Olusi a serial by Tunde Akingbade

The Oyo Empire is presided over by an effeminate and dissolute king - Jayin, and the people yearn for a substitute.

Olusi, 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.

If we say enough, the drummer stops - Drummers begin to pat their drums gently until the music reaches a high tempo. Olusi enters the state accompanied by drummers and the town’s people. They dance. The drummers squeeze their talking drums held under their armpit. They kneel, shake and mop their faces of sweat as they sing the praise of Olusi-the beloved’ son of Jayin and heir to the throne of Oyo

This matter is not finished - The crab guards its own head with its own eyes. The partridge watches itself with both the feathers and the eyes. My palace is being overtaken by all sorts of characters.

A man dies but once - The hawk flying in the sky thinks no one is looking.

I’m suffocating here - Oh dear! Thanks to the gods that I came in as scheduled. Thanks to ‘Ifa’ oracle too because I consulted him before I came. If not for that, Ojuri, they nearly caught me at the entrance of the palace when I was coming.

full of stories - Ojuri’s room. She has just taken a shower. She’s trying to dress up. She picks one dress, puts it down, takes another and puts it down. She is confused. She later sits down.

Death is in your eyes - It was as if they cast a spell on me. My head got swollen. I remember I seemed to be following a scent.

The only prince amongst princes - The palace. The chiefs are sitting down morning the death of Olusi. Amongst them is the Poet.

The chiefs think that they are wise - And I do not want her to fight me. She might fight me just like she did that day when that man I told you was walking like a crab came. You know I told you that I saw someone walking like this.

Olusi, Final Scene - The King, Jayin is sitting on the royal chair in the palace. The chiefs enter with Opeke looking ruffled. Behind her is the Spice-seller.