Production Details

We Was Here First
We Were Here First is a powerful, time-bending journey of identity, truth, and reclamation. The story follows a woman and her daughter who, longing to reconnect with what they believe are their African roots, pray to their ancestors for guidance. But instead of being led across the ocean, they’re met by a series of unexpected visitors—real historical figures from their own bloodline, spanning 400 years of American history.

One ancestor from each century appears, unapologetically revealing the hidden truth: They weren’t stolen—they were already here.

Armed with records, receipts, and raw truth, these ancestors dismantle generational lies and expose the deliberate mislabeling of the Original Americans as “Black” or “African American.”

Blending historical testimony, multimedia, and spiritual reckoning, We Was Here First isn’t just a play—it’s a declaration. A legacy reclaimed. A story told by those who lived it and those who carry it forward.

Because before the renaming, before the rewriting—We Was Here First.

Us in the U.S.
Since 2016 US has helped the U.S.A. with the Browning of America by showcasing testimonial presentations by marginal groups and workshops to facilitate an understanding of applied theatre skills. US has produced two shows with SFIAF and is honored to be co-producing with the FAIRE Foundation this year.

Artist Biographies

Kristian Stovall
Kristian Stovall is a multidisciplinary artist and storyteller from Hayward, California. A graduate of California State University, East Bay, with a BA in Theatre, Stovall has performed in professional plays, television productions, and indie films. Her work blends performance, multimedia, and historical inquiry, centering on personal and ancestral revelations.

In September 2024, Stovall debuted The American Heiress: Revelations at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, a multimedia performance that delves into her journey of discovering that her colored ancestors were not from Africa but were, in fact, aboriginal to America. This exploration of identity, history, and cultural reclamation is also the foundation of Stovall’s work as the founder of The Foundation for American Indian Restoration and Education (FAIRE), an organization dedicated to uncovering and sharing the true heritage of Original Americans.

For her upcoming performance at SFIAF, Stovall is proud to partner with Us in the U.S., an organization focused on amplifying minority voices as part of what they call the "Browning of America." Through bold storytelling and immersive performance, she challenges historical narratives and invites audiences to reconsider what they know about American identity.