Olusi, HISTORICAL NOTE

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Olusi, Part 1
by Tunde Akingbade

HISTORICAL NOTE

Jayin was one of the Kings of ancient Oyo Empire in Nigeria. He was described as an effeminate and dissolute man, who had women of different and strange characters in his palace. Having been tired of his bad reign, the people shifted their hopes and affection to Olusi, his son. Jayin thought that Olusi was trying to usurp his powers. It was at the heat of the father’s hatred for his son that Jayin caught Olusi in an embrace with one of his numerous wives. He did not forgive him. He clubbed Olusi to death and lied about it to the Chiefs.

Characters

JAYIN		KING
BASA		Messenger
EBEWI		Faithful wife
EFUMI		Imbecile wife
OJURI		Prostitute wife
ABEKE		Thief wife
OPEKE		Gossip wife
OLUSI		Prince
POET
OTOKITI		Ojuri’s lover
FABIYI		King’s medicine-man
SPICE - SELLER
SIX CHIEFS
DRUMMERS
CROWD

Prologue

VOICE BACKSTAGE:

In the days of ‘Olugbon,’ the people of Oyo paraded themselves in the empire and bloated like Kings and Princes. In the days of ‘Aresa the situation was the same. But now, things have changed. Things have gone sour that Oyo Empire is presided over by an effeminate and dissolute king - Jayin. Now, the people are yearning for a substitute.

(The chiefs stroll in one after the other into the palace to meet the Head Chief who is already waiting. They greet him and shortly after call on Basa who is asked to tell the king that the chiefs are waiting for him. As Basa goes away, the chiefs are discussing. Basa comes back to tell them that the King is not in the mood to see anyone. The chiefs are stunned. They ask him to go again and inform the king about their presence. He comes back again with the same astonishing news that the king is not willing to see them. Basa goes away. The Chiefs now grumble as they sit expectantly. Basa returns and wonders aloud why the chiefs are still waiting.

The chiefs shrug their shoulders one after the other and walk away)

Act One

Scene One

(The play begins fully with the entry of Jayin into the palace. Basa closely follows. A flautist blares his instrument to signify the presence of royalty. The King sits down and surveys the surrounding for a moment).
JAYIN:		The spider was calculating on its web.
		The Gecko was aiming on the wall.
		We shall soon see who is faster, wall-gecko or spider.
(Stands up)		Once, the baby-frog though stupidly
		That she could jump higher than the father.
		All the forest animals gathered in the forest.
		They were singing;
		Opolo jumping, Akere jumping jumping.
		Opolo jumping jumping, Akere jumping jumping.
		They jumped.
		Gbosa! Gbosa! They heard.
		What happened? (laughs)
		The baby-frog broke her thigh.
(Pauses)		It is a foolish son that thinks he has more rags than the father.
(Ebewi enters, kneels)
EBEWI:		My lord, what do you want to eat?
JAYIN:		Ebewi, the faithful one. Just prepare any good food.
EBEWI:		All right my lord. I will do your wish.
JAYIN:		Where are my other wives? Or has Ojuri gone away as usual? I’ve not seen her since morning.
EBEWI:		No, my lord. We are all in the palace.
		I even saw Ojuri as I was coming into this place.
JAYIN		Basa, go and call all of then before Ojuri disappears.
(Exit Basa)
JAYIN:		Ebewi the faithful one.
		Come closer, that I may touch your hair.
		(She moves closer. Jayin runs his fingers through her plaits)
		Who plaited it for you?
EBEWI:		Taiwo, the hair weaver.
JAYIN:		No wonder. It is very good. Take these two cowries for the hair. This is how faithful wives like you should be rewarded. Unlike...
(Enter Basa and the other wives. They greet the king.)
WIVES:		We are here my lord. We hope there is no trouble in land.
JAYIN:		I’ve called you so that thee won’t be any trouble in my palace in particular.
		It is a simple problem and I want all of you to follow my instruction strictly.
		Candidly, I must confess to you that I do not like the manner you all conduct yourselves in the palace.
		In short, my reason for calling you is to tell you that henceforth, there shouldn’t be any quarrel amongst you.
		As a result of this, I do not want to be closer to any of you than the other.
		So, you women should all see me in the order of seniority.
		Do you all understand me?
WIVES:		Yes! We understand my lord. And we shall follow your instructions strictly.
JAYIN:		This order will be according to age.
		The most senior wife should see me first on a Monday.
		Others should follow orderly until Saturday when I will take a rest. I won’t tolerate all of you coming to me at once as if I can be in more than one place at a time.
		Do you understand this Ojuri? I know you as a complainant.
		And I’m tired of all these wrangling.
		Do you understand me Ojuri?
		(Ojuri is already boiling. She steps forward and places both hands on her pelvis. She begins to shake in protest)
OJURI:		Me, I’m not bothered. I’m less concerned.
		And I do not see any reason why the attack should be directed towards me as if I'm the only King’s wife.
		No, I shan’t agree. I shall resist to the last.
		I won’t take this from anybody.
		Not even you my lord. I shall resist.
JAYIN:		What is this Ojuri? Or has something disrupted your system.
		Or what have I said that warrants your abuses?
		What sort of nonsense is this?
		This is rubbish.
OJURI		All that I am saying is that they should leave Ojuri alone. Ojuri hasn’t killed anybody’s child.
		I am practically alone in the palace. I do not want to be involved in these talks.
JAYIN		Can’t you all rescue me from her?
		See the way she is talking to me as if I’m her equal.
(Throughout the discussion, Efumi is either laughing hysterically to all whatnots at intervals or fidgeting with her hair).
OJURI		I’m not abusing you my lord. All I know is that when it is my turn, I don’t want others to disturb.
		Let them stay away from my area.
		Even if I do not see my lord often,
		I’ll still........
		(She is briefly lost)
(Olusi enters, followed by the poet. The palace is quiet, They observe OLUSI as he walks away.)
OJURI:		(Stammers) I will still…. keep… keep away.
		and I mean...it.... that I will still keep away.
JAYIN:		That’s not the point. What I’m saying is that I do not want any trouble in the palace again.
		I’m tired, tired and tired of all these nonsense.
OJURI:		As long as they keep to your policy my lord, there will be no problem.
JAYIN:		My point is that you still see me in order of seniority.
		Ojuri, follow my instructions. It is you who had previously disrupted the plans.
(To another wife)		And you Opeke, they spotted you yesterday, very early in the morning at the market in company of some other women. You are always roving like one who ate the legs of a goat. Did you go there to gossip again?
OPEKE:		No my lord, I did not go there to gossip.
		And besides, I’ve changed these days.
		I do not gossip again. I only say what I see with my naked eyes.
JAYIN:		Incredible statement. You have really changed.
		But what then is the business between you and Oriaran just this morning at the same market where you were eating bean’s cake.
OPEKE:		I only went there to pay for the spice I bought. Or did they say I did more than that? Because I know that they are always trailing me as cats to rats.
JAYIN:		But from what you have just said, you are now a debtor. This is another malady in my palace. I know you are getting promotions daily.
		Gossip of yesterday, debtor of today.
		Opeke, as from today, I will hold you responsible for all the secrets that leak out of the palace.
		And I will not spare you. Abeke, the hawk. (She shivers)
JAYIN:		You have always made me wonder how a woman could combine childbearing and rearing with stealing.
		It is quite unimaginable and the highest level of, irresponsibility. Do you understand?
ABEKE:		(she shivers) Yes, my lord. I will change. Just give me enough time.
		I’m still thinking about how to change.
JAYIN:		Hear her. You are thinking about how to change.
		All right. I pray that the gods teach you how to change.
		But my advice to you is that you should think about your seeds that they might not take to stealing.
		Do you understand?
ABEKE:		Yes my lord, I’m trying daily to stop it.
JAYIN:		But you know it takes time to stop a habit.
ABEKE:		I’m trying my lord. I’ll change one day.
		Time, time, that’s what I need.
JAYIN:		I know, but I’m warning you.
		Many years ago, a woman who never cared to train her children had her ears slashed off by one of the children as he was being led into the jail.
		Openly, he accused the mother for being responsible for his stealing. Abeke, pray to the gods that you won’t have your ears cut off.
		It is you that they will hold not me.
		I’m just the father. Not so?
ABEKE:		Thank you my lord. I will change. Previously, I thought it is a game.
JAYIN:		You can all depart. I will send for you if I need you again.
(Exit the wives)
BASA:		My lord, things are happening in this palace.
		The whole place is full of funny characters.
		And they don’t seem to give a damn about their strange behavior.
		May the gods have mercy on them.
JAYIN:		I wonder why this is so. I have liars, prostitutes, gossips and debtors. Any man seriously looking for such characters should consult me.
		And currently, my own son, my first child is plotting against me.
		May the gods never give him a helping hand.
		May they never grant his request.
BASA	:	You must be very powerful my lord. To preside over these women is not an easy task. They are problems not only to the palace.
JAYIN		Lest I forget......
		Basa, go and call Fabiyi, the medicine man for me. He ought to be here by now. I wonder what is happening.
(Fabiyi walks in with bags full of charms hung on his shoulders. He breathes heavily under the yoke of the bag).
BASA:		Oh! Here he comes with his bag full as usual.
JAYIN:		Fabiyi, the custodian of all the herbs.
		Fabiyi, one-who-plucks-herb-and-plasters-it-on-a-wounds-to-make-medicine.
		I hope your body is sound.
FABIYI:		Kabiyesi, it is you I greet. I’m very strong.
		We never meet a diseased bird in the nest.
JAYIN:		Basa, you can excuse me, I will later send for you.
		And make sure no one intrudes on my privacy.
		(Exit Basa).
JAYIN:		Fabiyi, how do we go about it? We must do it as quickly as possible. My ears are already full.
		But the gods have not given them any opportunity to destroy me.
		I swear they shan’t succeed.
		Fabiyi, my enemies are multiplying, and I’m feeling degraded. I’m feeling ashamed.
		Fabiyi, what shall we do before they plot against me?
FABIYI:		My lord, you can sit on that small stool and leave the rest to me.
		Whoever is plotting to attack you will be disgraced.
		I swear, if the person, either man or woman enters this town in the afternoon, will leave hurriedly at midnight.
		(Beats his own chest) I have said it.
		The gods are listening.
(Jayin sits on a small stool in the palace. Fabiyi brings out a small gourd from his bag of charms. He also brings out a blade from his garment’s pocket. He begins to recite some incantations. The king is ordered to stretch his hands. He stretches and Fabiyi begins to incise marks on his body carefully before applying some powdered medicine from the gourd.
At each cut, the king slightly groans with pain. Shortly after, he bows his head while Fabiyi carefully cuts seven times and later rubs in powder, chanting):
		Come to my aid spirit of the forest.
		Rescue me the inhabitant of the woods
		Ifa Oracle, if you answer me in the morning, I will reciprocate.
		You will triumph over wizards and witches that wish you evil:
		And cover them up with earthen-pot

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