Runako Jahi

Director and playwright Runako Jahi was born on November 26, 1952 to Olivia Foster-Peters and Nathanial Palmer in Chicago, Illinois. Jahi attended Austin College and Career Academy High School in Chicago, Illinois and the American Academy of Art. He received his B.A. degree in drama and dramatics/theatre arts from Columbia College Chicago.

Since 1972, Jahi worked as an actor, playwright, and director. Between 1990 and 2014, Jahi served as the artistic director of Chicago’s eta Creative Arts Foundation where he held actors’ workshops for youth and adults and, in 1985, developed the Showfolk Daytime Theatre Series for Schools. At eta Creative Arts Foundation, Jahi produced numerous plays, including Stoops, where he was awarded the Best Director Award from the Black Theatre Alliance Awards in 1995; Eyes, where he won the Best Director Award from the Black Theatre Alliance Awards in 2004; HOME The Musical, where he won Best Director and Best Set Design from the Black Excellence Awards in 2006; and Broke-ology, where he won the Best Set Design from the Black Excellence Awards in 2012. As an instructor, Jahi coached numerous students including Jennifer Hudson for her audition for the film Dreamgirls.

Jahi has received numerous honors for his professional accomplishments including the Promising Playwright Award from the Chicago Black Theater Alliance in 1976; the African American Achievement Award from Columbia College in 1990; the President’s Award for contributions to children’s theater in 1990; Paul Robeson Award from the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago in 1990; the Lorraine Hansberry Award for Drama from Afrique Magazine in 1999; the 34th Annual Convention Community Award from the Chicago Chapter of Justice, Unity, Generosity, Service International, Incorporated in 2001; the Jefferson Award of Merit from NBC-5 Chicago and Harris Bank in 2002; the Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to the Community from Rolling Out News in 2002; The Award of Merit from the Black Theatre Alliance Awards in 2004; the Black Men of Excellence Award from the Chicago Defender in 2010; the Outstanding Playwright Award from the Black Ensemble Theater in 2010; the Nehemiah Award from Maintaining Excellence in the Greater Englewood Community in 2011; the N’Culture Award from the N’Digo Foundation in 2011; the Tradition Keeper Award from ASE: The Chicago Association of Black Storytellers in 2011; and the Alyo Award from the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago in 2013.

Jahi resides in Chicago, Illinois. He has two children, Rahsaan Jahi and Umar Foster, and nine grandchildren.

Runako Jahi was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on November 8, 2024.