The River Niger is a play by Joseph A. Walker, first performed by New York City's Negro Ensemble Company off-Broadway in 1972. The production made its Broadway debut with a transfer to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 27 March 1973 for a run of 162 performances. Titled after the West African river, The River Niger sits squarely with the African centered aspirations of the Black Arts Movement.

• Mattie Williams
• Johnny Williams
• Dr. Dudley Stanton
• Jeff Williams
• Ann Vanderguild
• Big Moe Hayes
• Al
• Chips
• Skeeter
• Gail
• Wilhelmina Brown

The play was adapted by Walker for film in 1976, directed by Krishna Shah starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones.

Awards

• 1973 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Playwright – Joseph A. Walker
• 1973 Obie Award for Best American Play
• 1974 Tony Award for Best Play

Nominations

• 1974 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play – Douglas Turner Ward
• 1974 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play – Roxie Roker

• ​The River Niger​ at the Internet Broadway Database The River Niger play
• Original Off-Broadway Production
• ​The River Niger​ at the Internet Broadway Database Original Broadway Production
• The River Niger (1976 film) at IMDb