Hair Power Skin Revolution BBC Radio Northampton Interview 5th August 2018

On 5th August, my interview with producer Suki Somal, aired on BBC Radio Northampton's Mark Dean Show, which is a weekly news and events show for Northamptonshire's African and Caribbean community. 

Eight years on since its publication in 2010 and the subject of my anthology Hair Power Skin Revolution is still relevant today.

To find out more, you can listen to the interview, which was aired in two parts at 8.10pm and 9.20pm by visiting the following link:


My interview with BBC Radio Northampton


Part 1 = 18.45 
Part 2 = 1.12.00

There are 27 days left to listen.

My Fro & Me: Hair Stories from Women of Colour

We used Black Dolls from Diverse, Brixton, London. 'To speak, hold a doll. '

On 28th November 2017, I participated in My Fro & Me: Hair Stories from Women of Colour, a discursive exploration of Afro-textured hair, culture, and identity. The event also explored Eurocentric ideals of beauty on our stage and screens, and discrimination within the context of women and Afro-textured hair. 

Ayesha Casely-Hayford facilitated the event, held at the Cottesloe Room in The Clore Learning Centre at the National Theatre in South Bank, London.

Cottesloe Room, Clore Learning Centre, National Theatre.

The event was a sell-out; over 50 likeminded women of colour, including a sprinkling of white women and men, proved an excellent dynamic for an inspiring and thoughtprovoking discussion.

Readings from Hair Power Skin Revolution included the poems:

'I am my hair' by Fiona Mckinson
'Happy ending' by Zakia Henderson-Brown

For the full details, check out Ayesha's insight

For National Theatre publicity information

To read the Guardian article: 
Weaving tales: Barber Shop Chronicles & theatre's wave of black hair shows

Ayesha Casely-Hayford, Martina Laird and Sian Ejiwumniole Le Berre - My Fro  & Me

Ayesha Casely-Hayford's Bio:
Ayesha is an actress and employment solicitor specialising in discrimination. She is an award-winning voice artist and chair of the board of trustees of The Act For Change Project, which campaigns for greater diversity in the live and recorded arts. Ayesha also created 'Afro Archives A Performer's World', a project exploring the experience of women of colour with Afro-textured hair working in the performance industry.