CWRC Anthology

OMO OBA

by
OREMODU OLUWABUKUNOLA RUTH

THEME: HIS NEVER ENDING LOVE
BIBLE TEXT: JOHN 15:13 – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

***

(In the kingdom of Olora, the cock crows, signaling the break of dawn. Traders trudge to the market, some with their baskets on their heads while others hold theirs in the crook of their arms. Two of them walk at a slow pace, their voices rising as they discuss the occurrences in the village.)
SIKEMI: (shifts her basket from one arm to the other) Did you hear that Ariyo is gone?
AYOKA: Ehn! That strong man?
SIKEMI: Strong ke?  He wasn’t strong enough to resist the blow to his legs that the capturers delivered to him.
AYOKA: (shakes her head) How the mighty has fallen.
A third woman draws near, joining in the conversation.
BOLUWATIFE: (smiles) What are we discussing today? It must be how the rains are approaching, for its scent is in the air already.
They both look at her, then at each other before bursting out laughing.
AYOKA: Amebo. Always poke nosing into the business of others.
SIKEMI: (hisses) Ayoka, let’s be going jare. Leave this goat alone.
BOLUWATIFE: (stops in her tracks) Ahn ahn. What are the insults for? I just asked a question.
SIKEMI: Next time, ask people that are like you questions. Not us.
BOLUWATIFE: (tears fill her eyes) You’re both too cruel.
AYOKA: Please! Don’t blame us for your predicament. Just keep quiet when people that have children are talking. Go and mingle with those that don’t.
At this Boluwatife turns around and leaves, her steps heavy and slow, tears running down her face.
Sikemi and Ayoka burst out laughing again, before looking in front of them.
AYOKA: Oh oh! They’ve gone far.
SIKEMI: Wait for us!
They walk fast and join the others in front.

***

(The palace of the Kabiyesi of Olora Kingdom. He is seated on his throne, his chiefs flanking him. His bodyguard stands behind the throne, using a raffia fan to blow air on him.)
The chiefs bow their faces to the ground.
ALL: Kabiyesi oo. Kade pe lori, ki bata pe lese.
KABIYESI: (waves his irukere over them) Oooo. You may all be seated.
They sit, looking at him expectantly.
KABIYESI: My chiefs, a lot has been happening in this village. It didn’t happen in the days of my father, or my grandfather, and I refuse to let it continue so that my son won’t battle it.
His son, the Prince, sits silently beside him and watches the proceedings.
The chiefs nod, leaning into each other to murmur among themselves.
KABIYESI: (looks at each one of them carefully) Balogun! Otun! Osi! Iyalode!
ALL: Kabiyesi.
KABIYESI: (sighs heavily) It is this slave trade that is eating me up. How can my own people be selling themselves? That is an abomination.
IYALODE: Kabiyesi, even Ariyo, the mighty man was sold.
KABIYESI: (frowns) My ancestors must be turning in their graves, disturbed.
BALOGUN: Kabiyesi, if it continues this way, it is only animals and trees that would be left in this village. Why, I might even be sold tomorrow by my family!
OTUN: Balogun, calm down. Because you’re speaking as if you’re suspecting your family.
BALOGUN: It’s that Iya Seriki. She–
OSI: (nudges him) Discuss your private matters outside the palace, Balogun. Kabiyesi, may your reign be peaceful. May you join your fathers at a ripe old age, with a content heart. May–
IYALODE: Will you say what you want to say, or do we have to wait?
BALOGUN: You know he likes wasting time.
OSI: (ignores them) Kabiyesi, I propose that you make a decree that anyone who sells another into slavery will be killed.
OTUN: Ah! Osi.
KABIYESI: (looks thoughtful) That’s a very brilliant idea, Osi. For the villagers to stop this horrible act, they must fear something. Death.
BALOGUN, OTUN & IYALODE: Kabiyesi, that punishment is too harsh. If we kill everyone, who will be left?
KABIYESI: (waves his irukere again) Quiet. If we keep selling everyone, no one will be left either. I hereby decree that anyone who sells another person into slavery shall be punished by death.
ALL: Kabiyesi oo. Your word is law.
Balogun, Otun and Iyalode look unhappy, throwing glares at Osi who pretends not to see.
OSI: But Kabiyesi, your son shouldn’t be here, listening to all these.
KABIYESI: Leave him. I know it is not the custom for the Prince to sit here, but I want him to learn so that when he ascends the throne, he will know how to lead the people. Unlike me, who had to learn from the numerous mistakes that cost me a lot.
OTUN: (bows) As the King pleases.
(The light fades out, Balogun, Iyalode and Otun still looking unhappy.)