VIRGINITY (ÌBÀLÉ)- BY MUH. JĀMIU ABU QAANIT

 Synopsis

Wealth and health are not what the name and definition imply in the village of Ìgbálodé, but the numbers of virgin daughters a household or family can produce. 

A family with numbers of male childs is regarded as inferior and treated as wretched and not worthy to be a family in the village.

It is on this practice that a king is chosen rather ascension of descendants to head the village. Prayers and offerings are offered whenever women are on the verge of delivery for a female child. 

This has been the practice and tradition of Ìgbálodé village and it is believe to be extended to the coming generation without going into oblivion.

The house of makalewo is regarded and the wealthy and healthy family and the head of the village with 43 daughters and 7 sons and was in contrast to the house of olorunose'bi which is regarded as the wretched and unhealthy family with 66 sons and 3 daughters. 

This drama resolve to it's conflict with the arrival of Àbèfe from a far and unknown village but in existence and got to its resolution when the village of Ìgbálodé became a mysterious story in history.

      Characterization

Àbèfe.                 - Hero 

Abebi.                 - Heroin 

Okanlahan         - Àbèfe's friend

Ojola.                  - The head of olorunose'bi

Makinde.            - the head of makalewo

Abu Qaanit's Educational and Literary Library 

        

  _Contents_

 Hatred, friendship, sexuality, betrayal and customs

The play is of three Acts with four Scenes all through.

Copyright ©️- all actions in this play have not been presented in any art works or movies, the characters and actions are only imagination of the head and heart of the playwright and have never happened in any occurrences, though some actions and characters might be of coincidence.

           _Words and meanings_

Ba'le wa - our husband

Iya'le wa- our first wife

Iyawo wa- our wife

Asa - culture

Ore- friend

           ACT ONE -Scene one

 _The hooting of the village old owl seems to be ceaseless in the very thick forest far from the count of steps to olorunose'bi's house, sending a strange phenomenon. Awero runs pass a baaing sheep at the front door. She holds a short calabash full of water and enters into a cracked room lited  by an old palm-oil lamp hung around the wall revealing the face of some sweating women performing a maternity delivery._

_It is Abebi's room, the ninth wife to olorunose'bi and she is on the verge of painful delivery, other wives help with it._ 

Awero: Here is the water

Abebi: _(groans)_ please take this thing off me, I beg you _(cries)_

Bunmi:it's coming out, continue pushing, the heavens are helping

Abebi: _(gives long moaning)_ iya'mi o _(faints temporarily)_

_(baby cries)_

Iya'le: it is a girl!

Bunmi:yes, the third female soo far. Awero pass me the water _(turns back to Abebi)_

Iya'le: _(signs)_ I will inform ba'le wá _(stands from the spread mat and approaches the exit door)_

Abebi: _(wakes up)_ what is it? _(looks at others' face)_

Bunmi: _(smiles)_ it is a girl, and a beautiful one _(approaches Abebi with her baby)_

Abebi: _(chuckles and smile)_ we pray to have more, to excite ba'le wá

Apeke: _(hisses)_ and exist the room

       _At olorunose'bi's room_

_A tall, dark and hairy young man covered with a white apparel appears on a wooden bed under escaped light of the moon peeping from the side of the half wood window. He is snoring, fast asleep_

_Curtain opens, iya'le wá enters_

Iya'le wá: _(signs at the sleeping man)_ ba'le wá, ba'le wá _(taps at his foot)_ ba'le wá

Olorunose'bi: _(snoring ends, moves sluggishly on the bed)_ Adun ìwó ní? _(Adun it is you?)_ what do you want? _(steers through the window)_ you can see it is late and it's not your turn tonight? _(spreads his bed)_

Adun: Awero gave birth to a...

Olorunose'bi:ohh èlèdà oo _(ohh creator)_ that should have been a news of the morning my dear, you can't come here because of that!

Adun: oh, ba'le wá, I am sorry if that annoyed you, I should take my leave _(approaches the exit)_

Olorunose'bi: _(lays back on his bed)_ call me Apeke, am expecting her

Adun: Awero gave us the third daughter few moments ago _(falls down the curtain)_

Olorunose'bi _(soliloquy)_  and what value has that added to my wrath and hatred the villagers have on me _(hisses)_

       _Apeke enters_

           ACT ONE -Scene Two

_It is another jubilation and celebration in the house of makalewo after his twelfth wife gave birth to another set of female twins. Even though it's late in the night, the unceasing merriments continue to bright the night._

_unpleasing Squeaking of rabbits appear in front of the the stage's camera, standing in front of a three men welding knives and others cutting meat into pieces. chatting from the women in palm made kitchen continues_

      _makalewo and other chiefs appear on stage_

First chief: òlòrí, _(drops his cup of whine)_ this is of course a heaven blessings on your family, and you as our village head is by not chance but worthy. _(giggles)_

_Second chief_: what are you saying first chief, we all know the custom of this land, he is worthy and no one among us is yet to meet up what he is being bestowed with. Òlòrí ooo _(bends his head with cap open)_

Òlòrí: enjoy your drinks chiefs and say no more. _( sips his wine)_ where are this children? Bring my chiefs more meat please!

Chiefs: ohh òlòrí _(all laughs)

     _Approaches the village priest_

A man with usual white apparel, tucks with leader made from tiger skin, accompanied by his apprentices and co-workers appear in front of the òlòrí and the chiefs.

Òlòrí: the village priest must have been informed of my another blessings, he should be here for prayers.

Third chief: is that not suppose to be at morning, it's late already.

First chief: that's true

Òlòrí: let's hear from him

Village priest: I greet òlòrí and the chiefs, may the blessings of heavens be with you

Òlòrí: thank you priest, please have your seat while I send for someone to bring you drinks and meat.

Village priest: oh, I dare not say no, and I dare not stay long. I am here for an urgent message which is to be delivered hastily. The heavens revealed to me and my village that a stranger will come and you can not accept him over night even...

Chiefs: haaa _(all exclaimed and stare at each other)_

Òlòrí: village priest, you are not a young priest in the village and you are aware of my public celebration whenever a virgin female continues flourishing in my hood. Tomorrow is another day for it and many people from outside our village will attend.

Village priest: my warning is he mustn't make it a night in our village. Have said the warning of the heaven, I bare no vanity. I should see myself off for now _(stands and takes his leave)_

Second chief: priest! Priest!!

First chief: why are you calling him?

Òlòrí: maybe he is angry I did not call him officially, continue your drinks please!

Second priest: are you sure!?

_The snore of frogs follow the stage off_

© MUH. JĀMIU ABU QAANIT

-Nigeria