Alkelbulan Nights:

The Story of Okumu Ogada Gor

Mahia
A Musical Play
Book written by Kevin Kwasa
o written by Sylvester Mwai Bonke
Musi! by Andrew Tumbo
A S"ell!ast Media #rodu!tion
S$N$ %
A Hero Returns: Ougo Rategos no retreat policy
TINDATINDA starts playing. Narrator walks in jovial and upbeat, her mood in concert with the life and
flow of this happy song. The steady beat of the djembe will only change to answer the narrator.
Narrator: Hello friends. Sit. Please sit and be merry for today we hear a story. And a good one, yes?
(Drum answers) Today you can all be seers into the ast. !ould you li"e to come with me? (Drum
answers) !ould you li"e to come? (Drum answers more emphatically) Then ac" your minds, your eyes
your noses and mouths and fly with me to the land called #anyamwa. #anyamwa the land of mil", honey
and busaaaaaaaaa. #anyamwa the great$ #anyamwa the mysterious$ %ou "now where #anyamwa is,
&on't you? (Drum answers questioning)
TINDATINDA continues playing till the end.
Narrator: (n the cradle of the hills of #anyamwa a roc" fell that could not be urooted. (ts wa)es
became legends, the legends became myths, and things that should always be remembered... ha)e
*uic"ly been forgotten.
There in #anyamwa a son was born. +orn into a tradition of great and owerful magic, he was as ordinary
as you, and you and you (points to the drum), less ordinary than myself, right? (Drum answers). +ut when
his grandfather lifted him u, he saw a flash, a glint, a loo", and a sign. (n that child lay a well of otential
that only the great can drin" from. The old man "new that his own great magic would li)e on in this young
one. And so he was called ,"umu ,gada -or Mahia.
(TINDATINDA II starts, the percussion stops in complete silence. It picks up after a long pause,
becoming more laboured and ominous)
.ow if you li"e stories of lo)eable heroes, thrust into e*ually heroic battles , rewarded by the hand of a
rincess and immortalised in a roud line of decendants, maybe you should wait for another show.
+ecause where)er there is ower, there is hunger, and /ealousy. Sometimes these aetites run thic"er than
blood. +rother, sister, cousin, all en)ious that they were assed o)er. (n their hearts they cried 0Why not
me1? -or Mahia was thrust into e2ile. And so the magic of his family left #anyamwa with him. There was
not enough of #anyamwa left to defend the dala. (t was then that a great band of warriors fell on
#anyamwa. (and hit!) The #arungu. (and hit!) 3ierce lions of men. ,gada, -or's father was among the
first to fall. The )ictors did not gi)e it a second thought. Their ruthless leader ,ugo4atego danced hay
o)er the body of ,gada, moc"ing the sirits of #anyamwa. He had crushed the eole li"e ants and so he
danced and danced, to ma"e himself feel safe5
"nter #ugo singing JORITO LWEN!
Ougo: &ancing$ Am tired of dancing$ !here is my chair? !here is it?
(an attendant brings a stool)
Ougo: (To the attendant) !here are you going? ($imics attendants far) my feet will not rest
themsel)es. (%resents the floor as an option to the attendant) !hene)er you are ready.
(&ttendant lies, albeit reluctantly on the floor while #ugo ga'es on, derisive and impatient through the
attendant(s entire ordeal. )is ga'e lingers on longer than it should. )e then promptly acts as if the now
prostate servant is completely non e*istent. & king doesn(t talk to the help. &nd his +ing(s feet will not rest
on this lowly runt)
Ougo6 (to no,one in particular) ( am thirsty$ There should be a drin" in my hand. (t should come a bit faster
(& senior soldier in the army approaches in proper decorum and dignity)
Soldier: -uoth +arungu, ma rateng( ti oloyo kata gotieno! ( salute you.
Ougo: (-esponding with presidential air to a familiar voice) %ou sound li"e ,lum... but you are not him$
Soldier: .o .ibuoch +arungu, ( am his last born son. ( was sent by5
Ougo: His last born son. He hasn't been by for a long time. &id ( finally offend my old friend and
general.
Soldier: .o .ibuoch +arungu$ He isn't... (chokes) He isn't able to wal" with the li)ing anymore.
Ougo: ,lum is dead. (rief silence) ( cannot hold #anyamwa. !ho is in charge of the most men there
now?
Soldier: -uoth $ang(ang(a, since my father died, ( am. And ( shall remain fore)er faithful. (+neels
in allegiance)
Ougo: Stand u warrior. (/ost in thought) And the leoard... &oes he still stal" me at nght?
Soldier: !e ha)e witnesses saying he is close. He is coming bac" home.
Ougo: .ot so bad ,galo, your son is not so bad. (&nother attendant approaches with a calabash). Put it
on the table.
Soldier: (/ooking around) There is no table.
Ougo: (/ooking at the attendant he is using as a footrest) A TA+78$ (&ttendant goes on hands and knees
making a fau* table. #ugo quickly ignores his presence and lets the calabash rest on his 0table1) At least
the seer was wrong.
Soldier: Seer 4atego?
Ougo: (2huckling) Some old fool of a man. He told me that he had seen in the smo"e that a leoard
would come bac" to its tree and then my calabash would fall. ( told him, 0Then ( will /ust start drin"ing
straight for the ot$1 Still, ( cannot hold #anyamwa without ,lum. How far is the cunning leoard?
(&ttendant shamelessly eavesdropping)
Soldier: !e are not entirely sure, .ibuoch +arungu, some say he is already5
Ougo: (3uickly hushing him and pointing towards the attendant) 9an ( get you something? -et out$
(+icks him square in the behind sending him sprawling and the calabash falling4
Soldier: (.tartled) 4atego, the calabash$
Ougo: (-ushed) (diot seer$ -o ma"e the rearations$ And get me Mi"ayi. ( want her here for when he
comes.
(2iti'ens enter singing "OR #IRO. & citi'en calls out 0There he is! )e is here, he is here.1 5or $ahia
walks in singing $O"ALO as the people escort him fawning over him. #ugo is uneasy and has a difficult
time not showing it. $ikayi walks in standing behind #ugo in allthe confusion)
Ougo: (#nce the people settle) %ou finally arri)e wuod ,gada$
Gor: %ou remember my father, than" you. +ut my own name wor"s /ust as fine. %ou were e2ecting
me.
Ougo: .o e2ile wal"s through my warriors without being e2ected. !e need to sea" alone. 8)eryone
lea)e...("veryone makes to leave) 82cet you (%oints at $ikayi drawing a poisonous look from her).
(They all disperse while $ikayi reluctantly stands in position)
Ougo: This is my sister Mi"ayi. She is a fine woman.
(5or greets her respectfully and with a touch of disdain. .he simply ignores)
Gor: She might cost you a few wars herself, as well as your men.
Ougo: (&ngrily and sardonically) My men? The #arungu are not men, they are warriors. (-egains
composure) How was your e2ile boy?
Gor: .ot as shameful as yours will be$
Ougo: !HAT &(& %,: SA%?
Gor: !hat you do is stealing simle. My home is not something that is easily stolen ,ugo 4atego.
Some treasures should be left under the earth buried where they belong.
Ougo: ( don't5 it doesn't matter whats left where$ 4emember ( hold #anyamwa now. %ou
should...
Gor: (Defiant) My lace is here$ %ours is in #arungu$ And now esecially with your generals
droing dead li"e flies, left, right and...
Ougo: !hen rain falls its chance, but an arranged dance is human will. !hat did you do to ,lum, -or
Mahia?
Gor: %ou seem tired #ndiek $ang(ang(a. %our sear should ma"e a good wal"ing stic".
Ougo: 9lose that dirty mouth. +efore ( do it for you$ (Threatens 5or with the spear) !hat hand do you
ha)e in this? (/ong pause, no response from 5or) !HAT ha)e you done to my generals?
Gor: (&ssuming a false air of respect and fear) Tipo +arungu, ma umo duto, you told me to "ee my
mouth closed$ (/aughs)
Ougo: (2harging) More is what you are going to get...
Gor: ()is voice and demeanour changes. Tapping his staff twice, he takes a defensive stance, making
#ugo stop in his tracks) 3ight after fight after fight. (t is always a battle for you. (5or taps his staff twice
once again and starts chanting. Darkness begins to engulf all, whispers of spirits can be heard as he
speaks the spell) $ata %oth ch&e' %ata chieng rieny' (ilo ma ratipo to )*ONI+
Ougo: (6eigned courage) 4ight now you are outnumbered. (-ealising he may have bitten off a bit too
much) .ot today -or Mahia. ( need you to "ee the eace. (-esuming his royal air) %ou shall assume your
father's ost, so long as ( get my tribute. And we shall rotect #anyamwa as we can. ( couldn't care less
about fairness so it will be a hea)y tribute.
Gor: A hea)y tribute for a hea)y eace.
Ougo: %ou will marry my sister. (/ight fades back in slowly. $ikayi is very apprehensive. 5or looks at her
si'ing her up and down).
Gor: 3ine, but from what ( hear ( cannot say whether she will marry me.
Ougo: (Irritated and homicidally nostalgic) ( would ha)e such a good time cutting out your
tongue. Such a good time.
Gor: -atego,yo! !hat would ( ha)e to lic" the soles of your feet then?
Ougo: ( await Mi"ayi's dowry.
(#ugo leaves. $ikayi makes to follow him but he gives her a bloodcurdling look making her stop in her
tracks. 7illagers are welcoming their long lost son, who embodies their hopes and who has gathered some
fame as well. $ikayi is still apprehensive and not speaking a word)
&riendly iti'en %: They are lea)ing? &oes that mean we are going to fight them? &id you anger
4atego the ae?
&riendly iti'en (: -or Mahia himself is right here. !ith wuod ,gada here let them come. !e will teach
them how to cry tears.
)owdy iti'en %: (In disbelief)7et them come? ( want to see you trying to fight a #arungu monster
with your ot or an.
&riendly iti'en %: !e will fight with you. (f ( shout ( can get you ;< men...
)owdy iti'en (: ,mera, what ;< men? All you ha)e in your homestead is )egetables$
&riendly iti'en (: Are they coming bac" for a fight?
Gor: .o need to fight5
&riendly iti'en (: %ou see, he has already defeated them$ "ini&ase%ao$ (2heers)
)owdy iti'en (: (f defeating those thugs is so easy then where has he been all this time? !hy didn't he
come earlier?
)owdy iti'en %: Are you still #anyamwa's son? !ho are you? !here did you go? Are you going to
marry our tormentor's sister? (%ointing rudely at $ikayi)
&riendly iti'en %: (&ngry and defensive) He has /ust got here. Are we re/oicing at a son returning
home or shall we interrogate him with *uestion after *uestion /ust to raise ain and tears.
)owdy iti'en %: .,$ He must answer$
)owdy iti'en (: He must tell us where he was while we suffered ,ugo marching on our bac"s.
!here ha)e you been -or Mahia? Isebedo kure?
(They break into the song I,E#EDO $*RE)
Gor: (angs staff, lights fluctuate in tandem with the release of his power) S(78.98. (6rightened
murmurs wave from the crowd)
!hat the eole want the eole will ha)e$
(n the forest that dances, where the great marabou stor" slees, there is a hut made of feathers. The eole
there "now it, they call it Mother. There, ( suddenly found myself alone, surrounded by hyenas and wild
dogs. They would not let me in.
They wanted blood. ( would not let them ha)e mine$
( left. The forest called me. ( learnt all the forest had to offer. ( followed the ri)er and slet on the roots
of great trees. ( loo"ed for my answers.
Then one day, ( noticed ( was being followed. .o, hunted$ +y a great beast, a leoard that li)ed on the
strong branches, a monster of the forest. ( could feel its resence. (t was close to ouncing. My time was
short.
Three more nights assed each morning feeling li"e swimming further into a fish tra. Then, ( saw him.
$&ach )arateng, the blac" leoard. ( could hardly tear my eyes off the monster, but when ( did, ( ran.
(Drum beat starts, sounds of an animal stalking its prey) A )oice from the dar"ness screamed to me
(%eople from the crowd shout these parts) *)un+ son of the trees and moon,- And another shouted
*No death+ .e must find Mother,- My feet didn't fail me. ( ran$ Mother why were you too helless to
sa)e me? !hy did my brothers turn against me? How could my father die and lea)e me here? !here is my
grandfather's smile? ( refused to die. ( wanted to li)e. +ut did life want me?
()e heaves, drum beat stops) ( fell into dar"ness. My grandfather's )oice was in my ears, li"e he was
right ne2t to me. ( saw it then, right infront of me.
(n this dancing forest, right where the marabou stor" was aslee, there stood a hut made of feathers. The
eole there "now of it. They call it Mother. (t is the house that breathes tears. The teacher of magic. The
sace between us and the ancestors. And the hyenas and the wild dogs were all gone. Mother welcomed
me.
As we sea" there is a hut made of feathers, whose doors are made of the blac" elt of a great dead
leoard.
S$N$ (
In con-incing a Lai(on.: Who &ill spea% to Anyango Nyalo%a/
Narrator: The years that followed were ones of lenty. The eole got to lo)e -or, and accet Mi"ayi as
one of the family. #anyamwa welcomed all her magic bac". The dances were dances now, food tasted li"e
food. %es the drun"ards had stories to tell that day. .one of this alcoblow business. Donge? 3or a moment
the world smiled on these eole, and on -or Mahia. +ut soon the great seers began to see )isions that
would change the eole fore)er. 3ar away in the soils of the Mara, a friend had the same )isions. He
sought -or out fearing what he already "new.
That the roc" of Mahia had seen the same )isions that he had, and that something need be done.
$ikayi enters first seemingly in a hurry. .he sings )ANO TO DENDA. .he is a busy wife with a large
house to take care of and an important husband.The workers join their queen in tidying and finishing off
with her signature dance. 5or comes in behind her, admiring his diligent wife but a bit irritated that she
seems only to have time for the home.
Gor: (.oftly calling out) Mi"ayi?
Mikayi: (Too engrossed in what she is doing) %es?
Gor: !here are you going so fast? !hat are you doing?
Mikayi: (.till too engrossed) Hmm? !hats that?
Gor: (6eigning sulking) !hat are you doing? %our always so busy$
Mikayi: %ou rule men and ( rule the house, ( cannot lea)e it unattended.
Gor: ( rule o)er men, and you rule o)er the household? ( thought ( was the one who ma"es the decisions.
Mikayi: No response, side eye while she continues her duties.
Gor: (&pproaching her in a loving manner) %ou are heartless to lea)e me alone li"e this. There is
nothing in that chest e2cet emtiness.
Mikayi: Sorry what were you saying?
Gor: ( was saying do ( ha)e to be made out of clay to get your attention.
Mikayi: ( am gi)ing you my attention, but ( am busy now, -or Mahia. -o find something to lay with.
Gor: 9old$ A stone$ .othing warm at all$ ( married a hard headed roc".
Mikayi: ()alf under her breath) 3irst time ( ha)e heard you comlaining5
Gor: !hat was that?
Mikayi: ()alf joking) (f you call me a stone one more time you will ha)e a stone for brea"fast and for
lunch too..
Gor: ( better get a lot of water to drin" that brea"fast down then.
Mikayi: 7oo"...a )isitor. Someone to gi)e you attention at last.
("*it $ikayi)
& tune lilts as #lonana and his entourage enter, #lonana
singing $ITI$ITI
Gor: Since when did elehants sing? ( thought they are /ust meant to grow fat and lay in mud.
Olonana: Said the hio who hasn't wal"ed outside his ri)er for seasons now. ( thought you would at
least come scare my children
Gor: This hio is now a married hio.
Olonana: So a fatter, less hay hio. ( ha)e missed you old friend$
Gor: 7enana, elehant tamer, ( see your sense of humour is still intact. %ou ha)e been ha)ing a thirst for
my wonderful con)ersation, ha)en't you? And maybe some brew? 9ome in$ And lea)e the herd behind.
(The 0herd1 leaves and #lonana is beckoned to sit)
Olonana: (/ooks around to make sure no eavesdroppers are present) Ha)e you seen them too?
Gor: (pausing to take in the sight of his long time friend) ( ha)e seen a lot of things. (.ilence) +ut (
"now what you sea" of. A si of beer might calm the ner)es.
Olonana: (2huckles) %es brother, ( will ha)e some beer, but you will not a)oid the *uestion. ( need to
"now what you ha)e seen. ( can see it in your eyes, hear it in your )oice.
Gor: /enana,yo, you ha)e really missed my stories, and your aetite for beer is as big as the elehants
you ride. ( "now this lace...finest brew you e)er tasted. (& beer song is sang by the two)
Olonana: (2atching breath) +ut the last time ( went drin"ing with you ( was attac"ed by three ygmys, and
you lost your clothes trying to catch a mon"ey you thought was your cousin. All because of that witch, if it's
the last thing ( will do in this life, it will be to see her again and5 (he makes as if strangling an imaginary
person)
Gor: +ut her beer5
Olonana: (t was li"e drin"ing hea)en$
Gor: Perfect, its agreed then$
Olonana: (.till coming out of his fond memories4 %e5 sorry what?
Gor: %es you said it yourself,you would lo)e to see her$
Olonana: The witch5 no ( didn't. !hat are ou trying to5 !hy would ( say..this is one of your games.
Gor: 4ela2, am sure she won't do the tongue thing a third time, besides, we are older and out for
something else.
Olonana: ( fell in the middle of that hole, right in the middle$
Gor: Hence ( will /um in as well
Olonana: +ut5 but she is dangerous$
Gor: Are your lis dry for beer? Are your ears thirsty for answers?
Olonana: (8nsettled somewhat) How do ( ne)er see you coming. My head warns me, ( /ust ne)er listen.
Gor: (Insisting) ( ha)e missed Anyango's beer, she shall be mad that ( ha)e not tried to steal some
already. (%icks up staff and leaves) Are you coming?
Olonana: (6ollowing a bit slower) !ell yes, but5 (si'es his staff then remarks) ( thin" ( will carry a
bigger weaon, /ust in case.
Gor: Then carry my wife$
S$N$ /
Touching the (ac% o0 the soul: The ,orceress an1 her muse
The scene opens to a sorceress. .he has a heavy presence, constantly surrounded by a fog mystic. &nd she
sings a mystic song, THI) LI2H OHIN"A. &s it builds cascades and subsides her movements make it
clear that she is in a trance. & light shines in her eyes that can only be described as dangerous, but she
herself is indiscriminate. .he is &nyango Nyaloka. Today this great sorcerer has guests.
5or $ahia enters while she is still in the throws of her trance, albeit subsiding. The /aibon is close by in
tow.
Gor: (& loud voice to give authority to his words) Sister of the land of our ancestors. -reat daughter of the
rainma"er whose )oice ma"es e)en the gods cry.
Anyango: (Trails off) ( am busy. (2ontinues her chant)
Gor: 9arrier of storms (she stops barely even present4, from whom the deths of the la"e flee. !ill you sit
with me? (Tries to enter)
Anyango: ST,P$ Sto where you are, you are a stranger here.
Gor: Stranger? ST4A.-84? %ou cant call me a st55
Anyango: %ou are a strange being by any standard, the way you morh into shadow at the bac" of our
souls. .e)ertheless, there are more eole here than /ust we. (9hispers a spell unintelligibly)
Olonana: (/ooking around, quite shaken by the tone of &nyango(s voice) !hat is she doing?
Gor: Shhhhh. !ait.
(#uru comes in to their utter bewilderment and goes to sit)
Gor: (&t #uru) .o girl stay away from her. Stay away.
(#uru comfortably approaches her and stands behind her, playing with her hair)
Olonana: My friend, this is a time wasted, listen, we need your hel.
Anyango: (ored and unimpressed) So does e)eryone. ,uru, to the left. -or, why ha)e you
brought a etulant child into a den of elders. !ho is this?
Gor: Such harsh words 7ady of the 7a"e. %ou, are you going to treat us li"e strangers? ( "now you ha)e
missed me. %our banishment cannot be an easy thing either. (2ommisserating) 9an you really mind the
occasional )isitor so much? &on't you thin" its insulting...
Anyango: (nsulting? %ou shouldn't tal" of insulting here$ 8)ery ste you ta"e is an insult to me wuod
,gada. %et you bet your li)es and that of the boy on entering this lace.
Gor: And then your e2ile will ne)er end. (nstead you should hear us out, while we're here.
Anyango: (In a low voice just loud enough not to be a whisper to herself) ,"ay, ( will ta"e your bet
(.eemingly affected by this tenderness, she changes tact and goes deeper into her shell of passive
aggressiveness. .he pretends to have fnally noticed #lonana. .he gestures with her mouth, while stroking
her snake,lace4 And, who is the foolish lamb you ha)e allowed to rance in a den of leoards?
Gor: H8 is only a child to our ways for5 (.purred on by her 0warmth1, he is over e*uberant) This
foolish lamb right here (slaps #lonana(s back hard, making him stagger forward, closer to &nyango who
si'es him up with a deathly look straight from )ades) is the son of your long time friend. Mbatian$ He is
the current 7aibon.
(#lonana bows in his presidential fashion taking great care to seem humble, 5or takes the opportunity to
quickly sit while &nyango is distracted)
Anyango: A title he came by through lies and charlatanry. (sn't he the one who tric"ed his brother,
Sendeyu, out of his birthright. !ere .ya"alaga holds a secial wrath for your "ind.
:#lonana makes to sit down as well4
Anyango: !ho welcomed you to sit?
#lonana half stands, half squats awkwardly as
&nyango continues si'ing him up, and stroking her
snake,lace.
Anyango: The sight is strong in him, for one so young and it willl yet grow stronger. :/ooks at him
questioningly as if wondering what he is up to4 !ould you sit down you foolish child. %ou /ust standing
there is ma"ing me uneasy.
(&fter he sits, the girl #uru approaches them as she touches their faces. 5or hesitates)
Anyango: &on't worry wuod ,gada, ( am not etty enough to steal anything from you. :nli"e some of us
( don't use tric"s to get what ( want.
Olonana: !hat do you want?
Anyango: the sun and the moon, the fish in the la"e and the monsters below it. 9an you gi)e it to me
7aibon?
Olonana: She is a woman mad$
Anyango: %es she is. (7ery calm and threatening) She is T!, women mad$ So go$ Away before she
comes for you (bursts into laughter then suddenly becomes very seriously afraid) ,uru$ !here am (?
(The silent girl runs back to &nyango and begins to play with her hair) 8)erything seemed5 dar"$ &on't
go too far ,uru. (.he points at 5or) And watch out for that one. He is a serial husband.
Olonana: (&greeing) She is two women mad$
Gor: !ill you tal" for a moment?
Anyango The 0esolate: (.tartled4 !ho said that? ,h you are still here? !hy are you so far away?
(#minously) 9ome closer. Sit$ Sit 7aibon en/oy the fire (.he points at no fire and makes as if she is
warming herself). ( ha)e a feeling it will get colder.
Gor: !e can get you bac" to your eole, the 7aibon and (.
Anyango: !ho said ( need you to get me bac" to my eole?
Gor: ( ha)e been in e2ile before, ( want to hel.
Anyango: !hene)er you hel it only gets worse for me (.taring into the imaginary fire) %ou hate me, but
( ha)e my charms don't (? (.he smiles a sickly smile and trails off) ( ha)e my charms.
Olonana: (To 5or) Maybe we should lea)e. She cannot hel.
Anyango: ( am the only one who can hel. +ut if this is all you ha)e to offer (she stands up to leave)
then ( ha)e other )isitors to attend to$
Gor: ( can hel you Anyango. %ou can trust me5
Anyango: %,: ST,78 34,M M8 ,.98$ !HAT (S T4:ST T, %,:? 78A=8$ .,!$
Olonana: (.tanding) 7ets lea)e brother$
Gor: (3 !8 78A=8 .,!, TH8 S.A#8 !(77 &8ST4,% :S A77$
("veryone stops in their tracks *le%o Ango starts here)
Gor: %es ( saw it too. A sna"e that made deafening noises, that made the ground sha"e.
Olonana and Anyango: %ou saw it too?
Gor: That's why ( brought both of you here. ( thought you would understand. That scream is burnt into
my memory
Olonana: (-ecalling a bad dream) (t breathed smo"e without any fire. 9rawling across the ground li"e it
was swimming. ( can still hear it scream too. !hy didn't you tell me -or?
Anyango: +ecause he "new what it would mean. (.he sits once again) This one is interesting -or. He can
see far, further than the eyes.
Gor: !hat did you see?
Anyango The Seer6 (.uddenly solemn and deep voiced4 ( saw the crawler without a mouth. ( would
lo)e to /um on its bac". The men on it howe)er5
Gor: S"in li"e new born babies, white as death. &id you see what they were holding? Their
sears...
Olonana: %es$ Their sears sat fire and eole fell dead in front of them. They attac"ed with the sound
of thunder. ,r the thunder attac"ed at their word. 8)erywhere the sna"e went the trees came down.
8)erywhere the sna"e crawled the land melted infront of them.
Anyango The Seer6 .o the land melted way before the sna"e arri)ed. (t "noc"ed on the doors of great
houses. The ,im(a of my grandfather was urooted by it and my cousins /ust stood there watching.
Gor: !hat worries me is ( could not see the tail. 9ould you see the tail?
Anyango: ( couldn't see where it ended (The realisation making her cold). ( couldn't see the ti of its tail
but the white butterflies "et flying. ,nto it, ,ff of it> ,.T, (T, ,33 ,3 (T. !ololo. (t was madness this
dream. How can a sna"e ha)e no tail (.he starts cackling)
Olonana: ( saw the tail. (oth stop to look at him) (t was /ust as big as the head, and full of tree trun"s.
Huge trees$ The sna"e went on and on for hours before it reached the tail. (&n awkward tense silence)
Anyango: ,uru who ut off the fire now. -et some more wood$ (& tad too nice) Please$
Gor: !hy did you adot that child? !ho is she?
Anyango: .othing li"e that. She adoted me, she is )ery strongheaded. That's what it is$
Olonana: (.napping back to himself) 7ady of the 7a"e$
Anyango: ($enacingly) %es? +oy?
Olonana: !hile we sea" the sun sin"s bac" behind the trees.
Anyango6 (Takes a sarcastic pause) ,h really? And then what?
Gor: He is right$ ( thin" we are not the only ones who ha)e dreamt of this omen.
Anyango: %et you sit here for hours laying childish games with your lis. ( see through your ruse -or
Mahia. %ou ha)e stolen from me before and you mean to do it again. This is my rohecy. ( shall not let
you ha)e it.
Gor: Anyango, you claim the rohecy, and it is rightfully yours, indeed. +ut who will you tell it to? (n all
of the land you are the one that can see the farthest. That is what the water ga)e you$ %ou ha)e long been in
e2ile Anyango, a banished witch whose only ardon would be death.
That is also what the water ga)e you. &on't be simle, .yalo"a. They will ta"e any bad thing from your
mouth as a threat, and anything good as a tric". Tell me5
Anyango The 0esolate: Said the fire to the ash5
Olonana: Ash cannot mo)e out of the it, li"e a woman crafty can.
Anyango: (.miles a broad maniacal smile and then breaks into a cackle) The 7aibon leases me, why so
short a man can say such big words$ A woman crafty? Ha$ He$ Tho$ Tell me more, it won't hel. My mind
is made u. (Defensively) &eath or a true rohecy -or Mahia. :&lmost desperately but still dignified and
proud4 !ith this rohecy ( could5.o, ( shall buy bac" my accetance into the society.
Gor: (f only you could, you would ha)e left this con)ersation before our chee"s touched your stools.
Anyango: -orMahia, wuod ,gada$ ( will not let you ta"e away my sal)ation. This is my last chance to
ha)e something of this world that is not cursed. ( shall buy bac" my accetance$
Gor: !e cannot rewrite the ancestors' will. ( cannot let you do that Anyango. (t goes aga5
Anyango: !H%$
Gor: !ill if you let me finish my5
Anyango The .it!h: .,$ %,: !(77 .,T TA#8 TH(S A!A% 34,M M8$ .ot when ( finally ha)e a
"ey$ &o you leasure in my suffering? &oes it gratify you to e2tend my torture? They tell mar)ellous
stories of you -or Mahia, and you ha)en't e)en died yet. They tell these stories of your "indness and
heroism. Am ( not worthy of this, your "indness?
Olonana: !hat does she mean?
Gor: (8nperturbed) And it is "indness ( gi)e to you now Anyango. 3or if you were to brea" your e2ile, it is
only death that would await you. A door that leads to re/ection.
Anyango: !hy didn't the water gi)e you this )ision of mine? (f that is so then it ma"es no
difference. &eath awaits me if ( stay here. And death awaits me if ( go.
Gor: +ut your eole would li)e in your stead. %ou will ha)e died a noble death. ,r would you rather ha)e
the entire anyuola sacrificed. .yalo"a, ha)e you lost lo)e for your eole. :Nyaloka remains silent, unable
to respond. 5or continues4 (f a tree falls in the forest , and no one is around to hear it, does it ma"e a
sound?
Anyango The .it!h::.uddenly threatening and picking up her staff4 If two wi?ards, die in a
witches' ca)e does anyone see them wilt and wither to bones? :#lonana cows behind 5or.4
Gor: :-ushed and slightly shaken, but still holding ground and confidence4Anyango, don't you see sense
if the rohecy came from you. They shall merely hear a curse in its lace. The last time you sang, an
entire )illage was drowned.
Anyango The .it!h: And they shall drown again if they do not heed me.
Olonana::whimpering4 ( don't thin" threatening th5
Anyango: SH:T :P %,: 9A73$ .o one cares what you thin"$ 7earn to wal" before you can tal". The
rat does not hel itself in the same hole as the elehant.
Olonana: :Tries to hold his own4 (n all fairness...
Anyango The .it!h: ,h 3airness, 3airness$ 3airness? 3airness$ &, .,T SP8A# T, M8 ,3
3A(4.8SS 7A(+,.$ %,: #.,! .,TH(.- ,3 (TS S,4T +% %,:4 +(4TH4(-HT. A
+(4TH4(-HT THAT %,: 9H8AT8& T, HA=8$ 78T M8 -(=8 1O2 A 3A(4 !A4.(.- .,!. (f
you cherish the osition of your mouth, you would be cle)er and /ustified in hiding it from me. (#lonana
involuntarily raises hands to cover mouth.)
Gor: ,lonana, enough games. ( ha)e a rohecy to tell..
Anyango: ,"umu ,gada -or Mahia, before you lea)e, answer me this. &oes the moon e2ist in a )illage
of blind eole?
GorMahia: (t does e2ist, but you would ha)e a hard time ro)ing it does.
Anyango The Seer: (,I)#I NAI)A plays as she speaks) %our confidence in yourself shall be your own
downfall. %ou may ha)e this rohecy, "or &uo1 Oga1a nya%&ar Ogalo 1ho%lu0un1 Ngin3o. %ou may
ha)e it, but hear me now. (t shall bring you glory. (t shall bring you character. %our name shall ring out
through the ages and ne)er silence in the hearts of men. +ut it shall also bring you death. .ot once. .ot
twice. And the third? (t SHA77 be your own, $&ach$ That is my rohecy to you. .ow we all "now what's
coming. %ou cannot outrun a wind from the north or the rohecy that is set forth.
(5or beckons #lonana and they begin to leave as the stage gets darker. &nyango is heard calling after
them singing A#IRO *A"I "OR )AHIA)
Anyango: This is what the water ga)e me$ This is what it will gi)e you. ,uru bears witness. This is
what the water ga)e us all. ( warn you this is what the water ga)e us.
S$N$ 3
The heart o0 1ar%ness tears o0 light: The sight
The drums are beating to the heart of the people as 5or$ahia stands before them, bathed in a red light of
uncertainty and danger. )is eyes are deep set, sent along with his mind to far,away lands in space and
times. )e clutches his staff for support as well as for emphasis that indeed the words do not come from
today but from tomorrow. )e offers for them today a glimpse into the future. ut first he looks at them with
a vacant look of foreboding. &s he speaks the words seem to well up from within him as the drum begins to
trot then march. )e bangs his staff to control the volume of the drums that synchronise the mood of the
people. )e starts in a low voice while WINJA*R* is sang.
Gor: He who has ears
She who sees through the night
He who dran" the nyu"a
@imuon Pu 4oth anguma
%ou ha)e to see what ( see
To "now what ( "now
Slee, yes,
(s a cousin to death.
+ut in it ( saw the lis of light men
!hite butterflies coming down the mountain (
who drun" the nyu"a
@imuon Pu 4oth anguma
Sliing and sliding down the mountain ,n
their sna"e,
their great beast.
Their monster
9o)ered in smo"e
!here we are meant to be
The blue eyes loo" ast the oisonous cloud As
the baby faced men swee
down the hills
@imuon Pu 4oth anguma As
our forefathers try to see As
they drin" the nyu"a
( am hea)y today
(n my heart ( cannot carry
+ut my )oice can go farther, you$
9an you hear me?
Narrator: !e hear you shout to the eole and to the land, ( will tell of your story.
Gor: Then say this, story tellers,
The great sna"e
9oming out of the sea
Slithering u and down the hills
,ur hills
&ancing its strange dance
(nto the womb of our soil
Sha"ing gra)es in the earth, wa"ing the sirits that lie still
!ill its foostste5
!ill its iron ath5
@imuon Pu 4oth Anguma
!ill it crac",
,ur hills in half?
Narrator: !e hear you from tomorrow> all the hearts of the eole. (t will not crac"$
Gor: (T !(77 94A9#$
,ur mother #anyamwa
She will crac"
3rom the middle of
To the land ne2t to the greater 7a"e
!hose end cannot be seen.
And the butterflies will fly off it
7oo" at their staffs
+e careful$
!atch out$
&on't touch
(t shoots fire
And sits hot
And burns through shields, be careful.
!ololo$
Many on the ground
Means less to those bound.
Narrator: !e hear you seer, from today to tomorrow, we will fight$ Push them bac"$
Gor: $#.., $#..
Slow slow
A wise way is atient
The tortoise li)es
And li)es much longer than the hare
@imuon Pu$
The tortoise comes on his own time
So wait for him,
+e atient
4oth Anguma$
Migosi shall come
Migosi shall wal" tall
Migosi lays and dances with the great sna"e
Migosi ama?es the white butterflies
Migosi will fight them out of our land
Migosi will drin" the nyu"a
,nce again
Hear me distant )oice
&o you hear me?
%ou, do you understand me?
Answer$
Narrator: !e ha)e heard you from tomorrow, we shall tell the eole. !ait and be atient$
-or Mahia6 @imuon Pu 4oth Anguma
.arrator6 @imuon 4oth A&,!, Anguma
=illagers and all6 @imuon 4oth Al"ebulan
S$N$ 4
We (en1 the trees: The leopar1s &arning
The scene opens to the shouts of a commander during a $ilitary drill. &s #ugo calls out the formation the
rank and file attempt to carry it out with the grace of true warriors
Ougo: Opu%' the Tortoise.
.arriors: 5om,
Ougo: %ou must be faster, stronger$ $i1ungu1ungu )aria, the Porcuine$
.arriors6 Hom+
Ougo: ("*amining the rank closer) %our faces... are li"e girls' faces. (s this how you intend to chase
monsters bac" into the abyss?
.arriors6 Hom+
Ougo: Omieri, the Sssssssssina"e$ (The formation goes into a close v,shaped formation assuming the
stance of a snake stalking its pray and make a hiss, ideal for penetrating dense forests) %8SS$ There is
ower in fear, that is why we use it as our et. That is why the trees art ways when they see the #arungu.
()e lifts his spear and brings it down hard as he says;) 3ull Asssito$
.arriors6 Hom(e+
Ougo: !e tell our enemies Hom(e to let them "now that the slee they ha)e sought on the battlefield is
here, is us. %8SSSS$ !e A48 too strong. !e A48 too fast. ,nly women are risoners. !e will send them
to their forefathers to slee. !e only as" one thing$ (%ause for effect) A good fight, or a *uic" death Man to
Man, Shield to Shield, Sear to Sear. ()e gets a sniffle) Aaaa...Aaaaaa....Atchoooo$
.arriors6 Hom(e+ (The warriors assume a close knit defensive position with those in front kneeling, those
behind them crouched ready to pounce and those behind them standing in support).
Ougo: (& bit surprised such a formation e*ists, he regains his composure) .,T HO)#E$ ( said, MA. T,
MA.. SH(87& T, SH(87&, SP8A4 T, SP8A4$
.arriors6 (& glorious war cry) MA. T, MA., SH(87& T, SH(87&, SP8A4 T, SP8A4$$
Ougo6 (/oudly) M,,,,,,,,,.5(softly)goose$
.arriors: Hom+
Ougo6 !ho are you?
.arriors6 #A4:.-:, #A4:.-:, #A4:.-:$
Ougo: And how do we fight?
.arriors6 MA. T, MA., SH(87& T, SH(87&, SP8A4 T, SP8A4$
Ougo: 3undamentals$ (The men break up into a more orderly formation ready to do their war cry) Shout it
out men. 7et them "now their death as it comes$ 7et them "now the shade of the #arungu$
(The warriors take in all the fighting spirit they can muster and do the war dance JO $AR*N"*)
Gor: (6rom somewhere off stage) Opu%, the tortoise$ (The warriors go into formation, but on realising that
it was not #ugo who gave the order, assume a defensive position)
Ougo: (8nperturbed) !ho goes there? 9ome out before ( ha)e to gi)e you to the rats to eat$ Actually, don't
come out, ( will en/oy trac"ing you down more$
Gor: ("ntering from the opposite side from where they face clapping) They don't lie. %our young men are
/ust as well trained as they say$
Ougo: (Nodding his head in despair) That is unfortunate news. There should ha)e been noBone left to say
anything in the first lace. (&ddressing himself to the men, haughty and presidential) +usaa$ (The men stand
at ease). Ta"e u a sear Mahia, if that is what you ha)e come to do.
Gor: !ith your #arungu, orcuine, tortoise, sssiina"e and mongoose running all o)er the lace that would
not be safe for me 4atego. Tal" would do both of us some good.
Ougo: Afraid ( cannot tal". Sic"ness comes to me today and ( cannot sto snee?ing since ( made your
)illage a stool to rest my feet. %our eole and their magic can be *uite irritating you "now.
Gor: (laughs bright and coy) !ell come bac" then, we can cure your thirst for blood, and maybe that your
big stomach as well.
Ougo: How about a sear in the chest? That would ma"e our throwing ractice much more realistic. !e
could ha)e a few of your family members run around li"e headless chic"en. After all if its family you ha)e
more reason to ma"e sure that your otions and chants wor" right.
Gor: (& bit irritated, quickly remembering his hatred for the leader of the +arungu) ( did not "now fighting
defenceless eole ma"es you stronger?
Ougo: &efenceless? !ho cares? ()e asks one of his warriors) &o you care? ()e asks another) &o you
care? And you?()e walks up to another) &o you care? Mahia, they don't seem to care$ .ow if you ta"e u
that sear, and ut that shield on your arm, maybe someone would finally answer.
Gor: ( told you 4atego you. 3ighting here would do noBone any good. And from our last encounter could
you not tell that my words are much stronger than my throwing arm.
Ougo: The number of things that are stronger than your throwing arm are many$
Gor: (/ooking for a place to sit) 5 and e)en more than yours$
Ougo: (%uffed chest heaving in anger) 9hallenges to the #arungu on this ground are ta"en seriously as
oath. And ( am more than willing5
Gor: (8nable to find a place to sit) Sto, sto, sto$ This isn't the time for games. 3or a moment ut down
that warrior's heart and ta"e u a heart of a atient leader li"e your father.
Ougo: (.till aggravated) And you dare dig my father's sirit from the gra)e to rotect yourself$
Gor: ( said ( can't do this anymore. There is too little time. ( will sta"e the blood of my father and mother
right here A.& now if you will heed my words, if you will heed the rohecy.
Ougo: (Drawn to a different sort of attention by the mention of the prophecy) %ou are a tric"ster, whose
word is as noble as the dirt on the bottom of a chic"en's feet. !hy should ( belie)e you?
Gor: +ecause you must. +ecause you "now dee down inside a tric"ster would not wal" into the middle of
a ride5 (pointing to the warriors behind #ugo)5 unless the words he had to say were more imortant
than his life. %es 4atego it (S about the rohecy.
Ougo: (2alms down and realises the matter is sensitive) (To the warriors) Are you daft as well as dumb?
7ea)e us$ (#nce alone) (t is this rohecy you say? (t is this rohecy that brought you here?
Gor: (6eeling he finally has the upper hand) !hat ( saw5
Ougo: (-eminding 5or of how the world works) ( "now what you saw, 4atego's eyes reach father than you
can imagine. ( heard what you said, ,ugo's ears hear the wind from the other side of the earth. %es -or
Mahia, renowned magician, +wach wang(e tindo mang(ang(a ma lekene boyo to chonge obam, ( heard you
sout your garbage to the masses. ( ha)e heard this rohecy. %ou want to "now what ( thin" of it? !hat (
really thin" of it? 7ittle girls are scared of thunder, small boys run from sna"es, but shadows are not scared
of light$ Donge? %ou ha)e a rohecy and ( ha)e an army, let us see which has the might. !e will soon find
out. So you can get out and ta"e your life and your worthless rohecy with you$
Gor: (.tanding and being very sarcastic) ( guess this will be a )ery short meeting then.
Ougo: %es it will. The more eole you scare, the more eole come to me for rotection with tribute, on
hands and "nees. ( don't belie)e a word from your tric"ster mouth$ .ot from your mouth alone at the )ery
least. !here is a second witness? !hy has no other great air of eyes seen your )ision?
Gor: %ou ha)e enough eyes, but a second air of eyes you will ha)e as well> by the name of ,lonana, the
li)ing 7aibon, who saw it while sleeing under a 7oisi/o tree5
Ougo: The muling baby has barely any hair on his chest. His )isions may as well be a song by one of my
wi)es, or worse yours.
Gor: (Ignoring the insult) And a third that you !(77 in fact heed.
Ougo: !ho?
Gor: The 7ady of the 7a"e, Anyango .yalo"a. She herself saw what ( saw$
Ougo: (&ffected but not caving into emotion) %ou mean to tell me you saw that witch and li)ed to stand
here.
Gor: That 0witch1 deser)es her resect$ 9all me tric"ster as much as you want but if you say witch again as
far as she is concerned, 4atego will *uic"ly learn what befell my brotherBinBlaw. (The two si'e each other
up in silence, but 5or wins the psychological match and speaks first concealing his irritation in defference)
5ot ma rateng ti ma kochung( e korot to iparoni <sssortcurt(. The iron sna"e will come uffing its smo"e
and the men with staffs of fire will come with it.
Ougo: So your wise counsel is to let it ass or gi)e it a bed.
Gor: &o what you must but don't fight it. The bodies of these men you treasure, yes ( can tell that they are
your ride, but their bodies will bleed on the ground fighting a futile fight5
Ougo: .ot an otion$ !e fight, we ta"e, we wrestle demons and e2crete death$ !e5
Gor: %,: are men, and you bleed li"e the rest of us. %ou won't get close enough to wrestle these ones
4atego.
Ougo: All the better$ ,ur sears can do the fighting$ ,ur arrows will dance in the wind.
Gor: The fire from their staffs will mo)e much faster.
Ougo: That's what our shields are for, hide tough as our willower.
Gor: The bigger the shield the harder the fall. &on't thin" your shield is big enough to rotect your head
and your legs
Ougo: ,ur shields ha)e rotected us for battle uon battle> from hell to hell.
Gor: 4atego, ( am not coming to you as a ri)al but as a brother. !e were born from the womb of this land.
4emember that$ &on't throw away the greatest warriors before Migosi comes$
Ougo: (6or the first time he takes these words into proper consideration) !ait for Migosi? .ot fight? !ill
my men die in )ain? ( should as" myself this. %ou are right$ !ill there be a better time to ta"e u our
sears?
Gor: %es thin" on these things, ,ugo 4atego, sibuor othorong(ong(o ma jayang opuk.
Ougo: +ut -or Mahia in a gamble between the un"nown and the #arungu5 (Turning away triumphantly
to look at his 0imminent1 victory) my money will fore)er be on the ride of my warriors, my blood
brothers. ( ha)e gi)en them fame and renown and they ha)e not failed a battle yet. This ride has sread our
great name u to the borders of the #aba"a. !e will reel the demons$ (/ooking back to 5or, fist clenched)
!e will remo)e them and remain li"e we always ha)e. That is the true ride of the #arungu.
Gor: Pride$?$5
Ougo: My mind is set Mahia, that is my final decision$
Gor: ( say, ride?$?5
Ougo: THAT5 is my decision. (t is final$ And for e2tra measure, ( will let you li)e to see the true ride of
the #arungu tear down your rohecy$ .ow lea)e before ( change my mind. (9aits) .,!$
Gor: (5etting up to leave in a state of e*asperation) (f ( cannot change your mind ,ugo, you would benefit
from some ad)ice$
Ougo: Ha$ Ad)ice, what ad)ice great magician$
Gor: Shields$
Ougo: (s that all?
Gor: (In a solemn and deadly serious voice that will shake #ugo to the core) Build bigger shields 6o
Karungu$
:"*eunt. /ights out. 6irst &ct ends. => minute reak4.
S$N$ 7
The peacoc% o0 $anyam&a: This is my home
8This scene takes place in 5or $ahia(s homestead. -eru, 5or $ahia(s third wife is beating mai'e in the
mortar, wiping sweat off her brow every now and then just to show how fatigued she is. -eru(s past
boyfriend, #gego, still jilted and pained from the fact that she left him for 5or $ahia, walks in e*tremely
drunk4.
:9hen Nyachira, 5or $ahia(s second wife, hears the drunk man coming, she sneaks up guessing what
will follow ne*t. .he knows the routine. -eru does not notice her presence neither does the drunk. #nly
the audience does. .he is eavesdropping and enjoying every minute, cherishing each piece of information
she gets4
Ogego 6 (enters singing a funny nursery rhyme to the rhythm of the mortar and pestle not noticing -eru(s
presence at first) 4eru? !ololo$ 4eru is that you? So this is what they ha)e made you? %our arents sold
you off as a sla)e to this -or Mahia man mondo giloki jatich dala?$ayiee, ma to tek manadini? And for
no bride rice e)en? 4painfully and staggering) %ou mean you left me to come and ound mai?e in this
jajuok(s home? Ha)e you no ride woman? (tries to whisper more dangerously but still e*tremely drunk5
Ha)e you no &(-B.(BT%?
)eru6 (ve*ed and unbothered) ,-8-,$ !88 T:-, -( PA9HA$ A.-', MA9HA.&(? !hat has gotten
into your head today5@ust loo" at how filthy you are, ( could smell you from a mile away. 4&sks the
audience while pointing the pounding mortar at #gego5 (s this the man ( was suosed to marry? The
)illage drun"ard? The man who has refused to mo)e out of his mother's house and to build his ,im(a? The
man whose hobbies include sharing /o"es and laughter with flies and sea"ing to don"eys and straycats at
the mar"etlace? (back to #gego) 2hoke$ ( would be rather sold to -or Mahia or any other Mahia for that
matter, a thousand times o)er before ( marry you. ( would ha)e lo)ed you, but you decided you wanted to
ma"e busaa your first wife.
Ogego :(Defeated like only a drunkard can be) 4erummmhhh5 %our tongue is still shar and cuts e)en
deeer nowadays. 7isten here eh? And listen well. %es, busaa may slur my seech, may e)en ma"e me wal"
funny and may yet e)en ma"e me sea" to things that normally don't sea" bac". Surely isn't the alcohol
you arta"e of 4eru, a far more lethalbrew? %ou drin" of the ot of denial, 4eru.Thin"ing that -or will
notice you someday, and maybe e)en, lo)e you. (n reality you are a nobody in this hole that is already full.
)eru: 8threatening with her pounding pestle, but a hint of denial since she knows he speaks the truth)
,gego, you drun" fool. 7ea)e here before my husband returns. The last time a boy let his cows stray into
his farm, oor little ,tieno was sent bac" to his homestead as a cow himself. ( wonder what he would do to
a fully grown man he caught tormenting his wife?
Ogego: (walking away) Point of correction. His T)I-D wife.And 4eru, whether you li"e it or not you are
/ust a )isitor in your alleged 0home1. !ealth you may ha)e but that true hainess that one feels when they
lo)e deely and /ustly, and they are lo)ed in return5that, you will ne)er ha)e.
(E6its)
)eru: 8 distraught, continues chasing after #gego with the pounding pestle9 &&II N&&&&&&&&&&! Dok
dalau! -o bac" to your home you drun" fool$
:Nyachira, who was secretly watching,then comes up to -eru, pretending that she only just appeared)
Nya!hira: 4eru, 4eru.8)er hard wor"ing, e)er industrious. -ood girl. -ood, good girl. .o wonder
-or married5
)eru: !hat do you want .yachira?
Nya!hira: (feigned woundedness) 9an't ( /ust want to "now how my coBwife is fairing? (s it a sin to
care? %ou hurt me, 4eru.
)eru: Mmmhhh5this a wonder that will surely last nine days.
Nya!hira: !onder5nine5what?
)eru: %ou caring about anyone else other than yourself is li"e rain in #a/iado. !hat brings you here
really, .yachira? !hat honeyBsweet gossi has brought the sna"e from her ca)e?
Nya!hira: 8sarcarstically9 4attle a sna"e, 4eru and be ready for the )enom. After all, ( am not the one
in)iting drun"ards and e2Blo)ers to the5
)eru: Ahah$ The enemy of the guilty is fre*uently their own tongue. Ha)e you now been romoted
the bitch of the home, bar"ing and sniffing at all who ass by? -o bac" to the shadows that you li"e
hiding in and lea)e me alone$
Ogego6 (.taggers in briefly from the opposite side of the stage) 4eru ( am sorry. %ou are all ( want. (
should..n't say those things. 3BfBfBfBfBforgi)e nyathi. ?aye$ 3orgi)e me. %ou want me to sing for you? 7i"e
we used to (egins to sing mindlessly)
)eru6 (Threatening him with the pestle) A((((.AAAAAAA$ ()e scampers off)
Nya!hira6 ("njoying every humiliation and and stifling a laugh) 4eru yaye, you would do well to
remember that you are a )isitor in this home.And /ust as you found me here, so shall you lea)e me here
(spits in symbolic curse). %our /ilted lo)er was right you "now. %ou are s*uee?ing yourself into a hole that
is already full. %et you ha)e guts to stand before me and5
)eru6 7oo" at you .yachira, foolish good for nothing barren as the5
Nya!hira: Hahaha5Pooo$ %aye5barren? The rao dares call the anguro fat. How many children do you
ha)e you lifeless gra)e, chea as dirt,"noc"B"need beast. Dok dalau 4eru. This is not your home, this shall
ne)er be your5
)eru: (.lowly losing her cool) !hen ( last chec"ed, this was -or Mahia's home, not yours.
(.creaming) And ( ha)e had enough of your5 (raising the pounding mortar to hit Nyachira who
quickly grabs it as well and then they are involved in a shouting match and tussle)5
)eru: 78TTT -,,,$
Nya!hira: .,$ %,: 78T -,,, 94AC% !(7& A.(MA7$
)eru: S.A#8$
Nya!hira: !H, 388&S ,. 4ATS 7(#85
("nter $ikayi accompanied by her subjects and servants)
Mikayi6 JOWA+ !HAT (S A77 TH(S 4A9#8T? (.he walks in, they are slightly shaken, both dropping
the mortar. 2hildren walking with $ikayi run ahead and pick it with the pestle. .he shoos them away)
7ea)e me with my coBwi)es.
Nya!hira: (.arcastically to the audience)(n struts the eacoc", fluttering her wings forgetting that fools
rush where angels fear to tread. (6aces $ikayi) Through which hole did you now enter? #ee to your
house Mi"ayi. #ee your nose in your business.
Mikayi6 (-eally trying to maintain her temper) .yachira, ma to 1alana$ This whole homestead is my
house. ( wal" where ( lease. ( tal" howe)er ( lease. (t would ser)e you well to remember that all this
business (gestures at the two of them and the situation at large) is my business. And you .yachira, ha)e
you no shame ic"ing on this young girl? Pic" on someone your own si?e.
)eru: (comically reiterates, a sob in her voice, drawing a glare of slight irritation from $ikayi) %es. Pic"
on someone your own si?e.
Nya!hira: ,h ( would, and gladly so, but unfortunately, all women married into this home seem to be
redisosed to either high le)els of idiocy or an unnatural intensity in the witless sector.
Mikayi: (.he crosses her hand sneering, preparing for war) ,h is that so .yachira$ (& curious silence) (t
shoc"s me each time how you fight for something that was ne)er yours, .yachira. Such wasted energy.
Such wasted effort.
)eru: (.lightly more cheerful that Nyachira is suddenly getting attacked) %es$ Such wasted effort.
(&nother look of e*asperation from $ikayi)
Nya!hira: %ou "now,what really shoc"s M8 is how you fight for something that you already lost,
Mi"ayi. &o you go to bed at night as"ing yourself what it is that you did wrong? That made -or decide
he wanted a second wife? (.neers4 And e)en a third? !hat is it that you lac" that ( ossess? ( got a iece
of that ca"e too. And mar" my words. Soon enough, ( will ha)e it all.
Mikayi: &reams come in )arious forms, some in the form of delusional thin"ing. %our threats ne)er
scared me e)en in your youth when -or Mahia was enchanted by your beauty, Nyalego. A thing of beauty
is a /oy fore)er, but from the loo"s you are a faded glory. %our threats didn't scare me then, they do not
scare me now, for in this hosital of lo)e, ( /ust haen to be the night nurse. %ou both found me here
.yachira, and if it wasn't for my consent, you wouldn't e)en be here in the first lace.
)eru: ("ven more fanatical and enthusiastic that she isn(t the one being picked on) %8S$ %ou wouldn't
e)en be here in the first lace. ($ikayi gives her another look, now slightly shocked)
Nya!hira: Men are as old as they feel women as they loo",and from your loo"s5hehehe5 %ou sea" of
faded glory yet my greatest grandmother, Ai1ha manoi1ho yien, loo"s a thousand times better than you.
-or is not yours Mi"ayi. -or was ne)er yours. (Thumping her chest) -or is marwa. -or is ours. And soon,
-,4 will be mine.
Mikayi: .yachira, M% husband is my honeybee as ( am his flower, and we will climb the hills together as
we )iew the beautiful glittering crystalline curtain of driing diamond drolets fall from the s"y, as we
fantasi?e5 and as you tantali?e.(&ddressing both of them) %ou both fight for something that is not e)en
yours nyie%ena. How can the toothless grandfather scramble to eat the roasted cob?
Nya!hira: ( loo" at it differently, Mi"ayi. My lo)e for him is what ma"es me fight for him. ( don't "now
about the half wit though (casts a dirty glance at -eru who sticks out her tongue at her). 8n)y is but a
different shade of adoration, a green one. Perhas you ha)e lost your lo)e for him. (%retends to be deep in
thought and reaching the realisation) ,r5Perhas5 has he lost his lo)e for you?
Mikayi: (&lmost scoffs but hides it using a half laugh4 My coBwife, lo)e is not an item that can be lost
and found as one leases. 7o)e is a seed, lanted and growing from the heart into a tree bearing fruit. ( &
hinted mockery4 .yachira, ( am yet to see your tree bearing fruit. And maybe you missed my oint
earlier. ( as"ed you both, why you fight for something that is not e)en yours. #$)5A#S ( shouldn't
ha)e minced my words. ("mphasises each word) ( do not need to fight for what is already mine.
4eru6 (#verly e*cited almost losing breath) %es$ ( do not need to fight for5($ikayi gives here a sharp
glare cutting her mid sentence;but she still rushingly whispers through the sentence comically) &hat7is7
alrea1y7mine$
DO$ DALA* starts at this point, with 5or sneaking up on his three wives as they are lost in the
competitive song.
Gor Mahia: (applauding) The eacoc" yet flutters her wings. The secretary bird yet stams her feet in
ride.
Nya!hira: (interupting and ignoring the compliment to $ikayi) 2huora, ( ha)e made your fa)orite meal,
a meal deser)ing of a chief, a ruoth li"e yourself, my husband.
)eru: (scoffing) That oison is what you call a meal. -or, if you would li"e to slee with thunder in your
belly, then you would be wise in eating her food tonight.
Nya!hira: (t may be oison, but at least my mother taught me how to coo" it.
)eru: !hat are you trying to say, .yachira? Sea" oenly not in riddles.
Nya!hira: All ( am saying is that erhas you should go bac" to your5
)eru: MA%+8 O* SH,:7& -,5
Nya!hira: !H% A48 O* SH,:T(.-?
)eru: ( AM .,T SH,:T(.-. O* A48 TH8 ,.8 SH,:T(.-.
Nyachira and -eru are now having a shouting match, possible improvisation allowed or might as well be
scripted, while $ikayi and 5or $ahia watch, slightly dumbstruck.
Mikayi: (9ith authority and shocked judgment) S(78.98$ (2ontrastedly soft spoken) %ou shall eat my
food tonight, wuod ,gada.
:& brief silence in anticipation of gor(s remark4
Gor Mahia: Mi"ayi has so"en.
:-eru and Nyachira e*it still mumbling and grumbling arguments to each other4
Mikayi: %our mind. %our thoughts are )ery far. (%uts her hand on his heart symbolically)%our body may be
here, (Touches his forehead, and he shies away as if trying to hide something from her) but your sirit and
your mind are far far away.
Gor Mahia: ( am one of the greatest wi?ards in luoland. ( ha)e the ower to in)o"e the elements at whim.
( inherited (ilo ma ratipo from my grandfather, the great wi?ard ,galo .g'in/o. ( can e)en change into
whate)er ( lease. And yet, ( cannot e)en hide a simle thought from my wife. Mi"ayi, you worry me at
times.
Mikayi: Then that is a good thing, for as long as you worry, then ( "now you shall come bac" to me ali)e.
7et us go eat.
4E6eunt5
S$N$ :
The scene opens on a celebratory mood, A8ANA 8A WAN"A is sang, displaying the 9anga
subjects as well as the ritish soldiers accompanying )obley, the ritish Imperialist. The place is
the kingdom of the Nabongo $umia, a great warrior with many servants and a si'eable following.
Narrator: .abongo Mumia is currently engaged in what he does before any big ceremony.
Scared that eole would realise how much he doesn't "now, he ma"es sure that before e)ery big
e)ent he holds a ceremony where he is a /udge. He listens to the bigger s*uabbles and acts as
defence and laintiff's lawyers as well as /udge which leads to some ridiculous conse*uences. The
eole, will not laugh at the emeror's new clothes
Nabongo6 (To the 0clerk1) 9all out the neeee2t case$
lerk: 9row. 7et us see who will get the ear of Mumia D," who is ne2t? 2ome,on$$E.
(2horus of people say 0#mukhundu #mukhundu1 trying to get the clerk(s attention)
Nabongo: %u there.
;illager %: ,mu"hundu this man5
(& villager comes forward along with another who looks completely dishevelled and out of sorts)
Nabongo: %es *uic"ly how long do you want to "ee my guest waitng? (.peaks to )obley) %ou
see we ha)e a system$ ( sort there roblems and they follow suit. -ood eh?
5obley: (.omewhat interested) 4eminds me of something bac" home.
Nabongo: ( don't thin" so. This is my brand of rules. 9omletely ,4(-(.A7$ Thought it would
ma"e the occasions much better. (To the villager) 8y$ 9ome on$ &on't /ust stand there with that
your mouth oen$
;illager %: ( am here for my brother. He was ta"en two nights ago (Nabongo repeats a bit taken
aback 9Ta%eeeeeen+ T&o nights ago:). %es$ TA#8.$ ("*aggerating) ( am sure actually it was
for three nights$ They too" him to ma"e him tell where he hid some s"ins.
Nabongo: And where is he now?
;illager %: He is here$ (/ifts his brother up, looking dishevelled and distraught) 7oo" what
they did to him$
Nabongo: And his s"ins?
;illager %: He is wearing them right now$ ($umia bursts into solitary laughter. The court takes
the cue and laughs along with $umia)
Nabongo: (.uddenly snapping out of his laughter he addresses the second man as if he e*pects
an honest answer) 8H88888888? So? 9an you tell this grateful assembly of your brothers and
sisters what haened to you? (rother mumbles) ( cannot hear you? !hat are you saying
(rother mumbles even more unintelligibly) ,ooh. ,"ay. (Turns to his advisor) !hat is he
saying?
;illager %: (Tries to salvage the situation) ,mu"hundu they too" the hide from its lace and
ha)e con)inced him to ta"e this one instead.
Nabongo: Theeeeeeeey?? 9an you tell us right now who they are? 9an you? Hmm?
;illager %: That man o)er there$
Thief: (.tands up completely appalled) .o ,mu"hundu, this is the one ( had before. ( got it from
my own hard wor". ( bought this one from the fool of a man, how can he offer it and me not ta"e
it ..abongo how? &idn't my clansmen see me. All three? Ma"o"ha, A"huno, Samia, they saw
me. !,( he is a 7(A4$
Nabongo: (&s if they have stumbled on some big point) Ahhhh, then he has witnesses and you
ha)e noBone. !ill they come and say the same?
Thief: %es he is a 7(A4. (-evels in his triumph)
;illager %: +ut loo" at his nose$ (sn't it ointed li"e the one of a thief.
Thief: (Indignant) !HATT$$$ My father had the same nose$
(Nabongo e*amines his nose and in it starts to find fault)
Nabongo: 7oo" its true. 7oo" ()e tells the clerk) /ust as croo"ed as e)er. -o see$ He must also
ha)e bums on is head$
Thief: (Doesn(t believe clerk is coming towards him to check) !HAT$ &on't touch me$ ,f
course my nose is croo"ed$ %es$ They beat me with stic"s. (.hows $umia his under arm4
8)en on my buttoc"s (Is about to show but $umia stops him)
Nabongo: .o ( belie)e you. Howe)er5that your croo"ed nose betrays your heart. +y the way,
do not thin" .abongo does not ha)e an idea, or a clue. ( ha)e dealt with eole with croo"ed
noses. So be careful of the ne2t thing you say. ( will not abide a thief or a croo" infront of my
guests honour.
Thief: (Trying to go slower) +ut ,mu"hundu. ,mu"hundu how? How could (?
Nabongo: %,: T877 M8$$$ Show me you are not the thief. !here is this other hide then?
:.ilence4
Nabongo: ,"ay$ ( will decide in this matter then$(The rest kneel) ( find that this man although
he may not ha)e been there has a nose so long it can smeeeeeell your dinner from hours away.
This we "now is a sign that you ha)e itchy hands. ("veryone nods appreciatively) ,n the other
hand, the man's brother was not there to hel family from
being robbed. .ot there to hel his brother in his time of need? =ery serious$ ( say, now loo" at the
results. !e must always rotect the family. And as .abongo Mumia ( will be the rotector of
e)eryone's family. So ( order you (points at 7illager =) to gi)e to him ( points at Thief) ; cows.
,ne will be mil"ed for me e)ery month so that ( "now this tric"y fellow with a long nose does not
go bac" to his busy hands. And for good measure you5 (points at Thief and pauses for effect) will
come here e)ery sundown and let the man you most robably stole from sit on you li"e a chair.
Hard labour$ That will teach your croo"ed ways better.
(The crowd agrees somewhat unenthusiastically)
5obley: @o"ingly and so it is ordered dated this dash day of dash nineteen dash,
Nabongo: (/aughs heartily and then stops to look at the people gathered) !ell? -,$ -8T
,:T$ .o more today. !e shall ad/ourn till tomorrow. (& number of the group e*it the stage
and Nabongo turns back to )obley). How did you li"e that? Power$$ Tasty eh?
5obley: (8nfa'ed) mmm5 %es.
Nabongo6 .ow Hobley, listen here. .othing waits in the south but a rough land. ( can get you
the /ewels of the area. ('m the one who has "et them hidden
5obley: ,h? !hat /ewels?
Nabongo: A large one to the west. 8asy lunder ( say.
5obley: (No response)
Nabongo: Hobley, my friend, there is nothing for you in #anyamwa. %ou ha)e
e)erything you need here. !ould you rather go foolishly sightBseeing instead?
5obley: (t would not hurt to ma"e a slight detour, you "now.
Nabongo: ( did not want to tell you this, Hobley. +ut this -or Mahia, he is a strange man with
strange ways. They say he is a wi?ard. They say he aears in many forms. Animals. ,ld
women. Mammoths. +irds of the air. They say he blows fire from his mouth. They say he can
sing rain. They say5
5obley: They sure do say a lot of things. &o you belie)e in them? &o you belie)e he is a wi?ard?
Nabongo: Pfft$ ( belie)e that if you stay here, then you will reach the +aganda #ingdom much
faster. ( belie)e that with my hel we can build an emire li"e 5 li"e5
li"e one of those 4omans that you li"e sea"ing about so much. ( belie)e in what ( can see
Hobley, not rumour that ( hear. And right now, ( can see that you ha)e already made u your
mind to go to #anyamwa. (t may all be rumour, but ( also belie)e that eole tend to all agree
on one thing. He is a strange man. And strange men are often dangerous men.
5obley: %ou are a wise man Mumia. %ou see things that other men can't normally see. ( will heed
your caution. +ut ( must sea" to this en)oy from #anyamwa. Arrange a meeting.
Nabongo: This -or must be a truly owerful wi?ard. And his magic lies in the maniulation of
wea"nesses. 8secially those of men. ()e is lost in thought) The meeting shall be arranged,
Hobley. The girl is always the beginning and end by the way. +aganda are only a beginning... ()e
walks away leaving )obley pacing up and down)
5obley: &id you say the girl? (To self) &id he say the girl? So this is where ( end u? This is
where ( find myself, after thousands of miles tra)elling. !ho called this the dar" continent? A
corner of the world truly.+ut dar"? .othing dar" here, e2cet maybe what we don't "now. And
what ( don't "now is )ery little now. &ar"? Maybe ( should be more weary of what ( don't
understand. This -or Mahia erson, ( "now too little about him. ,r is he really as good a tric"ster
as ( thought he was. ( wonder what the 9has would say. They are robably "ic"ing a ball around
somewhere. ( wonder what they would thin" of this $ahia of Africa. ( bet they would say ( don't
get aid enough.
&emale Gor: ("ntering from his blind spot) &oes that mean we should ay you some
more.
5obley: (& bit startled) !hat is it with eole in this damn country. 9an you not announce
yourself before wal"ing into anywhere. (.tarts noticing she is quite attractive) !ho are you,
girl?
&emale Gor: ( tried to announce myself but you were busy tal"ing to yourself. ( ha)e no money
but for a serious 0odiero1li"e you ( can ay you in /oy. 9an ( ay you in a riddle?
5obley: ( beg your ardon?
&emale Gor: %es$ !hen eole see me they run. ( fly but ha)e no wings and
e)erywhere ( want to land will turn red. !ho am (?
5obley: (5enerally irritated and getting impatient, but still checking her out) !ho are you,
girl?
&emale Gor: A girl? (/aughs sublimely) !rong try again$
5obley: ( really don't get aid enough. ( am lea)ing girl. Tell the chief that ( will find -or
Mahia on my own (Doesn(t leave but keeps staring at her)
&emale Gor: =ery good, you must en/oy loo"ing then, because you will be loo"ing for a long
while.
5obley: He can't be hard to find girl$ ( ha)e struc" thrugh /ungles thoroughly more
comle2 than this. And ( ha)e...
&emale Gor: Alright sir, but if you oened your eyes and ears you would "now that the minute
you lea)e you will be lost. (5iving him eyes) (t might ma"e you feel better and not tal" to yourself
anymore. (n my culture, when eole start tal"ing to themsel)es it is a sign that the roblems of
the world ha)e become too great for them.!hy not answer my riddle mister sir?
5obley: !hy not ha)e someone dri)e a sta"e through my eye. (/eaving) !hy should ( answer
anything of a reBubescent child?
&emale Gor: (#ver,e*aggerating her stupidity) Pre ube5 ( dunno what that is sir but ( will
as" -or Mahia when ( see him.
5obley: (6inally catching up) So (laughs) he sends a girl to tal" to me. %ou are the en)oy?
&emale Gor: ( only "now what ( "now mister sir. A riddle can be as good as ayment, and a
messenger can be as good as the erson sending it.
5obley: That, child, deends on the messenger. (f he sent you here he is either
cowardly or cle)er. .ow show me which. !hat is your message?
&emale Gor: He thin"s the same about you coming to .abongo Mumia and not to the #aba"a
who seems to be stronger. +ut what do ( "now. ( am only a girl.
5obley: (-eally checking her out now) Then meeting him will be )ery interesting indeed.
&emale Gor: (%outing) .ot if you cannot e)en answer a simle riddle. And by the way if your
eyes go any further ( might ha)e to ma"e you go cra?y.
5obley: ($ore to himself than to her) (f my eyes go any further ( /ust might go cra?y all by myself.
(2lears his throat) %ou are enough of a riddle on your own.
&emale Gor: Mister Sir$ %ou better sto loo"ing at me li"e that or you will miss the message.
()obley doesn(t hear) Mister sir? Stay where you are$ Sto loo"ing at me li"e that. (.o
resonse) Mister sir?
(.he sings a song, WEE "A RAN"A, to get )obbley to stop looking at her. The other beautiful
and female envoys sent along also join in getting )obley flustered and confused)
5obley: Sorry$ ( do not "now what you are saying$
&emale Gor: %ou are hoeless mister sir (.tarts leaving)
5obley: !ell you aren't much of a messenger. %ou still ha)en't gi)en me the message. ( do not
e)en "now how ( am to trust you.
&emale Gor: And you ha)e not answered my riddle. The message is this6 Another three moons
are climbing u the ri)er of time to us before you shall meet the true -or Mahia. The sirits will
commute then between our day and their day and the ancestors will wal" our land. !hen this dar"
moon comes to )isit its children, enter #anyamwa from the smallest ri)er. 9ross it where it slits
into two and climb the hill into the dar" forest. There will be three stars to guide you. 3ollow them
to the to of the hill. 4emember to the to.
5obley: !ait$$ ( don't "now who you are$ How do ( belie)e you or trust your
information?
&emale Gor: (Turns back channelling the real 5or for this moment. )er voice becomes 5or(s as
both she and 5or say these words, darkness and ominous music with witchery rife in the air) ( am
-or Mahia. 4emember three moons from now. To the to of the hill. !ait for me there (/eaves)
.cene closes with )obley confused and shaken.
S$N$ <
The spirits o0 the mi1night march: The 0irst meeting
The scene opens on adense forest. Night has fallen and the crickets sing as the nocturnal hosts seem to be
plotting scheming and wailing for good measure. This part of the bush is particularly ominous. In fact it
was chosen by 5or $ahia for that particular purpose. It is a place where the spirits must pass. It is a place
for sombre reflection and great power. 6or this is a gate between the present and the afterlife. It is a place
where the spirits commute. 6or +anyamwa it represents something even larger. This is where +anyamwa
might be able to turn the ritish around finally. The ritish have their own reasons and ideas either way.
This is the beginning of the final stand and 5or(s real fighting chance.
In comes )obley bravely cutting through the brush
5obley: The cunning git robably thought that the crown's en)oy would be scared to come alone$ (t's a fine
ic"le ( ha)e got into
& small boy :the spirit of young 5or4 runs past him laughing joyously and startling him. )obley grabs at
his composure and calls after the boy.
5obley: Hell? !ait5 hello$ !hat in hea)ens is going on here$ (Declaring himself quite sternly to no one) (
shall not be made a fool of$ (f this is your lan to ta"e me to the madhouse you ha)e not rec"oned the ower
of the *ueen's emissaries.
Gor: :2oming up from behind4 Madhouse? That sounds li"e somewhere they ut eole li"e my friend
Mumia
5obley: :.tartled but maintaining his stiff upper lip4 %ou are the great magician ( ha)e been hearing about.
Allow me introduce myself. ( am the en)oy of Fuee5
Gor: .o need for introductions, ( "now more about you than ( need to "now. 82cet who this 0Fueen1 is. A
medicine man of some sort?
5obley6 .othing of the sort. H84 Ma/esty is a great leader5
Gor: !ell she is welcome here anytime, although ( wanted to tal" to you instead.
5obley: :&lready aware of the power,play in his constant interruptions4 She than"s you although if ( may
sea" for her, there is nothing much here for her to come see e2cet some bushes and flowers.
Gor: %et you stand here with me under the cold fire of the moon, during the march of the sirits of
midnight.
5obley6 ( stand here because you as"ed to meet me. (.ilence) And so you ha)e. (f there is nothing more5
Gor: !here is your great iron sna"e that sits smo"e?
5obley: !hat?
Gor: :.miling and guiding )obley with gestures to look around4 This lace is a secial lace. My
grandfather told me that this is a lace where the waters of the afterBlife mi2 with those of the resent day.
.ights li"e these are a commute for the sirits to come into the world, and sometimes for us to wal" in
there's. (sn't this something you were interested in.The so called 0magic1 of #anyamwa.
5obley: Sir, the only magic ( belie)e in is science and religion$ ( will admit ( ha)e been curious. %ou ha)e
a5. strained reutation among the eole around you.
Gor: %es? %ou thin" ( ha)e a reutation?
5obley6 All ( ha)e heard is rumours. 4umours that you can disaear into thin air and turn into animals.
Gor: :/eaning on his staff4 (mressi)e rumours$
5obley: !here ( come from they would hang a man for that$
Gor: (6eigning great fear and surprise4 Wololo, ( thin" then where you come from should stay where it is
and ( will stay right here.
5obley: They are but rumours> ( now see they are comletely unfounded as well. ( must lea)e to attend to
other matters.
Gor: :.ays a strange chant and taps his staff4
(Ho(ley turns to leave and sees and is met by the sight of an old stooped man walking slowly. )e has an
aura of magic around him and the ambient music tells of the same. )e is in fact a rain merchant that can
buy and sell rain4
Gor: (&pparently happy to see the old man) Ja1uong$ !here are your children to hel carry you today?
:@aduong mumbles unintelligibly4 &o me one fa)our Ja1uong. :@aduong mumbles and nods no4 @ust one. (t
costs neither of us a bargain. @ust lay your instrument, the thunder, for my friend. (To )obley) 4ain
merchants lo)e that. :@aduong continues leaving seemingly unmoved by the request4
5obley: 4ain Merchant? So much for you magic eole of #anyamwa, the ne2t time ( hear a 5
:.uddenly there is a large peel of thunder and the Ja1uong shakes himself and laughs a dead laugh4
Gor: Than" %ou Ja1uong :@aduong leaves4 Sorry ( couldn't hear you. That is a 4ain merchant, ( wanted
you to meet him.
5obley: &on't tal" nonsense.
Gor: ( ha)e called a few other friends from the other side :& group of ladies come in dressed in flowing
material. They hesitate at )obley and at the sight of 5or run away4 Sirits of the forest, ( ha)e bothered
them one time too many when ( was younger, but ha)e you seen how beautiful they are. :The air is filling
with weird sweeping noises, cackles and giggles and animal calls4 A &eath merchant comes. !ould you li"e
to see one? :& deep bu'' begins to be heard like the humming of a thousand men. Its rising getting closer4
!hat do you want to see 5obley? !hat you will see here will change your eyes fore)er$ 3or TH(S is the
witching hour.
:They sing WA2H EN J*O$! The chorus plays the part of the various spirits 5or is invoking. 6ireblowing
men, eautiful nymphs, 9i'ards and witches all teasing )obley as the song goes on4
5obley: :.till somewhat composed, stiff upper lip ever maintained4 8nough$ :)um4 .o$ (n the name of the
Fueen of 8ngland you will sto. (s this mas*uerade meant to be a threat?
Gor: :8sing his newly acquired superior bargaining power4 .o threat 5obley. @ust a *uestion. !hat do
you want here in #anyamwa?
5obley: !hat ( want here is beyond the li"es of you to understand.
Gor: 5obliyo, would ( meet with you if ( did not understand. (sn't all this because of our mother the la"e?
5obley: :.tifling his ama'ement4 !ell done$ ( guess you "now what you want to "now.
Gor: That is all ( "now, but why is the la"e imortant enough to ma"e you carry your giant sna"e all this
way, blueBeyed demon? That ( don't "now.
5obley: !e are not demons. !e are merely merchants and friends bringing good news. 9ome listen to our
reachers, there is a lot you can learn.
Gor6 My friends carry chic"ens to my house not shar iron$ .or do my teachers.
5obley6 The fact of the matter is that there are ri)ers bigger than you can imagine and wonders that you
cannot belie)e. Towering houses taller than the tallest tree. And they deend on your la"e. !e ha)e signed
treaties with them. They are now friends with the whole world. !e are their friends and we can ma"e them
your friends to.
Gor6 !hat we ha)e to gi)e is what am afraid of. !e will not gi)e it easily Hobley, "now that$
5obley6 :/osing his diplomacy at this thinly veiled refusal4 7oo" at my boots, -or Mahia$ This hide is
much stronger than your s"in, and ( ste on it all day. THAT is a threat.
Gor6 !e ha)e our land, it will rotect us because we "now it well and it "nows us. ( am not afraid
5obley6 And we ha)e the machine gun that can uroot you from this land li"e stray hairs %ou tal"ed of the
great steel sna"e. Ha$ %ou don't e)en "now what it can do.
Gor6 After the things you ha)e seen here do you want to start war Ho(li7yo?
5obley6 As" yourself the same *uestion. +ullets, my friend, cut through sirits as well as s"in. This is as far
an inchas ( will gi)e you. 9ease or you will be e2terminated. That is what comes ne2t.
Gor6 %ou would go so far? %ou would bra)e angering the sirits of our ancestors?
5obley6 ( !(77 &, !HAT M% 9,:.T4% AS#S ,3 M8. 7ong li)e the Fueen$
Gor6 S, !(77 ($ :They both square up but 5or has been fighting too many egos. )e is clearly losing here.4
5obley6 %ou interest me -or. ( gi)e you this one chance. &esite the fact that you somehow tied of ,ugo
4atego and his goons, and turned them to hate us before they could e)er hear us. Thin" uon my offer for
eace, but "now that time is short. And soon the #arungu will fall. After such )iolence against our eole
this same bargain will.not.be.easily.ST4:9#$
Gor6 :/eaving albeit defiantly4 The #arungu are stronger than you thin" 5obley you. Much stronger.
5obley6 -ood, they will ma"e for good ractice and rearation of my men.
Gor6 And your men good ractice for the magic of #anyamwa$
(Gor 82its)
5obley6 :.till facing as if watching "or leave4 %ou can come out now dear. He is gone.
)eru: (2omes in timid and weary but aching to hold Ho(ley. .he begins to run to him then stops midway4
!hat am ( doing?
5obley6 %ou ha)e already done more than you ha)e to. So why are you so afraid?
)eru6 (Nodding an apprehensive even terrified nod to no,one but herself4 .o, no, no. ( can't do this
anymore. (t feels wrong. ( must go, ('m sorry. (.he turns and heads out)
5obley6 -o where? After ( ha)e taught you so much? -o then.
)eru: (.tops hurt) &,.'T5 &on't say that$ &on't be cruel. My loyalty lies with my eole.
5obley6 (6inally turning to face her and walking purposefully towards her) +ecause they ha)e done so
much for you$
)eru: Please. %ou don't understand$
5obley6 ( do not? .o? Then why ha)e you stoed flying little bird. (5rabbing her by the arm) !hy are
you still here?
)eru6 ('m going, this is too much for me.
5obley6 (-ighteous indignation) Then lea)e$ -o on then$ +ac" to your dirt and disease little bird$
)eru6 (.laps him) T5AT is my home you are tal"ing about.
5obley6 (/aughs) 7oo" how bra)e you ha)e become little bird$ How can ( lea)e you here?
)eru: %ou always say 0How can ( lea)e...1 Nye0+ ("*asperated) !e both "now you will ne)er come for
me. %ou are too busy with your guns, and your men and your orders from this chief so far away. ( thin" you
lo)er her more than you lo)e me.
5obley6 ( lo)e my country5
)eru6 And ( lo)e mine.
5obley6 !hat if ( told you ( didn't come here for -or Mahia? (.he stops) (%ause for effect) !hat if ( told
you that ( came to ass a message to his little bird? (.ilence) 9ould you gi)e that message to the little bird?
)eru: &on't you lay with me. &o you "now what you are as"ing?
5obley6 ( do. but in all fairness you as"ed me first. (n e)ery loo" you ga)e since we first met. All ( as" now
is that you be here, at sunset, G days from now. !ill you? (.ilence) 4eru?
)eru: Shhh$ &on't say anything more. ( thin" you should lea)e right now. !ho "nows who is listening.
5obley6 #ee your romise little bird. (egins to e*it the stage) ( will "ee mine.
()obley e*its leaving -eru alone)
)eru: (.ombre and wary) ( will "ee my romise, my lo)e.
(-eru e*its. /ights off)
(The room is filled with the sound of coughs and moans and muttering as the narrator chimes in)
Narrator: The ancestors had been aggra)ated. Their wrath as swift as it was, wal"ed ast the door of
5obley and landed in the la of the little bird. 4eru's illness was agonising. She did not last long. And her
lo)e disaeared into the ether li"e a deleted sms, or an Mesa withdrawal,
hay as long as it was resent but soon used u and only remembered as history. !ho "nows what games
fate lays? -or Mahia and Hobley, for whate)er reason fate had chosen to bring these two together again.
More and more Anyango's rohecy began to ta"e shae.
(The scene opens on a clearly mourning )obley looking distraught and ga'ing far into nowhere. "nter 5or
$ahia)
5obley6 Stay away from me.
Gor6 %ou too" her in life but she is ours, return her body. 4eturn her to me. 7et me bury her according to
our ways.
5obley6 %es you who were too wea" to sa)e her. %ou didn't come when ( called but you come to beg now.
Gor6 7isten5
5obley6 ,h am done listening to you$ .ot this second, hour, day, wee" or month. .o, not this year,nor
decade,nor century. %ou can count on that -or Mahia$
Gor6 She is of #anyamwa5
5obley6 Then come ta"e her from the guards, but "now that we are not at the bargaining table.
Gor6 ()e begins to break down) Ho(li7yo, 7et me bury her. 7et me bury my wife.
5obley6 .o. Anything else? Then get out$ She will remain mine till the end. .ot ours. 9an you bring her
bac"? !ell can you?
Gor6 (Timid and tired) .o5.. ($ikayi rushes in to 5or(s side seeing him about to collapse with Nyachira
following close behind.
5obley6 .o$ !ith all your ower you cannot. (Not himself) ,ur -od brought his son bac" from the dead.
9an yours not do this for you? .ot e)en your magic? .o? .othing? ("ven more out of himself) Try to "ee
it down though. ( hear your "ind tend to ha)e )ery noisy funerals with men crying all o)er the lace li"e
women5 ()e knows this is going too far) and little girls?
()obley e*its and 5or sings RER*, ;*NERAL )AR2H)
Nya!hira: (very smugly) -ood riddance$ After all, did she not ma"e the sou herself. 7et her drin" it. 7et
her lic" it off her lis. &id she not insult -or Mahia? 7et her now feel his wrath and ower. 3oolish
girl.Ser)es her right. S"iing from one home to another li"e a hare on5
Mikayi: (.laps Nyachira, cutting her statement. leaving the latter dumbfounded and speechless. In a deadly
whisper) &o not sea" ill of the dead, you fool. And do not sea" ill of my husband either.
-or Mahia would ne)er use his ower to bewitch one he once lo)ed. &o you not see him hurt? (f ( could, (
would ta"e 4eru's lace if that would sto his tears.
Gor6 (shocking them both since they did not know he was listening) Mi"ayi, !ere .ya"alaga still has lans
for me. And all haens for a reason. !ere also "nows that your death would result in mine.
S$N$ =
The secon1 Death: The &eight o0 a cro&n!
The scene opens on a celebration. It is an auspicious occasion with 5or at the centre, still sombre from the
first death, and weary of &nyango Nyaloka(s prophecies. The whole area is ceremony as they are all decked
out in full splendour awaiting some sort of ceremony. 5or is on an elevated dais, $ikayi is sat ne*t to him
and to his right there is an empty seat. 5or $ahia is resolute. /ooking far into the distance as $ikayi
intermittently stands to straighten 5or(s head dress and other accoutrements. .he is nervous and restless.
.he feels something dangerous is on its way.
(In comes a servant)
Mikayi: +ring some water. Are you thirsty husband? +ring him something to drin". Ha)e the )isitors
come?
Servant: They ha)e not been seen.
Mikayi: -o find out. @ust chec". (.ervant leaves) ( want this to be done with husband, *uic"ly.
Gor: (&s if coming out of a trance) They are here wife, this will be done with but not today. There is so
much more to come wife$ There is so much more to come$ ( wish it wouldn't.
Mikayi: That is why ( am here, chuora. ( will stay ne2t to you always
Gor: Some laces you cannot go Mi"ayi. Some laces you should not go.
Mikayi: There is no lace that your heart can hide from mine.
Gor: (.miling at her bravery) .o there isn't, chiega.
Mikayi: !hat is wrong? Tell me$ (9hispering loudly) (s this because of Anyango .yalo"a? &id
she say...
Gor: Sshh$ Here comes the Fueen's man. (.tands up to receive his guests)
(In walks )obley with a small but well outfitted entourage singing R*LE #RITTANIA)
Gor: (2ordial in an obviously strained manner) %ou are finally here. 7ateness is not usually your ortion.
5obley: (2old but diplomatic) %es honourable chief of #anyamwa. My aologies !e were attending to
certain (clears throat) urgent rearations. Am glad that you made a wise choice. !e ha)e the rele)ant
aers here (e*tends his hand and a member of his entourage hands him a sheaf of papers). Her ma/esty is
glad to ha)e a friend on the continent and this treaty is your aointment as H84 Paramount 9hief, your
grace.
Gor: +ut her messenger seems5. wary. Am sure the aers are fine. 9ome. ed ka! Sit, sit$ Ha)e
something to drin". !e bring our minds together that way here
5obley: %es your grace.
Gor: !e shall do it in here, the crowd is scaring your men.
5obley: %es your grace.
Gor: %ou aren't an en)oy, Ho(li7yo. %ou are a wellBtrained soldier. A few days ago you were5
5obley: .o need to bring that u, your -race. .ot on such an ausicious occasion.
Gor: (/ooks deeply into )obley) %es. Ausicious. .o more of this your grace. !hat's your rocedure? !ill
you not drin" first.
5obley: Than" you your grace but we must sign this while still sober that is the law around here5
()esitates and clears his throat) ardon. ( mean that is the law. !e should do it with a clear mind. %ou call
your witnesses and ( will call mine.
Gor: My witnesses are here
H
, and yours. +ring your words and we shall be done.
5obley: !hy the woman. !here is her brother. Shouldn't 5$ be a witness?
Gor: He was attending to some (clears his throat to mock )obley) rearations that were aurgent. They will
be more than enough
(They sign and e*change papers. &nd shake hands as people leave with the papers and ululations begin.
They slowly die down)
5obley: (Taking out his pipe) #ee those aers safe. %ou can always show them should someone come by
and *uestion your authority.
Gor: My authority comes from the eole singing outside, not from any aers, not e)en from the stature of
my birth. (t comes from who ( am. (t is gi)en to me.
1
Authors note: Choose any other person here but one of the witnesses must be Mikayi. One of Hobleys
should be an priest or missionary
5obley: (-estraining his indignation) (ndeed, by the singing eole. !here is that man who leads the
#arungu? %our brotherBinBlaw?
Gor: ,ne sna"e rears its head, what is the other sna"e to do? After all, all that a sna"e "nows is to fight, for
food and for sur)i)al.
5obley: (-hetorical) !hy does this lace fight at e)ery turn? (To 5or) %ou need to bring him in. This will
not bode well, and we might need his stabilising force in the area.
Gor: &on't lay games with me Hobley. ( "now e2actly what it means now. (t means more blood on the
ground. %ou /ust want more.
5obley6 ( don't want anything. The emire has its needs and you ha)e agreed to hel$ (.itting back) %ou
fear death don't you?
Gor: !hy should ( be afraid of death Ho(li7yo?
5obley: +ecause you do not "now for sure what haens? 3or a mind of your calibre must surely ha)e had
its doubts. %ou fear death -or, you fear it and the obli)ion within it.
Gor: 7et me as" you this, Hobley?
5obley: %es?
Gor: Are we afraid of birth?
5obley: !ell, ( wouldn't say so but5
Gor: So we would agree that we do not fear birth e)en though we ha)e no clue as to what haens before?
5obley: !ell yes, but you see5
Gor: Than" you Hobley, in other words, we should not be afraid of what we do not "now. 7i"e before
birth. ,r e)en, maybe, after death. ( do not fear death, Hobley, for in the un"nown beyond, the concet of
fear may not e)en e2ist. ( do not fear death. .ot once. .ot .ow. .ot e)er. 3or death does not disturb the
dead, And in death e)en death dies, And /ust as we must li)e to die, so must we die to li)e. ( am a ri)er,
finding my way bac" to the 7olwe, ( am ,mieri the ython, swallowing its own tail. The earth is not an
inheritance of our fathers, nor one for our sons.1
5obley: ( wonder what the eole of #arungu would ha)e to say about that last art. !ell you are in
charge now.
Gor: (.lightly shaken) Hobley sea" oenly. %ou ha)e not been a man of )eiled threats so far.
5obley: !ell -or Mahia, let's /ust say this. 0!hate)er haens, we ha)e got, the ma2im gun and you ha)e
not.1 Ha$ So many eole ha)e to die -or Mahia, before you can accet the ine)itable. So many eole5
(%auses slightly) So be it. ()obley puts his pipe in his mouth and approaches 5or $ahia to a nose to nose
distance, as band plays build up music and goes suddenly silent, and in a menacing whisper says) The la"e
will run red with #arungu blood -orMahia. The )ery earth will be soa"ed in it. And all that blood will be on
your hands. ()obley walks off.)
Gor: ( hoe they made bigger shields.
(.tage goes darker. The owl, Tula nyangor, starts hooting, a leitmotif of death The battle of the +arungu is
played out. #*NDE )*O2H $AR*N"* is sang at this point. .houts are heard from backstage, and
moans. 5or $ahia, still in his ceremonial garb is haunted by their screams as men Athe dancersB run onto
the stage and are immediately felled by the bullets. They fall to the ground around the newly crowned
paramount chief. )e cannot take this onslaught on his mind. &s song comes to an end, The Daughters of
Death threaten 5or $ahia with DAN2E O; THE DEAD I, but he is victorious)
8.arrior %: To the 7a"e 4un to the la"e
.arrior (: &on't run, hold %our -round$
.arrior /: They are all dead$
.arrior %: To the la"e it +:4.S.
.arrior (: !e ha)e been lead to our deaths. 3ight men.
.arrior /: TH8S8 !848 .8=84 +A+(8S$ TH8S8 !8'48 &8M,.S$9
Narrator: & dirge to #ugo, T* L* L*>
( &s the war comes to an end 5or looks round him at the dead bodies at his feet)
Gor: (5rievously in pain) The second death. (t is too great Anyango. (t is too great$
(#nce done $ikayi(s .houts come from backstage. .he is looking for her husband who has been
conspicuously missing from the feast)
Mikayi: Husband? !hat is wrong? ()e looks unsteady from the vision he has just hard and grabs on to her
hand to steady himself)
Gor: !hy are you not at the celebration. !hy are you here? The guests5
Mikayi: (t is already o)er. Ha)e you been here the entire time? &id you see something? (5or looks
desparately at her and then his eyes drop, unable to face the grief of his wife that is about to come) !hat is
it? ( ha)e ne)er as"ed you of anything chuora. +ut ( as" you this. ( beg. 9huora. Tula
nyangor is singing her dirge once again. ( cannot bear not "nowing. :se your sight. Tell me what has
haened to my brother.
Gor: My lo)e, ( cannot bear to tell you what has haened. ( will show you instead what my mind sees.
A(0O*"O WA*A"I1 is then sang as the utter destruction of the battle is now shown to the audience,
carnage and death all o)er, and the DAN2E O; THE DEAD II is done at this oint, where -or Mahia
beseechs the dead to rise and go bac" home. ,nce the dance of the dead is done -or finishes with one last
solilo*uy)
0There are things hidden in the dar" recess of the Al"ebulan night. &eath and hainess, light and magic, it
is all magic maybe. Maybe that's /ust the name we gi)e to things that neither you nor ( can e2erience until
we "now them> until we "now where they are hidden. Those are beautiful things6 things that you understood
when you had the innocence of a child and no bar to feel the earth )ibrating through you. That is what (
"now, and maybe, in our secret laces, that's how we all feel. Maybe that is what waits for us when we
finally die. Maybe, /ust maybe, that is the feeling that ne)er ends.1
S$N$ %?
$ysterious sounds surround this pivotal scene. The owl(s hoot intertwined with the soft
whistling of an ominous wind. It all sounds faintly like a distant warning that the events about to
take place do not bode well for our hero or the people.
hara!ters:
Anyango Nyalo%a
Otuoma Ja%a(&ayi
Onyony Ja "em
$agose Wuo1 O1em(a
Oyamo O1i1i
Ouru' the (lin1 ser-ant
Narrator: The ri)er that is life and time stos for no one. All good wi?ards "now this. All brilliant
wi?ards ha)e "nown this from before there were ancestors to loo" to> from before the coming of
the sna"e and its merchants of death, from before one could tal" to one's "in on a lastic tablet,
"in miles away in lands that seem li"e dreams. (t mo)es for its own urose, and their ends can
only flow along with it. Somewhere in #anyamwa, I greats sit down to a feast. .ot of beef, or
fish. Today they feast on a strange meal. They will drin" it down with )engeance. !atch them
reare for the feast$ Here they are.
!here is our hero to answer to this council of the damnable? 7oo" and listen, friends. The
council is con)ened. There is *uorum. +ut li"e any commission of in*uiry, the outcome of
in)estigations has already been determined long before this meeting.
Onyony 6agem: :/ooking &nyango in the eyes4 My friends, seeing you all here is a terrible sign.
( "now death is near.
Otuoma and Kaguon: (Together4 !here is -or Mahia?
Kagose: ( ha)e seen many things in my life but ne)er a chameleon such as -or, glad to change
colour and ne)er hesitant.
Anyango: :with a knowing look4 ,h$ Has he done something that we should "now? +efore
you say anything, you men must remember to salute our forefathers5
Otuoma: 5 and mothers
Anyango: :8nflinching4 +y con)ening the council roerly.
They all agree and stand. In unison they perform the opening ritual, a strange but beautifully
mysterious ritual. They sing )A "OTIEND )A,I2HE.
Anyango: Moss5 moss5 slowly. The night has /ust began. And ( don't care to turn another
night runner into stone. (t gets boring. Am sure ,didi would li"e to get some food to his rats.
%es ,didi ( "now you ha)e a lot of words fighting in your mouth
Odidi: He has not listened to5
Onyony: :/aughs4 (t doesn't seem that eole li"e us do much listening. Maybe we should
ha)e brought some brew and he would ha)e come carrying it
Anyango: A summons is a summons. !hen the council calls we call for *uorum.
Odidi: The fool$ &oes he want to test whether we can5? (Stos with the words half in his
mouth)
(& brief profoundly knowing silence)
Onyony6 HalfBfinished sentences are a curse to the tongue and the heart, esecially here.
Odidi: (f someone stole my rohecy, too" my birth right, snatched my owers and then made a
fool of me, ( would not be much of a man :or a woman, or whatever she is4 if ( /ust lic"ed my
wounds li"e a wounded thuon.
&nyango begins humming as if to drown out her growing anger.
Onyony: Thuon1e don't fly rat man.
Odidi: .o, you don't either, do you? 3rom what ( hear coc"s li"e you don't e)en ut u a fight.
:)e looks away to some distant memory4 from what ( hear thuon1e such as yourself let your
magic be sied away through a straw. Sssssssoooo. @ust li"e that. ( wonder :turning his head to
#nyony4 can you e)en heal a fart now. (t must be hard to sit for a beer with that weight on you.
3inish him
And you ,tuoma, Mas @aganda. How is your son? %our brother in law has so much lo)e for
him that he confused his mind to show this. The whisers whiser that now when boys
wrestle, he wrestles for a different reason. 8nd him.
Migori Ma@a Turi is sitting here acting li"e he doesn't need his owers. As if he only let them be
borrowed. &on't you "now the same straw that fell on your friend, ,nyony's beer?
And .yalo"a the sweet5
Anyango::interrupts4 ( don't need to hear what haened to me. ( was there.
Odidi: Hein$ Still bitter? A seer's behind can tell how angry you are. %ou "now, the way the bush
is tal"ing ( would ha)e thought e)eryone was there.
Kagose: %ou didn't do any better idiot. And you ha)e been had more times than the bush can
sea" of.
Odidi: +ut ( am ready to do something about it, e)en though ( am only a mere rat "eeer.
Onyony: Sea" lainly5. 4at "eeer. Anyango has a tendency to ta"e away tongues when she
gets imatient.
Odidi: Mmmmmh, ( remember what she did to ,ugo. Poor young man, cried for hours
Kagose: Then she got tired of his crying, and ga)e him an o)ersi?e one.
:urst into a roar of laughter. &nyango glares at them while her attendant looks worried4
Odidi: :composing himself4 The day has come to end him for good. !e can ta"e our rohecy
bac". Ta"e our owers out of the hands of that5 that5 that madman. -et bac" a little ride.
(f that still means anything to you. &oes that mean anything? Anything at all??
Onyony: So we should ma"e the sun set before its time? 8asy to say. +ut who will do it?
Kagose: Accidents haen you "now.
Odidi6 All the time Ma @a Turi. All the time.
Otuoma: (t's so hot in here. The door$ 9an it be oened$
Onyony6 (t would ha)e to be something owerful if it were to wor". Are we ready to ut all of
oursel)es into this one act? &o we ha)e a choice? +ecause ( now we can all see it. This is as
certain as the sunrise and sunset. He will die. ,ur souls once gone will ha)e to answer for it, to
e)ery ancestor that has gone before us. !hat will !ere .ya"alaga, The ,wner say, ( don't "now.
Odidi: &isatching "in to the ne2t world is no laughing matter. +ut if a tree falls in the forest
when no one is around, does it ma"e a sound?
Otuoma: ( cannot listen to this. ( "now something must be done but should ( be one to "ill my
"in. The air in here is too thic". ( can't breathe.
Onyony: ( will do it,it's my time$
Odidi: Am the only one bra)e enough to s"in the leoard$
Kagose: ( must get my owers bac". 7et me go$
Otuoma: ( won't$ ,uru oen the door$
Anyango: S(78.98$ (t shall be ,didi. (t always has been his lot. (t's my time manadi$ $schew$
,yamo, you got the sell ready didn't you? ( heard you from where ( was going into the secret
lace. The forbidden lace. !hat did they tell you? (#yamo makes to speak) ( don't need to "now,
it is you who will do it. .o more games. Tongues are not the only things ( can shrin". ,uru bring
my staff. Fuic"ly$ And water from the ot. %ou will need some of our owers, won't you?$
Otuoma: (standing up in defiance) (BwillB.,TBbe tric"edBagain. My owers ( am not
gi)ing to anybody$
Anyango: Sit down, -oat. &o you thin" one who cries ri)ers needs your ermission to ta"e
what she wants?$? %ou are grass ( ste on. ( already too" what we need from you.
(#uru comes back with &nyango(s staff and a calabash of water)
Anyango: -i)e the calabash to ,tuoma before he turns to roc". As for the rest of you, when
you brought your staff's in they resonded to the wishes of mine. %ou ha)e all you need ,didi.
-o$ &o what you must, do it well. :5ets up to leave4 !hat does !ere .ya"alaga say?
:2huckles4 The ,wner !ere .ya"alaga? 7oo", he has already tied the ot. The ot falls. The
ot will brea". :reaks into a cackle4 The ot will brea"$
Narrator6 the end came li"e the stri"e of lightning. Sudden, merciless and una)oidable the hero
was sent to sha"e hands with his fathers, fore fathers and e)er watchful ancestors.
#anyamwa cried red tears, for alimb had been torn. She cried because those truths so"en from
Anyango's tongue had finally come to ass. G deaths had she rohesied. &o you remember,
friends? Three boo"s had been declared closed. 4atego was no more and -or's belo)ed was lost
to #aya the Answerer. Three deaths and then5. The un"nown.
+e stable #anyamwa, be strong$ The first wife has not let her tears flow yet. Her wal" is true as
the ot on her head. 7et not the water sill from her head. +e solid to suort her feet, or brea" the
ot.
Mikayi: !hat are you doing, my lo)e. &on't lie here. +reathe. 9hange into something. -or5.
-or? -or$ -or lease, anything. @ust be ali)e. +reathe. (The others approach) -8T A!A%$ -et
away, let him gather himself, gi)e him some room. !hat are you doing sleeing there? !a"e u
you$
!here were you all? Hee? !here were you when they "illed him? &on't /ust stand there. Tell
me$ T877 M8$ ,h -or$ :reaks into incomprehensible babble4 !hat ha)e you done, .yachira?
!hy weren't you there to rotect my husband? 7oo" what they did to him$ 9ome bac", lo)e,
lease change into something that is here, with me$ 4eru, you witch$ %ou betrayer$ !hy can't
you lea)e him here with us$ !hy??? -8T A!A%$$$ ,r ( will see you all dead. ( will "ill
e)eryone of you.
Old .oman: /ing( nyamama. /ing(. -or has gone to be with his ancestors.
Mikayi: ( said STA% A!A%$$ :"motion overtakes her. & pindrop silence envelopes before she
lets out a heavy wail from the depths of her sorrow4
Nya!hira::$oves in closer4 Mi"ayi5 we5 -or is5 :$ikayi beckons her closer and together
they weep for 5or in "OR )AHIA, LA)ENT4
(6rom behind them, 5or(s basket shakes and out of it comes the child 5or. )e is the ghost of 5or
$ahia, a piece of his spirit still left in this world. )e is here to pass a message to the world, and
to the people who cannot see him. )e is here to remind them that the magic cannot leave
+anyamwa. None can see him, e*cept for $ikayi)
Ghost of Gor:
0There are things hidden in the dar" recess of the Al"ebulan night. &eath and hainess, light and magic,
it is all magic maybe. Maybe that's /ust the name we gi)e to things that neither you nor ( can e2erience
until we "now them> until we "now where they are hidden. Those are beautiful things6 things that you
understood when you had the innocence of a child and no bar to feel the earth )ibrating through you. That
is what ( "now, and maybe, in our secret laces, that's how we all feel. Maybe that is what waits for us
when we finally die. Maybe, /ust maybe, that is the feeling that ne)er ends.1
(#nce the child(s agenda is completed the song TERO #*R* plays. & song to honor his death.
It is interrupted by &nyango Nyaloka who enters midway through the song)
Nya!hira: %ou$ !hy are you here? Must you laugh at our misfortune?
Anyango: (/ooking surprised) 7augh?
Nya!hira: He came to see you, didn't he? -or told me he had some trouble. .ot to do with that
white demon.
Mikayi: He is dead now. My husband is dead. &oes any of it matter?
Nya!hira: He had something on his mind. !hat did he tell you?
Anyango: Tell? Me?
Nya!hira: ST,P &,(.- THAT$ !hat did he want to "now? !hy couldn't he tell
Mi"ayi? !hy couldn't he tell me?
Anyango: ( don't ha)e time for coc"roaches li"e you, second wife.
Mikayi: How about some li"e me? He came bac" loo"ing sad. 7i"e his shoulders carried
a tree trun". ( ha)e ne)er seen him so disturbed.
Anyango: ,h? Me ( thought you had /ust said it doesn't matter? Ha)e you changed your
mind? &o you want to loo" into my eyes and see the terror -or saw.
Mikayi: (acking away) ( am .,T afraid of you witch$ %ou won't scare me away.
Anyango: ( won't scare you? 4eally?
Nya!hira: %ou ma"e e)erything mad. All of you do. %ou cant do whate)er you want, you can't
/ust5
Anyango:( ha)e done whate)er ( wanted in the ast and ( will continue to do whate)er ( want.
(&pproaching 5or(s corpse, she leans ne*t to his lifeless body) ( am not #aya the Answerer so
as"ing won't do you any good widow. Nye nyenyenye all day long. !hy don't you /ust as" me
the one *uestion you want to "now? (.he goes into a trance like chant)
Mikayi: %ou were ne)er friends.
Anyango6 (.tops her chant for a moment) So what?
Mikayi: He was your enemy and you were his. !as it you that "illed -or? !as it you that
dirtied the sirits of your eole with the blood of an innocent man?
Anyango: (ursts into an eerie, insane bout of laughter. &s soon as she composes herself4 .o (
wasn't child. His death had long been in the stars, li"e his father's, and his fore fathers before
him.
Mikayi: That isn't an answer.
Anyango: A storm has no reason to answer the mud on my feet..
Nya!hira: %ou could ha)e stoed it couldn't you?
Anyango: .o ( couldn't. ,r maybe ( could, either way it did not haen that way.
Nya!hira: (In a loud,angry whisper) 7iar$$
Anyango: 3irst wife, if your younger wishes to ha)e her tongue and body arted, tell her ( will
gratefully do it.
So many fools you left me with, -or. !hat did you thin"? &id you imagine that he was yours
Mi"ayi? &id your dreams tell you that he would be yours fore)er? He was not a laything. (s that
what you thought?
Mikayi: (-esigned silence4
Anyango: #kumu 5or $ahia wuod #gada nyakwar #galo dhoklufund Ng(injo, listen to these
children bic"er as if you were a dog tied to their leash. -or was not yours @oB#anyamwa. -or
was not of the white babies. -or was not e)en of his own. ,"umu ,gada -or Mahia was
MA).A, (thumps her chest) and will always be. ( come here not to mourn my ad)ersary, but to
mourn a man whose greatness shall ne)er die. !ill my tears melt away all the anger? !ill my
grief witness your courtesy? ( resected him in life. ( shall mourn him in death. 3or e)en -od
rumbles in sadness today for a man so great. The earth is not an inheritance of our fathers, nor
one for our sons.
(Tero #uru continues with the three of them singing together as a trio)
Anyango: His body will be missed but the ,im(a where he stays now is more glorious than
e)er. ( will lea)e now. There is nothing left for me here. 3ollow the words of your chief.
-enerations will say whether or not he was innocent. 8)en this blind child here can see that,
although she sees more than most. 9ome ,uru$
(.he leaves in haste. lind #uru trails behind her)
Mikayi: !ait5 wait$ !ill ( see him again?
Ouru: (.tops and turns to answer $ikayi, and the audience. %ause for effect) !hy as" the
*uestion? Ha)en't you seen him already? !al"ing right in front of you?
Mikayi: (Too shocked at #uru speaking...hesitant and afraid) !ho are you?
Ouru: ( am ,uru, the blind who sees e)erything. +ut in another body they "now my name as the
holder of the answers, the one who sea"s to the seers. #aya, they call me. !e shall see each
other soon, first wife. 7oo" to your husband
5for now.