She went to Lawrence High School and then to Harvard University.

A Family of Achievers

Ifa Bayeza's family has a strong history of working for fairness and justice. Her sister, Ntozake Shange, was a well-known feminist playwright and poet. Her brother, Paul Williams Jr., was the first African American CEO of a big state agency in New York. Her other sister, Bisa Williams, became a U.S. Ambassador to Niger.

All four siblings went to top universities like Harvard and Yale. They earned advanced degrees in different fields. Ifa's parents loved the arts and encouraged their children to be creative. Many famous people visited their home, including important figures like W.E.B. DuBois and musicians like Dizzy Gillespie.

Creative Works and Career

Ifa Bayeza has created many important works. She co-wrote a long novel called Some Sing, Some Cry with her sister Ntozake Shange. This book tells the stories of seven generations of black women.

Bayeza has also written several plays for the stage. Some of her plays include Amistad Voices, Club Harlem, and Kid Zero. One of her most famous plays is The Ballad of Emmett Till.

The Ballad of Emmett Till

The Ballad of Emmett Till is a powerful play. It tells the true story of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy. He was tragically killed in Mississippi in 1955. This play helped Bayeza earn a special fellowship from Brown University.

Other Notable Works

Another play by Bayeza is Amistad Voices. This play is set in 1839. It is about 53 Africans who bravely fought for their freedom on a Spanish slave ship. The play explores the difficult topic of slavery.

Ifa Bayeza also traveled to Ethiopia for a personal project. There, she created images of ancient religious sites along the Nile River. She also worked on her sister Ntozake Shange's famous play, For Colored Girls. Bayeza was the original set designer and helped with the play's research.

Awards and Recognition

Ifa Bayeza has received several awards for her amazing work:

• 2009 Edgar Award for Best Play
• 2010 Backstage Garland Award for Best Playwriting
• 2007 Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference fellowship
• 2003 Arna Bontemps Centennial Writer's Fellowship

Critical Views on The Ballad of Emmett Till

Many people have praised Ifa Bayeza's play, The Ballad of Emmett Till. A reviewer from Variety.com, Steve Oxman, said her portrayal of Emmett Till was "extremely detailed." He felt she perfectly set the scene for the events that unfolded.

The play was performed in Los Angeles in 2010. A new director, Shirley Jo Finney, took over the production. Reviewer Kathleen Foley praised Finney's direction. She also said that Bayeza's story made Emmett Till's fate even more heartbreaking. Foley wrote that the play would leave audiences "devastated."

In 2017, the play was performed in San Diego. It was directed by Yolanda Franklin and Claudio Raygoza. A reviewer named David L. Coddon said the last part of the play was very emotional for the audience. He also noted that the play ends with a hopeful message for a better future.