PROLOGUE
(Noise and confusion is
heard. Crying and mourning of parents who had just lost their children)
AWERO:
Kabiesi! (Your highness) It has
happened
BASHORUN:
What happened?
AWERO: Two
children in one day? Oh what can I do?
(Crying and hitting her hands on the floor. Two other villagers come in)
BISI:
Kabiesi the great river in our community has tuned into blood.
ALL: Ha!
BASIRA:
There is so much evil in the land (Other
villagers gather. There is so much confusion in the atmosphere. IYALODE moves
closer to BASHORUN, whispers to his ears).
IYALODE: My
people, caution is required in this matter. BASHORUN is working really hard to
make sure we put an end to his evil. You may gather in a fortnight to hear from
BASHORUN on the sacrifice we might have to make to cleanse these evil from our
community. (The people departed
mournfully to their respective homes. Dirge music plays at the background).
BASHORUN: Thank
you IYALODE. GUARDS! (Drum role as two GUARDS run towards BASHORUN). Tell all
my Chiefs to meet me immediately in my palace.
SCENE 1
BASHORUN:
Welcome to Ilubaje. A land unpleasant, a land infested with pain and diseases.
This was not our history but unpleasant experiences can re-brand a people beyond
they can introduce themselves.
Elders of
our community?
CHIEFS:
KAbiesi o
BASHORUN: Is
these how you will be looking at me?
AKINLAPA:
BASHORUN, let us not be sacred of Iku (Death).
I AKINLAPA is ready to die at any time.
BALOGUN:
Will you shut your mouth? Who does not know a poor man who has no children nor
property to lose, will be willing to die at any given opportunity.
AKINLAPA:
You dear talk to me like that? (Moving
towards BALOGUN as if to fight)
BASHORUN:
Elders of our land, solution is what I seek not violence.
AKINLAPA:
BASHORUN let us call AKUKA the great medicine man to come cleanse the land of
this evil.
BALOGUN: He
failed the last time we called him.
SALIU: If
the gods will not hear the medicine man, let us call ANIKULAPO KUTI perhaps the
gods will listen to music, dance and forgive us.
BALOGUN: You
really think this is a comedy show? ANIKULAPO ko Anikuni shokoto ni…
SALIU: Then
I will bring a last suggestion you cannot reject.
BALOGUN:
Shut up your mouth!
BASHORUN:
No?
BALOGUN: BASHORUN
he has nothing to offer.
BASHORUN: No… I insist, let him speak for the last
time. Wisdom can sometimes come out of foolishness you know?
SALIU: Thank
you so much BASHORUN. I spoke with a Christian missionary in the neighboring
village… He said he has someone who has the power to do all things and cleanse
our land from pain, shame and sorrow if given the opportunity.
BALOGUN: Let
him seat down Kabiesi. I told you he has nothing to offer.
BASHORUN:
No! Not after I have heard what he just said.
SALIU how much did he say he will collect?
AKINLAPA:
Nothing Kabiesi.
BASHORUN:
Did you say nothing?
SALIU: Yes
kabiesi...
BASHORUN:
Will he require human sacrifice?
SALIU: No
Kabiesi. In fact, he said the only human sacrifice that is required to save us
has been made by his master.
BASHORUN:
SALIU!
SALIU:
Kabiesi…
BASHORUN:
SALIU!!
SALIU:
Kabiesi…
BASHORUN:
SALIU!!!
SALIU: Ka… (Obviously afraid)
BASHORUN:
How many times did I call you?
SALIU: One,
four, two, three or…
BASHORUN:
Where are your legs?
SALIU:
Outside sir… emm, o I mean right here Kabiesi
BASHORUN:
Where ever it is, run as fast as your legs can take you. I want that powerful
missionary here in few minutes! (SALIU
drops his walking stick and start running. Other Chiefs are laughing but confused
about what just happened).
SCENE TWO
(BASHORUN’s palace. All the Chiefs
are seated in their beautiful traditional attire. SALIU! Run inside panting heavily)
BASHORUN:
How dear you run into my palace like that? Will you comport yourself,
otherwise?
SALIU:
Otherwise? You said other wise? Otherwise nothing o Kabiesi. Please forgive my
mannerism. The mission… the mission, the mi... I mean the missionary is here.
MISSIONARY:
I bring you greetings from my master Kabiesi.
BASHORUN: I
greet you and your benevolent Master. Our land is in total mess. We need your
help what must we do so that we do not perish as a people? Please whatever you
want, even to half of my kingdom I am willing to give...
MISSIONARY:
Only believe your highness and you will see the salvation of the Lord.
CHIEFS: Only
believe?
MISSIONARY:
Yes! If you only believe in my Master, your sorrows will be over.
BASHORUN:
Mr. Missionary forgive me but yours is different from other gods like Sango,
Oya, Obatala that we know. They are quick to request for something costly, even
if it means the heads of the whole villagers they don’t mind.
MISSIONARY:
Thank you so much Kabiesi. My Master loves you so much and he won’t request for
your heads. He has paid the prize and all you need to do is believe, accept him
and put away your strange gods.
BASHORUN:
Mr. Missionary. I like you, your master and what you said but that gods you
talk about is the only difficult thing from your request. Traditions you know?
I mean this is about the legacy of our ancestors...
MISSIONARY:
Your ancestors have lived and are gone. They are no longer affected by the
sufferings your people are going through. The gods you talked about have eyes
but cannot see, they have ears but cannot hear and neither can they help the
sufferings of your people. Would you rather hold on to these false gods and
watch your wife, children, family and community perish?
BASHORUN:
Don’t be angry Mr. MISSIONARY. I was just thinking aloud but now that we
believe what can we do?
MISSIONARY:
Gather all the villagers immediately.
BASHORUN:
Guards! Guards!! Where are my Guards?
GUARDS: At
your service your highness.
BASHORUN:
Gather all the villagers to the palace immediately. (Drum roll, GUARDS leaves immediately ringing their bells to inform
the people. The palace is filled with people, young and old. MISSIONARY preach
salvation to them. They accept Christ and were healed of all their sicknesses).
BASHORUN: My
eyes have seen the salvation of the Lord. What a way to celebrate Christmas not
for chicken and rice for a rebirth of Christ into our lives as a people. I will
always be grateful to God for SALIU. I thought he was a fool but in his
foolishness, is the wisdom that delivered us as a people from destruction and
hell. This community shall no longer be called ILUBAJE a land of reproach and
sorrow but we shall now be call ILUOLOLA; a Kingdom and city of joy, peace and
prosperity. Merry Christmas my people!
ALL: Merry
Christmas Kabiesi!
(The people departs joyfully, sing, dancing
and celebrating).
Ezekiel Moses is a Writer, Consultant, Creative Artist, Gospel Artist and Broadcaster. He is a Preacher who has impacted many people young and old, over the years. He is a Branding, Marketing and Adverts specialist and Best Seller Author. Tell: +234 9052 275075 www.changeentertainments.blogspot.com E-mail: Ezekiel.ehi@gmail.com changeentertainments@gmail.com
