| Far
away in Oyo. The messengers continue to drag their feet. They look
worn-out but never relent. |
| MESSENGER
II: |
This is the place. Our fathers dinned and ate here. |
|
The junction where three roads meet. |
| BABALAWO: |
The junction? Look man, an appeasement ought to be at the
foot of Ajaka hill. There the ancient palace lay. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
Where’s the hill? |
| BABALAWO: |
Not far. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
Hope things work out. |
| MESSENGER
II: |
I hope so too. |
| BABALAWO: |
(groaning)Oh! Aches. All over… and my joints are getting weaker. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
Sorry old one, we shall soon be through. |
| MESSENGER
II: |
Old age
isn’t achieved overnight you know. |
| BABALAWO: |
You were right my child. For many years… |
|
I’ve struggled with this nasty rheumatism. But it kept on
coming. |
| MESSNGER I: |
(tries to aid him)
I hope you brought along your medicine. |
| BABALAWO: |
Thank you my child. I did. I understand myself. One who
doesn’t understand himself has some chronic tortures upstairs. |
| MESSENGER
II: |
But old one, you are still agile and look strong
except…probably for the… rheumatism. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
Yes. He is. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
Are there some secrets? |
| BABALAWO: |
No secrets. Simple. I do not eat fruits marathonly. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
(chuckles)
fruits? |
| BABALAWO: |
(laughs) look at the
pretenders face |
| MESSENGER
I: |
(seriously)
fruits? Really I don’t know the kind of fruits. |
| BABALAWO: |
(laughs again)
Pretender. That’s what you are. |
|
Not me. Thinks he’ll make me believe he doesn’t eat
fruits. Ripe one’s for that matter (still
laughing) |
| (They
walk slowly along the footpaths). |
| MESSENGER
II: |
Old one always speaks in vague and ambiguous manner. Your
words are always coupled with proverbs. We need enlightenment. |
| BABALAWO: |
That’s what it should be. The words of our elders are
word if wisdom. The ‘agidigbo’
drum is always beaten in proverbs, a wise person dances to it and it’s
the learned who understand its message. |
|
Isn’t it? |
| MESSENGER
I: |
Damn right. But there… (Suddenly
grab his hand) Baba, look now (pointing)
that’s a hill… just over there. |
| BABALAWO: |
You re observant. That’s Ajaka hill. From therein, our
ancestors have migrated to Gbojo. There, stretching north, east, south,
west they governed. There we shall appease them. (Seconds
later, they arrive
at the foot of the Ajaka hill. In a happy mood, they sit down. He brings
out a kola nut and breaks it into three – he shares it, throws one into
his mouth and grinds funnily). |
| BABALAWO: |
I did commune with the gods. They informed me, we should go
and come back hitch free. Here we are in the heart of ancient Oyo. |
| MESSENGER
III: |
We know you are very sound baba. Otherwise, I could have
dodged the errand. |
| (Old
one suddenly snaps). |
| BABALAWO: |
This isn’t the time for relaxation. The king is over
anxious (They get up. Babalawo collects the pot of
concoctions from one of the messengers. He still holds the leaves tight in
his left hand |
|
They sing) |
|
Oba lo ran wa wa |
|
Awa ki a ran ra wa |
|
B’obirin r’oka a fa mabe |
| (Pause) |
| (Babalawo
evokes his ancestral spirits. He chants some incantations) – further
more… |
| BABALAWO: |
Igi to ba darise apa… apa a pa |
|
Igi to ba dari se Iroko, iroko a ko |
|
Igi to ba dari se oriri… oriri a ri mole |
|
Ile ogere a f’oko yeri… a juba re… |
| MESSENGER
I: |
(anxiously)
hey… I seem to be hearing something. |
| BABALAWO: |
(seriously unconcerned)
… Ewe ti a ba ja si owo otun, otun ni ngbe. |
|
Iyi ti a ja s’owo osi, osi ni ngbe… |
| MESSENGER
II: |
(really petrified)
Wait…wait o o o… |
| BABALAWO:
But… |
what’s up? You small boys will never watch elders do
things. No need to be terrified. This is a free zone since it was
deserted. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
this is no joking matter baba. This sound now seems
distinct. (Can’t you hear? Torches old one.) |
| (A
faint sound of hooting and cooing backstage. |
| BABALAWO: |
(pulling his ears)
Still can’t hear anything. |
| MESSENGER
III: |
Baba doesn’t mind them. Their bodies only enclose a small
heart. Even if there’s anything, I shall face it single-handedly. The
incantations my father taught me during those hunting expeditions are all
right here in my head. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
We shouldn’t waste time…am… |
| MESSENGER
II: |
(pointing) Look everyone…
there (stammering) is a light… |
| MESSENGER
III: |
Woman, woman. (Laughs)
That’s what you. |
|
We could have brought your wife instead. (Brings out a
small object) Now look at this (shows him) |
|
No threat can withstand it. |
| BABALAWO; |
if I knew I’ll be here in company of women, I could have
preferred coming alone. Someone heard voices. Another … light… another
files, lizards, cockroaches etc if you really suspect something why
don’t you wait and see the end. Our elder says what’s disturbing the
bushes are definitely heading for the road. |
| (Light’s
more visible and strange voices clearer). |
| MESSENGER
III: |
Look at those lights (pointing) |
| BABALAWO: |
I’ve seen the…the… (He’s
confused) |
| (Suddenly,
strange voices begin to mutter some words. No room, No room… Messenger
III took to his heels, others follow helter skater, falling down, without
hesitation get up and run off-stage. Several seconds later, they re-appear
on stage, looking fagged out and worn out.
Messenger I supports the old man as they slowly trot on). |
| MESSENGER
I: |
(points)
I’ve never seen a braggart like you. Why didn’t you wait? Didn’t you
escort your father to kill elephants? |
| MESSENGER
III: |
No… don’t misquote me. I simply said I followed him to
hunting expeditions. |
| MESSENGER
II: |
he ran first. Imagine. Coward. |
| BABALAWO: |
(laughs)
Don’t mind him. I knew all along he’s got a month full of honey. |
| MESSENGER
III: |
(shrugging his shoulders) If they ask you to lift it
up and you don’t, they might dump the contraband in your backyard. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
Coward. Honey mouth. |
| MESSENGER
II: |
But… how do we relay our experience to the king. You all
aren’t feeling concerned. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
He’ll feel unhappy. |
| MESSENGER
II: |
Yes, he will. |
| BABALAWO: |
We’ll tell him in clear terms. Words aren’t so heavy
for one not to be able to utter it. |
| MESSENGER
I: |
Quite true. |
