ÒKWUTE (A PLAY)

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|A Play About An Adventure|
written by Tochukwu Chike Muonagolu

Continued from Scene 1

Copyright © 2020 by Tochukwu Chike Muonagolu

All rights reserved

The total or partial reproduction of the contents of this book is totally forbidden without the author’s permission. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to publishingwithpermission@gmail.com




ACT ONE

Scene 2


(Later that night. The sound of crickets. Lights fade in to reveal Ikedinobi in his hut.)


Image: A typical compound in Igbo land during the early 20th century. Source: Ukpuru.

Ikedinobi: Azuka! Amobi! Ebee ka ụmụ nwanyị ndị a nọ? <Where are these women?> Azuka!

(Azuka hurries into the hut with a tray of calabash in her hand.)

Azuka: Eh, Di’m. Sorry for taking too long to come. I had already prepared your supper and wanted to make sure I brought the food along with me. See, it is your favourite stew, Okra, and I cooked it with that antelope you brought home three market days ago. I thought you needed to come home to a lovely meal after your victory at the Igba mgba today, so I took it upon myself to prepare something for you to eat. I am sure you will enjoy it.

(She puts the tray in front of Ikedinobi and sits beside him.)

Ikedinobi: Daalụ <Thank you> But where is Amobi? Did she not hear me calling her?

Azuka: Amobi? She is in her hut with her friends, Erinma and Nkoli. They have been chatting about the Igba mgba since they returned from the market square.

Ikedinobi: What about Lotanna and his brothers? The house is unusually quiet this evening.

Azuka: I chefuola na taa bụ ọnwa egwu? <Have you forgotten that today is the celebration of the new moon?> Nwanyike has gathered all the children in the village to her compound for the celebration.

Ikedinobi: Yes, you are right. Today is a new moon.

Azuka: Di’m, apart from your supper, which I have brought, is there a reason why you wanted to see Amobi and me? You look like you have something eating up the peace in your heart.

Ikedinobi: No, nothing is troubling me. I mean, yes, there is something I wanted to say to the two of you, but it is not as you think.

Azuka: What is it that you want to say? Amobi is not here, but I can go and get her if she must be present before you speak.

Ikedinobi: No, do not worry about getting her. See, I was at the Dibia’s hut this evening. He had requested to speak with me privately after decorating me with the Mgbidi title.

Azuka: Yes, I noticed that the two of you left the market-square together. Did he say something to you?

Ikedinobi: Yes, I thought he only wanted to congratulate me on my victory today, but there was something else he told me, and I have been struggling to wrap my mind around it.

Azuka: Hmph, you  know the Dibia loves to play with words when he speaks. If you are having a hard time interpreting one of his parables or proverbs, then I am sorry. The only way out would be to go back to him and ask for a literal explanation.

Ikedinobi: No, Azuka, I understood most of what he said to me, and I think I got his message. But I am not sure about what to do.

(Just then, Amobi walks into the hut excitedly.)

Amobi: Eh, Di’m, you are back. I heard you calling me earlier, but I wanted to see my friends off before coming so that I can give you all my time. I hope there is no problem.

Ikedinobi: Amobi, nọdụ ala <sit down> There is something I want to say.

(She sits.)

Ikedinobi: I was telling Azuka about the meeting I had with the Dibia before you came in, but I have not told her what we discussed yet. The words were still in my mouth when you came in, so it is well.

Amobi: Ah, the Dibia. I hope it is good news.

(Ikedinobi stands.)

Ikedinobi: The Dibia told me that the title I carried today would mark my success at the Igba mgba for the fifteenth time running.

Amobi: Di’m, that news is no longer new. Even the old people in Iruwelle are talking about it.

Ikedinobi: Amobi, please, allow me to arrive first before interrupting.

Amobi: Sorry, Di’m.

Ikedinobi: Yes, he said that, but he also said there is one Okwute that the gods have chosen me to find; that I was born to possess it.

Azuka: One Okwute?

Ikedinobi: Yes.

Amobi: That you are born to possess?

Ikedinobi: Yes.

Azuka: And where might this Okwute be?

Ikedinobi: The Dibia knows, and he showed me. It was on his board. He said it is in a land far away from here, but he also said the land is not very far away. He believes it would take me seven market days to get there. And he has been keeping all this in his heart since the day I was born. There is nothing that man does not know.

Azuka: Ey! Since the day you were born?

Ikedinobi: Yes, although he explained that it was not until he saw me wrestling a man from Ejighnandu that he recognized me. Azuka, Amobi, I think I should answer the gods.

Amobi: Di’m, but that would be the right thing to do. Is it not our fathers that said no man can escape them?

Azuka: That is not true. Our fathers also told us that a man’s Chi will answer to him. Di’m, are you sure you are making the right decision? A journey of seven market days is a long one that would take you beyond Diedo. I have heard terrible stories of what those people who live in the highlands of Udi do to outsiders who step into their territory.

Ikedinobi: You are right, Azuka. It is going to be a long and unpredictable journey. But I cannot refuse the gods what they ask of me. They have shown their faith in me through the Dibia, and now, I must prove my loyalty to our land.

(Tensed silence.)

Azuka: But Di’m, what is this Okwute that the gods want you to find? It definitely cannot be an ordinary stone if you must go outside of Diedo to find it.

Ikedinobi: The Dibia said it is only those whom the gods have favoured that can find it, and when I do find it since the gods have chosen me to do so, it will always bring me anything I wish for.

Amobi: Ey! Anything?

Ikedinobi: Yes. Can you believe it? Anything I want.

(Amobi stands.)

Amobi: Even cattle?

Ikedinobi: The Okwute will bring that to us.

Amobi: Yams?

Ikedinobi: As much as we want.

Amobi: What about clothes and beautiful beads for your wives?

Ikedinobi: If that is what you want, and I wish for it, the Okwute will bring it. Look, the Dibia even said the Okwute can make me live forever! Think about it. Do you know what forever is? It means we cannot count the blessings of the Okwute!

Amobi: So what are you waiting for? You should be searching for that Okwute now!

Ikedinobi: Yes, and I will be the greatest man from Iruwelle! When the Dibia told me about it at first, I thought he was mistaken. But listen to the voice of the night. It is full of my praise! Even the gods know my name! Azuka, Amobi, prepare yourselves and the children for my return. Soon, we shall be feasting from sunrise to sunset in this house. We will even have enough food to feed the whole village!

(Excited about her husband’s words, Amobi begins to sing and dance, thanking the gods for her fortune.)

Azuka: Di’m, I thank the gods for their blessings. But I must also tell you that I am already satisfied with having just you and the children next to me.

Ikedinobi: Yes, Azuka, but the gods are giving us more.

Azuka: And will it all make us happy?

Ikedinobi: Of course. A man cannot go out in the rain and not get wet. When I bring that Okwute home, our happiness will be bigger than the Osisi Achi.

(Lights)


(to be continued)


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