Dede Ayite Makes History as First Black Woman to Win Tony Award for Costume Design at 2024 Tony Awards
Dede Ayite has achieved the honor of winning the best costume design award at the 2024 Tony Awards for her exceptional work on Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, marking her as the first Black woman to do so.
The 77th Tony Awards took place on June 16, 2024, to celebrate excellence in Broadway productions for the 2023-24 season. Held at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City, the ceremony was broadcasted on CBS. Ariana DeBose hosted the event for the third consecutive year.
Dede Ayite Makes History as the First Black Woman to Win a Tony Award
Following her victorious win at the 77th Annual Tony Awards, Dede Ayite acknowledged the historical significance of her achievement to Playbill, stating, “I believe I’m the first Black costume designer to receive this prestigious award. I hope this inspires aspiring designers to persevere even when the path seems challenging.”
Her award-winning design was for the costumes in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. In her acceptance speech, Ayite expressed gratitude to her family, especially her Ghanaian brother, her collaborators, the writer Bioh, and the costume shops and makers who supported her. She credited their contributions to the show’s success.
In the Tony Awards pressroom, Ayite described her groundbreaking win as “monumental.”
Ayite emphasized the importance of perseverance for emerging designers, encouraging them to tell stories that resonate with them. She highlighted the support of her community in achieving this milestone.
Reflecting on her success, she stated, “It’s not just about me, but we did it: the community that supports me, the community of people that love me each day and cheer me on. For me, I just feel like it’s not just about me right now. It’s the community. It’s that we have done it together.”
A Brief Overview of Dede Ayite
Dede Ayite is a renowned costume designer with Broadway credits including A Soldier’s Play, Slave Play, American Son, and Children of a Lesser God. Her impressive Off-Broadway portfolio features Secret Life of Bees, FireFlies, Marie and Rosetta, and many others.
She has showcased her works regionally at various theaters and has also ventured into television projects with Netflix, Comedy Central, and FOX Shortcoms. Ayite holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and has earned multiple prestigious awards for her exceptional work.
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