Act One Scene One
(The blowing of the flute is heard)
Griot: Ogie Osagiemwenagbon, Ovbi' Ekpen N'Owa, Ikeji Orisa, Agbaghe, N'Ovbi Olokun, the son of the short-fingered man that was still able to kill a lion, Oba ghatto kpere
(Everyone kneels): Isè....
Oba: (sits on his royal seat) you may rise.
Chief Adesuwa: Oba ghatto kpere
All: Isè
Chief Adesuwa: Ogie, there is a saying that "what is a man without a woman to love and care for him?" Another one says "When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with a person, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible". Even there is a saying that...
Chief Efosa: (cuts in) Ogie what he is saying is that we are delighted that you want to settle down.
Oba: (nods).
Chief Osasere: Guards bring the properties. (Several ladies in a file appear, clothe in dirty lion skin).
Oba: (looks up, bends head) The property I want is not here.
Chief Osasere: What! Guards! Why did you not bring all the properties here?
Head Guard: My lord I...
Oba: Let him be. What I meant is that the one I love is not here. Princess Itohan. She is not here, why?
Chief Akakaneno: Ogie, you know the tradition, "no Oba of Benin is allowed to marry from royalties, this is in order to make both parties humble. Also, it is a way of not incurring the god's wrath.
Oba: (annoyed) If subjecting me to visit the dirty laps of these ugly things is tradition, then you better call Akugbe to adjust the tradition.
Chief Adesuwa: Ogie, please understand that tradition cannot be changed.
Oba: You better change it because as we speak princess Itohan is with my child.
All: (Shouts) Ewooooo....
Oba: (amused)
Chief Efosa: Ogie, the only solution is to cleanse the land.
Oba: go ahead. (Stands up) As long as my Itohan is safe.
All: (kneels) Oba ghatto kpere....Isè....
Act One Scene Two
(A pregnant lady with a glowing skin, tanned legs, blind-folded, shattered hair and royal dress is dragged by two guards)
Chief Osasere: Adesuwa i am not in support ooo, you did not tell the Oba how we intend cleansing the land. (Other chiefs nod in agreement).
Chief Adesuwa: if we did, you know the Oba would not agree. Let's just play on his words. (Motion for them to stop) Lie her here. (Say some incantation) Give me the sword (in a flash, a head rolls down the hill).
©Joyce Akpan
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