Ecce Domina
(BIAFRA)
By
Omoluabi
S. Simpa
All rights reserved.Ecce
Domina Copyright © 2015 by Omoluabi S. Simpa.
Professionals and amateurs are here by
informed that 'ECCE DOMINA (BIAFRA)' being fully protected under the copyright
laws of Biafra, Nigeria, and all other countries of the copyright union, is
subject to royalty. No part of this work may be staged, used or reproduced in
any manner whatsoever without prior permission of the Author except in cases of
brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.Inquiries regarding
amateur performance rights or professional performance rights to this play
should be addressed to simpaomoluabi@gmail.com or call +234-08072818423
Omoluabi S. Simpa, born in 1983, is a revolutionary poet from Edo state in the Niger-delta region of Nigeria. He is a professor of poetry for he professes poetry beyond the limits of the convention given his literary inventions; Simpa is a mythmaker for whom poetry is a form for the cleansing and easing of the soul. He is driven by the seek for triumph of truth, liberation and independence. ‘Ecce Domina (BIAFRA)’ is a play basically Biafran concerned, and was copyrighted in 2015 and first shared without the interludes with Radio Biafra London on the 30th of May 2015. This is contribution in testifying for the need of persistence in resilience in the Biafran spirit to achieve independence (for Biafra) and consequentially revolution of the Nigerian nation.
In
dedication to
Lt.
Col. Adekunle Fajuyi & Rebel poet Maj. Christopher Okigbo
And
to the present struggle for the dead and arrested
Nkiruka
Anthonia Ikeanyionwu (killed on 02/12/2015, in protest for
Biafra)
&
Amuche Destiny (Wrongfully incarcerated on 10/11/2015
with others for a Biafran protest)
Dramatis
Personae
Bishop (friend to Femi)
Chioma (closest friend to Venus and member
of the company)
CSO (male chief security officer of the
institution)
Femi (only male member of the company)
Guest(at the CSO’s desk)
Male cadets (a
ruthless organization of students used as a security organ by the
administration)
Other Company members (females,
fifteen in all)
Secretaries (two
lady employees of the institution)
SO (a legit employed security operative
of the institution)
Venus (director and founder of the company)
The
few quoted expressions in the play are Christopher Okigbo’s.
Act I
SCENE
ONE
Outside
of a hall on which above the entrance is written ‘LIBERTY HALL’ are a number of
ladies with a young man who is quite bearded on the chin, and are all poring
over some manuscripts. Another young man approaches the gathering.
Bishop:Famooostika!
(They all look up to see who’s
talking)
Femi: Who calls my name? (He moves towards him)
Bishop:Famobanty the famostika!
Femi: My venerable bishop… (Interlocking their fingers like hook and
eye, vibrantly they shake hands)
Bishop of no easy means…
Bishop: My brother take it easy. (They embrace briefly then break. The others
move into the hall)
Femi: I will join you guys in a moment.
What’s da good news man?
Bishop: Nothing much man. I who hardly comes
to campus finally came and the stupid doctor of a lecturer that forced me out
of the nest was not even in his office when I got there. (Hisses)
Femi: The lecturer guy stood you up,
hmm…small thing. He has no idea who you be my brother.
Bishop: Tell me something.
Femi: (Hisses) It’s just that one shouldn’t mind
them much, (shakes his head) or else
every now and then we go dey do them strong something.
Bishop: Ahbi.... Any which way let’s leave
matter for Matthias. My brother you know as it is you are the current enjoyment
officer (with the back of his hand slaps
him lightly on the chest)…
Femi: What do you mean?
Bishop: Only you and all those ladies and you
ask me what do I mean.
Femi: Do not be deceived for a minute…
Bishop: A whole you Femi.
Femi: My brother…
Bishop: O boy help me out and make me meet some of
them.
Femi: Bishop they are too small for you.
Bishop: Stop that thing, I no like am. Do you
know the time-gap between the Oni and his latest Olori?
Femi: O boy those are royal matters.
Bishop: I hear you.
(Both give a short laugh)
Femi: So what have you been up to?
Bishop: I just dey with some of awumen doing
some saint bottles.
Femi: And you could not call me to join in
the drinking.
Bishop: Since you told me you will be busy
with your final rehearsal for this thing you guys have to perform, I decided to
free you from your Johnny Walker
responsibility.
Femi: Na so jare.
Bishop: But then I said to give you a call to
see if I can check you before I head back to town.
Femi: Na you do well pass.
Bishop: Where is the chick you guys have
been working with?
Femi: Did I hear you say chick? (Chuckles for a bit) You try to refer to her as a chick, guy I
assure you… you shall be about to experience the most feisty encounter of your
life.
Bishop: Tell me something.
Femi: Believe me. You will see her soon.
Bishop: What did you say her name is?
Femi: Venus.
Bishop: Venus, fine name. You know that name
sounds affirmative like the name of some lozenge looking blue pill.
Femi: Ok now, I hear you. And there you go
talking about the devil. (Two young ladies
walk in and he shouts to one of them) Ecce domina!
(One of them carrying a duffel bag
stops to do something on her phone while the other walks on)
Bishop: Are you serious? Which of them is
she?
Femi: This one with the scarf about her
neck is the roommate. And that with the knitted beret … she is the one.Chi-chi
how are you doing?
Chioma:(Walking ahead of Venus) I am doing as you can see. How about
you?
Femi: Sitting on the fence of good and bad.
(They embrace)
Chioma:
Hi…
Bishop: Hi… (She extends a hand and they shake hands)
Venus: You better sit tight or else I shall
push you into the bad. (Slips the phone
into her pocket)
Femi:(Walks towards her) Our lady of rebel.
Venus:Femolala… (She stretches out her hands with the palms turned up upon which Femi let
his hands fall into and they graze their cheeks and move to join the others)
Bishop: She looks familiar.
Venus: And who are you?
Femi: Bishop… (from behind her)
Venus: I did not ask you. But then the
bishopric of where?
Femi: My diocese. You know…
Venus: I don’t know. And tell me oga Bishop;
how am I familiar to you?
Bishop: I can remember having seen you on
few occasions at Palace quarters,
across the road from my house.
Venus: I used to visit around there from
time to time.
Bishop: There is this red-lipped guy I do see
with you; I guess he is your boyfriend.
Chioma: Was.
Femi: Did you say red-lipped?
Bishop:Wetin happen?
Femi: The guy must know how to lick
something…
Bishop: Which thing?
Chioma: Ezeokwu! Venus, the guy is far from
wrong. (They all get into a brief fit of
laughter)
Venus: You are all mad. Enough of my private
life. O yalets get inside, for we are keeping others waiting.
(She and Chioma moves away)
Bishop: Take care of yourselves. (Chioma waves back) So Femi I should be
making my way home.
Femi: Sure thing boss. (They shake hands again as initially) I’ll call you after our
performance tomorrow.
Bishop: I will be expecting.
Femi: Ok boss. Exeunt
Curtain
fall
SCENE TWO
(Venus, Chioma and Femi together are
getting some props stuffed into a duffel bag while others, all ladies, make for
home.)
Venus:
Good night everyone.
The crew (all
ladies): Good night Venus. Exeunt
Chioma:(Shouts at the ladies)Please abstain from anything that will
affect an ‘A’ performance tomorrow. Please!
Femi: Do you see us winning this thing
tomorrow.
Venus: We should be motivated by the message
we want to pass across and enjoy doing so. In that sense we can always find
fulfillment in what we do as artists. I am not saying the picture of the
starving artist is a romance I appeal to.
Chioma: I had almost forgotten. Who is
bringing us a pipe tomorrow?
Venus: A class mate of mine said he would
come with one.
Femi: Why should you be needing a pipe when there is one in
house?
Or what manner of pipe are we talking about?
(Venus stands still giving him a look
of feigned disgust)
Chioma: God forbid she smokes your pipe. For
your information Okigbo did smoke pipe, at least that we saw in a picture in
which he was trying to light it. She will be using it as part of her costume.
Femi: So he smoked pipe… did he smoke pot?
Venus: I hope you do not die of smoking
cannabis, idiot. Who needs your pipe? A pipe so small that must have been
bedeviled with STDs beyond count.
Femi: I am sure it is not mine you are
talking about.
Chioma: If you are sure we will not consider
the pipe small, pull it out.
Femi: It is not meant for public exhibition.
I have had enough of you guys for one day. See you tomorrow. Exit
Venus: Please try to turn up on time
tomorrow.
Chioma: I am feeling so famished.
Venus: It is your turn to cook tonight.
Chioma: I think we should eat out.
Venus: I have no problem with that. You know
you are paying for both of us.
Chioma: Come on don’t be so rigid. You should help me out a bit. (Places her hand on Venus’s shoulders which
Venus shakes moving away from her)
Venus: (Shouting back) Sorry my dear. It is simply house
rules.
Exeunt
Act II SCENE ONE
It
is the day following. Femi walks into the empty stage.
Femi:
(Hawks) Good
afternoon ladies and men. The next act you are about to watch is an all women
affair save for one, and this act is coming from the group ‘Antigone’s
Company’. Sit tight to enjoy and be blessed.
Exit
Dressed
in khaki outfit with a black ribbon running under the armpit from across the
shoulder and a green beret on his head is a CO (Commanding officer) who marches
into the scene and begins varying styles of military marchings moving around
and swinging a big bait casting held in one arm. After about thirty seconds
four military personnels of the CO’s detail with automatics slung on their
shoulders and all dressed in khaki outfit march into the room each carrying a
chair and together they support a rectangular flat board, with two them on both
sides each holding the board face up from the four edges.
Military
personnels:(Click their heels and all give the
salute)
Rankadede sir rankadede sir.
Morning morning sir,
Morning morning sir.
Permission to carry on sir?
CO-of-the-detail: Permission…given. Carry on with
alacrity.
Without
waste of time they arrange the chairs closely and then they go on their knees
taking positions as legs all supporting the rectangular board therefore making
for a table, while the officer stops going about but stands at the right end of
the table swinging his bait casting. Four more military personnels walk in, all
carrying on one hand a bottle of wine and glass tumbler and on the other hand
are each carrying two china plates with one plate turned over on the other
covering up the dish, upon which is placed a fork and a knife. They all take
stand by the length of the table, behind a chair each.
Military
personnels:(Click their heels and all give the
salute with their wine carrying hands)
Rankadede sir rankadede sir.
Morning morning sir,
Morning morning sir. Permission to
carry on sir?
CO-of-the-detail: Permission…given. Carry on with
alacrity.
(Immediately
they set the covered dishes down with the tumblers and wine bottles before each
chair and then one of them flings on the
table a folded white cloth tucked in his armpit, then they also had the chairs
tucked well beneath the table, at which done they finally click their heels and
remain put. At this juncture the CO-of-the-detail lifts the bait casting up and
begins swinging)
CO-of-the-detail (in singsong): Tonight is the rhythm of the solid bait casting
(The
military personnels standing begins marching on the spot)
My bloody fellow fellas born to rule everlasting
My bloody fellow fellas born to rule everlasting
Who is it that we dangle on our solid bait casting?
Military personnels (respond also in singsong): It is the regional governor
It is the regional governor
We dangle him as a living bait
We dangle him as a living bait.
CO-of-the-detail: My bloody fellow fellas born to rule
everlasting
My bloody fellow fellas born to rule everlasting
Who is the big fish we must catch today?
Who is the big fish we must gut today?
Military personnels: The C-in-C it is today must be caught
The C-in-C it is today must be caught
Just because of him we have become
fishermen
Just because of him we have become
fishermen
CO-of-the-detail: My bloody fellow fellas born to rule
everlasting
My bloody fellow fellas born to rule everlasting
Who is the big fish we must catch today?
Who is the big fish we must gut today?
Military personnels: The C-in-C it is today we must gut
The C-in-C it is today we must gut
Just because of him we have become
fishermen.
Just because of him we have become
fishermen.
CO-of-the-detail: Row-row row your boat row-row row
your boat
Ungently down the creek ungently down
the creek
For we are going down the river down
down the river.
What is in the river? What is in the
river?
Military personnels: In the river swims the infidel mark
In the river swims the infidel mark.
CO-of-the-detail: Row-row row your boat row-row row
your boat
Ungently down the creek ungently down
the creek
For we are going down the river down
down the river.
What is the infidel mark? What is the
infidel mark?
Military personnels: The mark is the shark the mark is
the shark.
The
mark is the shark the mark is the shark.
(A bugle is been blown from outside)
CO-of-he-detail: Enough! (They stop singing but keeps marching) We are done with the final
rehearsal. The game has stepped into the plot, we must strike precisely for
there is no chance for errors. Understood?!
Military personnels: Sir yes sir!
(Those
standing keeps marching on the spot while they pick up the dishes, cutlery,
tumbler and wine, the CO-of-the-detail quickly goes to the edge of the room to
drop the bait casting and returns to pick up the white folded cloth, he unfolds
it and dresses the table with it and it is done such that those playing the
legs of the table are covered at which the dishes et al are set back on the
table by those standing and the CO-of-the-detail now stands on the other side
of the table to welcome the Commander-in-Chief. Shortly six military officers
all dressed in similar khaki walk in, but the two of them in front are
distinguished from all present by their berets and ribbons on their uniforms.
Of the two in front is the regional governor who wears a beret with a star to
it with a couple of red ribbons running across his right shoulder through the
armpit and the second is the C-in-C (Commander-in-Chief) who wears beret with a
star attached and a red fluffy decoration set above the star and has red
ribbons in crisscross about his shoulders going through the armpits, both of
them have of the other four officers two of them whom are junior officers
standing as aides behind both of them, and the other two are senior officers
are distinguished with black ribbons running across their right shoulders
through their armpits).
CO-of-the-detail: Stand attention! (All of
them marching click their heels putting stop to marching. The
Commander-in-Chief, the governor and the other senior officers wait awhile
watching them)
The grand commander of the republic as
guest to our governor Lieutenant colonel Fajuyi, has come to grace our presence
with his eminence. We must show the Commander-in-Chief how disciplined and
thorough we are very quickly by doing the campton-rampton drill. Stand at ease!
(they relax themselves).
Prepara…tion! (they click their heels).
One two campton-rampton, one two campton-rampton…(they march on the spot for seven or eight seconds and then the two
fellows on the ends take places behind that closest to them, then marching for
another seven or eight seconds the file is altered by those now in front
spreading and the two behind coming close and moving forward why those whom had
just made way take positions behind) One two one two, one two one two, one
two one two, Soldiers! stand aright! (The
military personnels come to a halt).
(The
Commander-in-Chief nods approvingly and the governor leads them to the table
but the Commander-in-Chief takes time to inspect his soldiers, by doing a check
on their faces using the front of his hand to push the cheek of the soldier to
the opposite direction and then uses the back of his hand to push the other cheek
to the opposite direction i.e. left to right then right to left after which he
tilts their chin, there having their heads tilted backwards).
C-in-C: (Having
done with the fourth man) Stand at ease boys. (The soldiers relax and their aides pull the two chairs meant for the
Commander-in-Chief and the governor backwards)
Lt.
Col. Fajuyi:
(Gestures for the Commander-in-Chief to
have a seat) Let us have a hearty meal so we can have enough energy to
discuss and hopefully find good enough answers to the exigent issues upstate
and the entire nation.
(The
Commander-in-Chief takes his seat, the governor his and the two other senior
officers follow suit, one at the side of the regional governor and the other at
the side of the Commander-in-Chief)
C-in-C: I can say for a quorum the various
regions are represented well enough, I being the C-in-C is here enough for the
eastern region, these two senior officer fellows more than representative
enough for the upstate ones (the four of
them takes to laughing) and hem… the regional governor Fajuyi my host is
here to moderate the discuss being a man from the on looking west whom are
watching how it plays out. Let’s have our meal.
CO-of-the-detail: (Pulling
out a pistol) Men-at-arms! (The aides
make for their holsters but the four soldiers of the campton- rampton drill
have them swiftly seized by two-to-one digging their pistols to their ribs)
C-in-C: What is that hocus-pocus supposed to
mean?
(The
Commander-in-Chief and the regional governor try to reach for their pistols but
the two senior officers besides them had taken on each with pistols dug to
their sides, but without hesitation Lt. Col. Fajuyi had knocked the pistol off
the hand of the officer and threw his chair away at the same instance and the
CO-of-the-detail rushes towards governor Fajuyi who does likewise. The second
officer helps to hold the Commander-in-Chief down)
CO-of-the-detail: Arise! ( GovernorFajuyi knocks him down as they clash but in the same instant
the table flies into the air sending the dishes which are empty, cutlery,
tumbler and wine flying and so arises the four soldiers with automatics who
immediately set on the regional governor and had him secured, two upon him, two
automatic guns to his head from the other two soldiers from beneath the table.
The aides are knocked down, the Commander-in-Chief is held on the floor and his
hands are been tied. Lt. Col. Fajuyi fuming furiously is sat on a chair while
the Commander-in-Chief is left lying on the floor).
C-in-C: This must be some hoax… (He is struck on the face with the butt of
an automatic immediately and he is left breathing heavily)
Lt. Col. Fajuyi:(Fuming
furiously he is surrounded by the senior officers and the other soldiers having
knocked the aides unconscious) What buffoonery is this?
CO-of-the-detail: This is no buffoonery this
coup-de-tat.
Lt. Col. Fajuyi: Can you hear the fool.
C-in-C:Fajuyi! Tell me you have no hand in
this… (He is struck twice more with the
butt of the automatic on the face and the barrel is pressed to his head keeping
his face down and the regional governor is shivering in anger)
Senior officer I: Lieutenant colonel Fajuyi as far as
you are concerned this can go entirely well for you.
Lt. Col. Fajuyi: And for him?!
Senior officer I: He is doomed to die.
Lt. Col. Fajuyi: That certainly shall be over my dead
body.
Senior officer I: Power is to shift to our hands, to we
of the upstate…
Military personnels:(Cuts
him short) Born
to rule Born to rule born to rule…
Senior officer II:(Cuts
them short) Enough!
Power is shifting hands to we of the upstate. Do you understand Lieutenant
colonel Fajuyi?
Lt. Col. Fajuyi: If I can get hold of a gun right now
I will kill everyone of you.
CO-of-the-detail: Yes you would, but…
Lt. Col. Fajuyi:(cuts
him short in controlled temper) I am your commanding officer; click your heels! (in shivering rage) I say click your
heels!! (the CO-of-the-detail gives the
salute without pleasure)
Senior officer I: We are taking him with us, and we
will have these men guard you till we return to set the ball rolling for a new
Commander-in Chief. (They pick the
Commander-in-Chief up and begin to lead him out)
Lt. Col. Fajuyi: The bunch of everyone of you is the
undying disgrace of the military. Men who would feed their guest with hemlocks.
You bloody shenanigans! You shall only do that man all the devilry you’ve
planned with my eyes closed in death. (Fajuyi
leaps at those guarding him, knocking two of them down, tries picking up the
gun of one of them and quickly he is shot, rat-a-tat-tat, severally) Curtain fall
SCENE
TWO
Crew
members redressed from military outfits into a different role and setting.
Except for one bearded fellow, who must be a prophet, dressed in a soutane with
a red sash about the waist, all others are dressed in white t-shirts stained
with wild sketches of red and are seated on the floor, fourteen in number all
looking downcast and some with hairs dusty, and all maintaining an uneasy
silence. There are about three or four chairs lying on the floor. After a brief
while someone enters announcing the self ringing a gong at which everyone looks
up and pick themselves up to listen.
Venus:(stops the ringing) ‘If I don’t learn to shut my mouth (rings the gong)
I’ll soon go to hell (rings
the gong)
I, Okigbo, towncrier, together with my iron bell.’(Rings the gong).
(Moves a bit here and there in
rendition)
The horseman has left the king in great debts
The king a kinsman was stone-silenced before he paid his
debt
We must settle the debt of a kinsman owed to the horseman
Or else he has no place on the ferry of the son of night,
For we must pay his debt with coin under his tongue.
(All of them huddle together to
whisper, while Okigbo apart is busy doing a jig)
‘If I don’t learn to shut my mouth (rings the gong)
I’ll soon go to hell (rings
the gong)
I, Okigbo, towncrier, together with my iron bell.’(Rings the gong).
(They break the huddle and a woman with a
headtie tied across the forehead moves quite closer to Okigbo)
Chioma:(kinswoman) My people kwenu!
All others:Kwenu!!
Chioma:(kinswoman) My people kwenu!
All others:Kwenu!!
Chioma: (kinswoman) We must pay that debt we must.
(Okigbo approaches her with mild-long
steps and slight tremors of the body)
But then we shall pay with a new coinage.
Venus:(Stops close to her, peering into her
face)And I
ask;
what coinage must that be?
Chioma:(kinswoman) A Biafran coinage!
Venus: Yeah! (Jumps back as if stung and begins a jig with body tremors)
Kinsman I: My people kwenu!
All: Kwenu!
Kinsman I:Kwezwenuee!!
All:Kwenueee!!!
Venus:(plays the gong to stop them, and they
give him attention)
A monody for you
You who died once
Rejecting the monotony of death in a single life.
A monody for you
You who died your single death spitting with disgust
Upon the abiku death of the coward, a monody for you.
Obliged that he is not the host that kills his guest
The steed in him was awoken.
To be Horseman of the Crown
In the heart of an unforeseen apocalypse
In a no-return ticket heavenward to see the skeletons of
the danse
For to forestall death with a disregard for fear
And without tremble grab the mysterious mask of death
To veil your eyes and see beyond, is an especial heroe’s
death.
With twenty-four canon thunders we render the air pieces
for you
Lieutenant colonel AdekunleFajuyi.
Of the people four persons after four persons steps forward
six times giving the shout: Eiiigboom!
Venus:(Okigbo plays the gong) ‘The arrows of God trembles at the
gates of light
And the drums of war pander to the dance of death’.
Femi:(The prophet in a soutane)An empty throne hungers to be sat
upon.
Who is it that we must enthrone?
(They
huddle together once more, Okigbo inclusive, after a while a number of them
break the huddle with the shout): Ikemba! Ikemba! Ikemba! (And then a number of them begin to sweep the place, arrange and dust
the chairs, tidying every bit while the shout died down with four of those
shouting going out. And some of them take up a church chorus with a bite of
hopefulness)
For that men will praise the lord
For that men will praise the lord
For his goodness and for his wonderful works
To the children of men to children of men
For his goodness and for his wonderful works
To the children of men to children of men
He has broken the gate of brass and the bars of iron
asunder
He has broken the gate of brass and the bars of iron
asunder.
Femi: Who says we are not the Jews of
Africa? (The prophet begins dancing to
the song and gives it accompaniment with his bell while Okigbo watches him for
among all just the two of them are not involved in the tidying hubbub. After
dancing to two rendition of the single stanza spiritedly he walks to Okigbo.)
You see, this is the Israelite leaving the land of the
Egyptians for Canaan land. The river Niger is our Red sea…
Venus:(Okigbo shakes his head making sounds
with mouth closed to emphasise his disagreement) I see differently…very differently.
Femi:(The prophet turns his nose up in
reaction) How
differently?
Venus: It is a ‘Babylonia capture’, not a
Pharaonic pursuit to make us remain under their rule.
Femi: If it is an Egyptian pursuit it means
we are bound to succeed in this decision we have taken. But a Babylonia one,
that is not a good omen. It means I shall not witness our independence, for so
was the prophets in the Bible. (Suddenly
goes in spirit with eyes closed tight and shaking his body) Holy…holy…holy…
holy Michael, holy Tobit …Jah Jehovah Malachi. I bind your prophecy in Jesus
name. (Opens his eyes) What do you
say?
Venus:(Okigbo hesitates for a short while
looking at him with a sneer, then moves a bit here and there in rendition) Mother-hen, feathered bunker of the
chickens,
The eagles of steel en route the skyways they prey
And I father siblings uncle and mother
Are become motherless pullets before this bird.
Shall our mortal nakedness find protective covering
Under your plucky feathers from the iron birds of prey?
(The kinswoman comes to join them)
Mocking eclectic the diluvial notes
The hawks of war in skyplay lay their eggs over our heads,
In skyline the adept pilots shit their bowels
Upon us preys of the metallic osprey,
The alloyed falcons on course hatch their bombshells upon
our lives.
Mother-hen! the iron birds of prey are flying low;
Shall there be room for me under your feathery aspis
Besides your chicks, room for me under your feathery bunker
For protective shelter from these ballistic birds of prey?
Femi:(the prophet shakes his head
vigorously)
He prophesies, he is prophesying… hm!
(Shut his eyes tight, shakes his head vigorously and then opens the eyes) I
see starvation…I see starvation… a plague of starvation untold. Why then do we
fight if we won’t have our independence like Israel had it away from Egypt?
Chioma:(kinswoman)A woman takes incessant blows from a
mad husband just for to save the marriage, but when the madman keeps up the
pugilism there should come a time in the interest of peace when the woman must
forbear no longer but put up a fight and whatever fight the woman puts up
against the husband is certainly a good fight and the woman should be prepared
for to part ways and not be blackmailed with the children when the community
does not do enough to thrash sense into the head of the mad husband, and if she
concedes obligation to her progeny the community in turn should try to be
responsible for the children of their land. A mark has been made before a fight
commences once the reason for taking up a fight is justified for the good of human
existence, it matters not if the outcome of the mano a mano turns out
disfavourably, and may the fight in a person never die. My brotherskwenu!
Venus and Femi:(In
reflexive response the prophet slaps Okigbo on the shoulder)Kwenu!!
Chioma:(kinswoman)The truth is that we are ill prepared
and we have taken more than enough blows to justify a divorce for our
independence. You know what, we only give name to an existing child, and this
one the Biafran entity has come but its birth may be like what another culture
calls abiku. Yes, abiku, but the abiku suffers rebirth until the parents get it
right to make the child come to stay. If it happens this Biafra dies it shall
be born again. Uwam!
Venus: (Okigbo strikes his gong) Yes it shall see a rebirth, a renaissance
a revival.
Femi:(The prophet leaps) Jah Jehovah nissi…Holy Jah Jehovah…
Holy archangel Michael carry our sword
and lead the battle.
Venus: (Okigbo
shakes his head in disagreeing) Archangel Michael cannot be for us.
Femi:(The prophet react slighted)You with your poetry madness. Angel
Michael is the domain of prophets, so we know how it works.
Venus: Michael is on behalf of the lord…
Femi:Hmhm, that I know.
Venus: And a third of heaven went with the
dragon and the other which is two-third was with the lord and was led by
Michael. In this campaign who wields two-third?
Femi:
But then that makes our pursuit evil,
because what does that then make of Ikemba, if not hmm… dare I say.
Venus:(Okigbo grins)Be not troubled, for I shall sing you
some Mr. Jah Jehovah prophet.
Femi:(The eyes of the prophet widens a bit
with a smile)
Mr. Jah Jehovah prophet… I like that name. I like the way it sounds. Anyway I
and madam here we are all ears do sing us some.
Venus:(Okigbo moves a bit here and there in
rendition)
‘The angry stars are riding with the chorister of dawn
for a great sunshine.’
The seraphim of the morning are moving in concert
with the archseraph of dawn
against the lord Saturn the lord of darkness.
For a new morning out of the long night
the choristers of dawn on the move with Lucifer
Against two-thirds of the army of the kingdom
the army of the lord Satan.
Femi:(the
prophet has his hands across the chest) We stars moving with Ikemba are the seraphim (Okigbo smiles) But then the blasphemy
cannot go unnoticed, in appropriation of the Bible you make the lord of the
host of the two-third army of heaven the lord Satan. And you call Ikemba
Lucifer.
Venus: Now you won’t understand…
Femi:(The
prophet shakes his finger at him)You blaspheme and you say I won’t understand. Lucifer is
Satan so how is Lucifer riding against Lucifer or Satan riding against Satan.
You are confused. This is your poetry madness.
Venus: But then are we not the rebels?
Rebels in move with the arch-rebel. So where does that place us and Ikemba in
the Apocalypse and where does all this leave the federal army and in what light
does it put their leader? So what manner of almighty God would that be? And
more so our cause is just, so therefore… (he
is cut short)
Femi: Devil! (Slowly the prophet backs away from him studying him with great
suspicion)You will not make a convert out of me. Never! You will not make
me a renegade against the Lord of the host. (He
begins to shiver all through) Jah Elihu… Jah Elihu(keeps shivering)
Chioma: (kinswoman) Our beloved poet you are certainly
eccentric; from all these you prophesy that the victory appears to be the
lord’s.
Venus:(Okigbo
titters) For as
you very well know, we are ill prepared. But then the abiku issue is there and
would be there for renaissance, a revival, rebirth, to be born again. Biafra
must be born again and we shall get it right. (He goes into a jig and tremor and the kinswoman is smiling broadly)
Femi:
(The prophet who has stopped backing away watches him
dance) You
better flee from the devil before he makes a dishonest woman out of you.
Chioma:(While
Okigbo stops his dance and maintains a smirk on the face the kinswoman retorts
to the prophet)
The Holy Bible says that resist the devil and he will flee from you, but you
are doing the opposite Mr. Jah Jehovah prophet. Instead of resisting you are
doing the fleeing.
Femi:
I shall only pray for your soul, that
may you not in togetherness with him cuckold your lord.
(About
five stern looking young men all dressed in military outfits and boots all
holding batons, along with an elderly fellow dressed on mufti, walks onto stage
at which Venus is genuinely surprised, and without warning one of them sweeps
Femi off his feet with a powerful kick to his legs, every other person on stage
is obviously shocked)
Venus: What is the meaning of all these?
(One of the young men strongly holds
her by the hand)
Will you leave me be, you pig. (At
which she tries to break his hold and her cloth gets torn and she is free from
his grip and two others of the young men drags Chioma by her dress.) And
are the both of you insane or don’t you know she is a lady?
CSO: Young woman! Mind your tone.
(With the snapping of their fingers
they have everyone of them to roundup on the stage)
CSO
(the elderly man): Sorry my dear audience, we do not mean to interrupt, but from
reports by some of its highly placed intellectuals of doctorial and
professorial standing here gracing this event the university authority got wind
of this seditious performance that is been given by this bunch of riffraffs.
For that reason as the part of the security arm of the administration I as the
CSO is here with the cadet to interrupt this trouble making idiots, and they
are going to be properly interrogated because we must dig to the bottom of it.
So thank you for your cooperation. Now boys march them to the administrative
building. Exeunt Curtain fall
SCENE
THREE
They
are in the security office in the administrative building where there three desks
two of them with typewriters before which are seated two ladies. Sat behind the
third desk, a larger one, is the CSO who is busy scribbling something on a pad,
and two of the cadets are also around both standing close to his desk while all
the crew members of the apprehended company are there, most looking pensive and
are busy taking turns writing on a sheet of paper given to them. Venus the last
to do with the sheet hands it to one of the secretary. Some of them are sat on
two benches available in the office but it can’t contain them all, so some
stand.
CSO: (Raises his head) You are through with writing your
names, matriculation numbers, your various departments and home addresses;
right?
Five of the company responds: Yes sir.
CSO: So what did you say the name of your group is again?
Femi: ‘Antigone’s Company’ sir.
CSO: And you are the coordinator.
Femi: No sir. She is…
Venus: I am the founder and director.
CSO: Madam director. (Observes
her scornfully) Anyway how did you come by that seditious crap you call a
play that you were performing on stage?
Venus: I wrote it sir.
CSO: You wrote it?! To what end? Tell me… what is it you had in
mind to pass across to the audience?
Venus: I intend speaking on an issue which I
think is not popularly spoken about among students here in campus, in that
there are those who still hold the view that Biafra should have its
sovereignty.
CSO: And who are you to speak about it? (He looking at her with contempt and she
says nothing holding his stare not in defiance but for nothing else to do) The
rest of you are just actors right? Nonsense! You all are as much involved in
this constitutional breach of the school’s advocacy for peace and attempt at
the breach of peace nationally. Yes, for it always starts from somewhere, which
we are trying to nip in the bud. Anyway I cannot waste much time questioning
you, what will happen is… secretary give each one of them a plain sheet and put
down your statements as to your involvement in the performance and em… if you have
any form of contrition to express you are free to do so.
(One of the secretaries begins to dish
them a plain white sheet each)
So when you are through with your statement you take leave,
but tomorrow by 10:00 am you all must be here because a committee of the senate
would be appointed to discharge disciplinary action as concerns this effrontery
of yours.
Chioma:(she signals and claps lightly for all
to come together before anyone pens a thing)
What I have to say is that it is
advisable we all have one voice. Am I right Venus? (Venus nods an affirmation) We should make sure that whatever we
put down in our statements must be concluded with our deep and very sincerest
apologies for our conducts. Venus I don’t know if you have anything to say.
Venus: Nothing. (They disperse and proceed while standing to write their individual
statements using the desks of the two ladies.) Curtain
fall
Act III SCENE ONE
(It
is the day following the security check, and the company is back at the
security office in the administrative building. Some of them whisper a thing or
two to themselves as Femi is engaged in a talk with Venus. Besides them are
present the two secretaries behind their desks both of them busy typing. After
about a minute the CSO walks in.)
CSO: So em… the committee is ready to see
you excepting madam director. So you all can come with me while madam director
waits her turn. Ekpelelady founder and director.(He leads through the door via which he came in and they all follow
with Venus remaining as told by the CSO. She sits down since she wasn’t
initially given the capacity of the benches for seating) Exeunt
Curtain
fall.
Interlude
Death dancers putting on masks, draped in red and black come
to render accompanied with drums from the background
Dancer i: The
danse macabre entices
With
drum beats of our hearts
The
spear of the lord to the grave gates
Beyond
the night
The
sun is in the offing
But
as a dream yet to materialize
Dancer ii: First with minds of valour
We
must engage darkness
And
death shall behold our nakedness
Hearts
splintered here and there
With
our blood blossoming the twilight
Foreshadowing
the sun
Dancer iii: And
lo harmful the abortive dancers
Come
to doctor with
Purges
the uterine dream
This
is no Trojan gate
No
horse could tantalize our weakness
The
lord must force its way
Dancer iv: Shall
that that’s been honoured as Lucifer
Be
capable to behold
The full sunrise
Or
shall the lord Saturn
Satan
lord of the host of the two-third
Make
the warlord flee
Dancer v: Sparkle sparklemornstar in the sky
Twinkle
twinkle Lucifer must die
Says
the lord
With
steel birds of prey he zooms
With
his missiles the lord looms
With
his missiles the lord booms
Exeunt . Curtain
fall
SCENE
TWO
At
the security office again the two secretaries at their desks, one is typing and
the other reading a magazine and some visitor who is busy going through a daily
with a bottled drink on the table before her is seated on a chair besides the
CSO’s desk, and Venus is still seated on the bench. After a while a security
operative (SO) an employee of the administration, not of the cadet whom are
made of students, opens the door leading the company back.
SO: (Standing by the door) Hey! (to Venus who looks at him) Are you the one called Venus?
Venus: Yes.
SO: You are to come with me.
Venus:(She stands up)So how did it go?
Chioma:(Her
hands held tight in a fist, she responds facially expressing so much relief
from anxiety) My
God, (sighs) Venus they let us off
with a warning.Look there is nothing to worry about, when you get there show
them how sorry you are, and…you know that they like excessive obeisance, so
just kneel to show how apologetic you are beyond words, before they start
questioning…
SO: My sister I am waiting for you.
Venus: Sorry sir. (As she goes to join the SO others express to her their great relief in
gestures) Exit Curtain
fall
Interlude
Death dancers putting on masks, draped in red and black come
to render accompanied with drums from the background.
Dancer i: The lord must fulfill his lust
He
longs to cast a bust
With
a beardsome head on a ware
All
beware that of the deed
Of
the horseman the lord says
All
his kinsman must share death
The
genocide of the horsemen
Genocide
of the centaurs
In
dimness of blind hate
Dancer ii: Uprightly Balewa’s square failed
Kaduna
uprisen fulfills
Pure
heart desires
Feudal
slaves of the premier
Kaduna
in frenzy
Fulfilling
dark heart desires
They
must kill the Eastern fuck
Who
fucked the queen of the lord
Fucked
the queen of Northern lights
Danceriii: The
unuprightness of the premiere
Has
left us in a gloom
Of
infertility
The
lords’ unstraightforwardness
Before
truthfulness has left us
Fruitless
and so hungry
Initiative
took Kaduna
In
this dim for fruitlessness
In
this dark for sunlight
Dancer iv: Vampires menstrual drunks
Intolerant
of sunlight
Must
maintain the dark for heads to slay
The
independence of the dragon
From
the pure Babel
Red-flag
seek with its one-third
Orient,
oriental minds
Eastern-maids,
eastern-mades
Orient
made orient maid rosary maid
Dancer v: Embroidery of the dance
Certain
for all hearts advance
A
wagon always with a chance
That
the gods make us feel
They
are heartless we desire
Revelations
of the war-fields
Now
that we have seen
The
twilights of the bloody war
With
heavy hearts we’re turned speechless.
Exeunt. Curtain
fall
SCENE
THREE
She comes to meet her company members
outside the administrative building.
Femi: Ecce domina! So how did it go?
Venus: I could not do it, I just could not.
Chioma: You could not do what?
Venus: As you advised me; they were
expecting me to be deeply sorry and that I beg them. (Her faced is so screwed in disgust)Tufiakwa; I just could not do
all that.
Chioma:(Throws her hands up in exasperation) My God! What’s with you Venus?
(The other members express disbelief
among themselves.) Are
you out of your mind?
Venus: Outrightly I guess I must be. In my
statement I apologized over nothing because I do not see what I have done to
apologize about.
Femi: You are being excessively romantic,
believe me it is dangerous.
Chioma: You are talking about your future
here, and this people are capable of anything. You are a part four student,
think of it.
Venus: Can I have some water? (She demands from one of them holding a half
consumed polythene sachet of what is called pure water, which she gets, drinks
and then flings away the sachet. She bites are upper lip, then folds her hands
across her chest, looking sad faced and defiant) Think of what and what’s
the worst?
Chioma: They can get you expelled.
Venus: What do you think? You think I was let
with a warning? I have been expelled.
Chioma: You cannot afford that Venus. (She holds her by the hand and shakes her,
the other members seem surprised and sorrowful. Venus pulls her hand from
Chioma’s grip.) Sweet Jesus. What are you thinking?
Venus: To hell with them. (She begins to walk away and they follow)
I am going to give my people a call. For all I care Biafra
lives. Exeunt…
