October 11, 2022
IS EGODEDE A DECEITFUL PLAYBOY, OR TRULY IN LOVE WITH THE INFIDEL, AJEDE? EITHER WAY, WHAT ARE THE CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE LOVERS?
Greetings, folks!
This is “Afro-Scope,” featuring “AfroCultural Dramas” on Mysticism in Africa. The dramas are one of Afro-Scope’s efforts to share the African Culture with the rest of the world. We call it “InterCultural Exchange.” We also offer you our “AfroCultural Titbits,” which is in narrative form. Not to forget our “AfroCultural Music and Dances.” Do browse around and enjoy our potpourri of AfroCultural InfoTainment (Information through Entertainment) package. I am Harry Agina, and you’re welcome.
We’re still on our AfroCultural Drama on Infidelity and Mysticism In Africa, featuring “Boomerang.” This is episode 5 of “Boomerang.” It’s the story of three male friends, and the infidelity of Ajede, who is the wife of one of the friends. The infidel’s lover, Egodede, has a reputation as the town’s troublemaker. In the last episode, we saw Egodede’s apparent non-committal attitude to Ajade, who he had promised to marry if she would leave her husband.
Well, this is the day that Egodede is supposed to tell his father, in the presence of the infidel’s father, Ilaba, whether he truly wants to marry the infidel. Or is he just a playboy who is destroying a marriage just to catch some ‘bedmatic’ fun while the deceit lasts. Besides, there are issues to address, including and especially cultural consequences. The last episode ended as the infidel’s father, Ilaba, visited Obele, the father of the playboy, Egodede to discuss the matter. Obele had called out to his son Egodede to join him and Ilaba.
Mind you, Obele had no idea yet that his son had promised to marry the infidel. He was only aware of the infidelity that his son had led Ilaba’s daughter into. Now, there’s going to be a surprise for Obele about his son’s alleged marriage promise to Ajede. Will Egodede confirm the allegation to his father before his lover’s father? Or will he confirm the fear of the infidel, that he probably doesn’t really want to marry her as he had promised? As I said in the outro of the last episode; what a tangled web Egodede has woven!
It’s time now to begin to detangle the web, one way, or another, as Michael Shaibu’s “Boomerang continues, thus:
BOOMERANG 5
- INT. SITTING ROOM. DAY.
OLD OBELE’S VOICE IS STILL RAISED AS HE CALLS EGODEDE. GETTING NO RESPONSE, HE WALKS TO THE DOOR, POPS HIS HEAD OUT, AND CALLS SOME MORE. STILL NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSE, HE WALKS BACK AND SITS TO TALK WITH OLD ILABA…
OBELE: Children of nowadays! He was just here a while ago! And he didn’t even tell me he was going anywhere!
ILABA (Chuckles): Egodede can hardly be referred to as a child anymore! Come on! In any case, I think we can discuss a bit even though he is not here.
OBELE: Very well. Then let me thank you again for coming. Actually, I do already know what your coming is about. Your son in-law, Etu and his friends have already been here to see me.
ILABA: Good. What they told me when they came to see me indicted Egodede terribly. I hope they told you the same thing.
OBELE: They didn’t have to. I had already heard an earful from gossips and busy-bodies. And I just wanted my son to confirm it or deny before I could think of what to do.
ILABA: Well, whether he does or not, I think what my daughter told me afterwards already supersedes all that.
OBELE (Puzzled): Really? What might that be?
ILABA: Well, I can assure you it is not the best. But as you can see, I am not in such terrible spirits. What that means is that, as things stand, I think it is the best way out of an ugly-.
EGODEDE WALKS IN, CUTTING ILABA SHORT…
EGODEDE (To his father): I was told you called.
OBELE: Don’t be so ill-mannered. Can’t you see I have visitor?
EGODEDE: Very well. I’ll go and come back then.
EGODEDE TURNS ROUND AND MAKES TO GO BACK OUT. OLD OBELE GETS MAD AND RAISES HIS VOICE…
OBELE: Will you come back here and greet, you manner-less son of your mother?!
EGODEDE TURNS ROUND, BOWS STIFFLY TO ILABA…
EGODEDE: Please, excuse my manners. I greet you, sir.
OBELE: Our own culture demands that we squat to greet our elders, Egodede. For the sake of the gods, stop disgracing me before I curse you in anger!
ILABA: It is okay, Obele. I am quite fine with the stiff bow. (Lowers his voice) After all, it is useless to try to curve a dry fish.
OBELE TAKES HIS TIME TO CALM, THEN SIGHS AND POINTS EGODEDE TO A SPACE ON THE BENCH BESIDE HIM…
OBELE: Sit. Ilaba is here because of you and his daughter.
EGODEDE SITS MOST RELUCTANTLY…
OBELE: You saw when Etu and his friends came to see me last night about you and his wife. As I was wondering why you were yet to come and confirm or deny the whole thing, Ilaba came and said his daughter told him something which appears to be the best way out of the shame. He was about to tell me about it when you walked in and displayed your mannerlessness.
HE EYES EGODEDE ANGRILY, HOPING EGODEDE WOULD SAY SOMETHING…
OBELE (To Ilaba): Anyway, please my dear friend, perhaps you could tell us what your daughter-
EGODEDE (Cuts in): I am sorry. But I don’t think I want to be here to hear that. If and when I am ready to take any steps, I am matured and wise enough to know how to go about it myself.
EGODEDE RISES AND WALKS OUT. BOTH OBELE AND ILABA ARE SHOCKED…
- EXT. ETU’S COMPOUND (UNDER A TREE). DAY.
ETU IS SITTING ALONE UNDER THE TREE SERVICING HIS PALM TREE CLIMBING ROPES AND HUMMING SOME LOCAL TUNE. HIS FRIENDS, AKO AND OTI, COME OVER TO HIM. THEY ALL GREET. AKO AND OTI SIT ON A BENCH…
AKO: Have your palm fruits begun to ripen?
ETU: Not really? Why?
OTI (Worried): Not really? Then why are you servicing your climber?
ETU (Laughs): Look at your worried face! You really think I can hang myself? Over what? Nah!
AKO: But then, why are you servicing your climber?
ETU: Someone wants to borrow it. And if I don’t service it and he falls while using it, I will never be able to forgive myself.
OTI: But he should be the one servicing it before using it.
AKO: True.
ETU: Ordinarily, yes. But the person who wants to borrow it is a youth. He might not think like that. Anyway, it is not such a difficult thing to do. And I am through anyway.
AKO: Good. Because you know we have to go and see your father in-law at dusk.
OTI: And I would like to gulp some brukutu along the way before we go there. So I think we should go now.
ETU: Very well. Give me a moment then.
ETU RISES WITH THE PALM TREE CLIMBING ROPES AND GOES INTO HIS HOUSE…
- EXT. DRINKING JOINT. DAY.
EGODEDE PROUDLY SITS AWAY FROM THE CROWD, DRINKING A BEER, LOOKING ANGRY WITH THE WORLD. A LADY BRINGS HIM A NEW BOTTLE AND OPENS IT FOR IT FOR HIM…
EGODEDE: Hey, can you do something for me?
LADY: What?
EGODEDE: Just keep an eye out. In case I don’t see them, the moment you see those three illiterate idiots with those stupid names, Etu, Ako, and Oti walking past, call my attention, will you?
LADY: Okay.
THE LADY WALKS AWAY. EGODEDE PICKS HIS BEER AND BEGINS TO SIP, MUMBLING SOME INVECTIVES TO HIMSELF…
END
By Michael Shaibu.
Oh meeeeeeeeen! I don’t know about you, but I was really getting into the story. I was looking forward to Egodede’s reason for being on the lookout for the three friends, Etu, Ako, and Oti. First, he stormed out on his own father and the father of his lover. Now, we don’t even know yet if his lover’s father has told his father about his marriage proposal. And, if he did, what next.
And guess what, I truly got offended with Mikey for being such a tease with his story. Now I must wait again for another week to see what is cooking up in Egodede troublesome mind. But, hey, that’s alright. It gives me something to look forward to. Same goes for you, too; doesn’t it? Of course, it does. Not to forget the word ‘mysticism’ in our titling! You must be wondering when it is featuring in Mikey’s story. In the next edition of “Boomerang; that’s when! Until then, it’s bye for now from Harry Agina.
