September 29, 2022
THE ELDERS’ INTERVENTION AND THE COMPLICATIONS
Greetings, folks!
I am Harry Agina, and 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 also have narrative “AfroCultural Titbits,” and “AfroCultural Music and Dances” for ya! Browse around and enjoy our potpourri of AfroCultural InfoTainment (Information through Entertainment).
Today’s AfroCultural Drama is on Mysticism In Africa, featuring “Boomerang.” This is episode 4 of “Boomerang.” It’s the story of three male friends, and the infidelity of the wife of one of the friends. The infidel’s lover, Egodede, has a reputation as the town’s troublemaker.
In the last episode, Egodede was not sounding to me to be committed to the relationship as his infidel lover is. As I suggested in that last episode, maybe Egodede is only interested in a playboy’s bedmatic satisfaction with the infidel. Meanwhile, the matter has been referred to the fathers of the infidel and her lover. It’s time to find out what the present situation is, as Michael Shaibu lets us into his virtual Drama Theater. It’s time for “Boomerang” 4, thus:
BOOMERANG 4
- EXT. UNDER A TREE. NIGHT.
EGODEDE AND AJEDE ARE STILL UNDER THE TREE. HE IS STILL IN SHOCKED SILENCE, AVOIDING AJEDE’S EYES. TAKING OFFENSE, AJEDE PULLS HIS FACE TO HERS AND LOOKS STRAIGHT INTO HIS EYES…
AJEDE: Look into my eyes!
EGODEDE IS STILL TRYING TO AVOID HER EYES…
AJEDE (Almost commanding): I said, look into my eyes, Egodede!
EGODEDE LOOKS SHARPLY INTO HER EYES…
EGODEDE: Keep your voice down. You don’t know who might be passing!
AJEDE: I don’t care if anyone is passing. You are going to see my father about us, aren’t you? We agreed you would.
EGODEDE: I know we agreed I would. But I didn’t tell you to go and tell him on my behalf.
AJEDE: What does it matter who told him? Come, why does it sound like you are angry that he heard it? I thought you would have praised me for having the courage to tell him.
EGODEDE: Look, let’s take this slowly. I might not care about what people, including that idiot you call your husband, think or do. But tradition is tradition. And tradition cannot be rushed.
AJEDE: I don’t agree with you. Who says tradition cannot be rushed? I agree it cannot be avoided. But there is nothing in tradition that cannot be rushed. By the way, my father told me he would go and see your father tomorrow. Just so you know.
EGODEDE IS SHOCKED EVEN FURTHER AND ANGRIER…
EGODEDE: Oh God in heaven! You see what you have caused? You see what you have caused? I could have taken care of this without an issue. See how you are making it escalate? Gosh! What in the world is wrong with you women?!
AND THEN HE TURNS ROUND AND WALKS ANGRILY AWAY. AJEDE IS SHOCKED AND WATCHES HIM WALK AWAY, MOUTH AGAPE…
- EXT. VERANDA. NIGHT.
AKU, ETU, AND OTI SIT IN SILENCE ON ETU’S VERANDA. A HIGH BURNING LANTERN HANGS ON THE DOOR FRAME…
ETU (Sighs): It is getting very late, people. You need to go. You cannot spend the whole night here. I really appreciate how you have helped already.
AKU: Oh come on, Etu. Your problem is our problem. And we cannot just go till your wife gets back. We need to know that she is safe anyway.
ETU (Chuckles mirthlessly): Oh, she is safe, alright. Don’t worry, I will not harm her, no matter what.
OTI: Still, we need to wait with you till she gets back. And let’s not assume anything yet. It is possible she has a very tenable reason for going to wherever she went.
ETU (Sighs): I know Ajede very well, guys. Even if she only went on a harmless outing, she usually adds other unwholesome visits to it. And who knows? She might not even come back tonight.
THIS SHOCKS BOTH AKU AND OTI…
OTI: You mean…she goes and does not come back on some nights?
ETU: Well, she has not done that yet. But, going by the way she and Egodede have already begun getting brazen, who knows?
SOMEONE’S SILHUETTE APPROCHES…
AKU: That could be her coming now. Look over there!
THEY ALL FALL SILENT. THE SILHUETTE GETS CLOSER TO THEM. THE LANTERN SHOWS HER FACE AS AJEDE. AJEDE GREETS THEM WARMLY AND MAKES TO GO IN…
ETU: And uh…where is it you are coming from?
AJEDE STOPS, TURNS ROUND TO FACE HER HUSBAND, ETU…
AJEDE: My father’s place. He sent for me. He said you had been there to see him. I promise it will be settled. I promise. I am very aware that you are highly upset. And you have every reason to be. But since it has gone to my father, I think it would be best to let him handle it.
ETU REMAINS THERE, SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, THEN TURNS TO HIS FRIENDS FOR OPINION…
AKU (Sotto voce): Let her go to bed.
OTI (Sotto voce): Yes, let her. I think she is now remorseful.
ETU SIGHS, TURNS TO AJEDE, NODS…
ETU: Very well. You may go to bed.
AJEDE CURTSIES, TURNS ROUND, AND WALKS IN. AKU AND OTI SHAKE THEIR HEADS IN PITY AND DESPAIR, THEN RISE TO LEAVE…
- INT. SITTING ROOM. DAY.
OLD OBELE’S SITTING ROOM IS EMPTY. OLD ILABA GETS TO THE DOOR, SHOUTS “HELLO,” AND ENTERS…
ILABA: Hello again! Is Obele not home? Who left this door open then? Hello!
OBELE (Out of sight): Who is it, please?
ILABA: It is I, Ilaba. Are you well, man?
OBELE (Out of sight): Oh, I am very well. I just came inside now. Please sit; I’ll be right with you.
ILABA SITS AND BRINGS OUT HIS SNUFF BOX. IN A FLIP, OBELE WALKS OUT. THEY GREET AND SHAKE HANDS…
OBELE (Going to sit): I know why you are here. And I thank you for coming because it is only wise to put a black goat on a leash before it gets dark!
ILABA: I thank our ancestors that you already know why I am here. So, do you think you can ask your son, Egodede, to join us and tell me how soon he plans to uh…uh…uh…make noble what is now almost totally ignoble?
OBELE IS A BIT CONFUSED AND FROWNS…
OBELE: I uh…don’t think I quite understand all that. But yes, I think it is best to get him to join us.
OBELE RAISES HIS VOICE AND BEGINS TO CALL EGODEDE…
Fade to black screen…
END
By Michael Shaibu
What a tangled web they weave! Ajede the infidel is Ilaba’s daughter. Ilaba already knows that Obele’s son, Egodede, made a marriage promise to Ajede the infidel. She is unsatisfied with her current husband, Etu, and can’t wait to replace him with her lover, Egodede. Obviously, Obele is not yet aware that his son made the promise of marriage to Ajede. No wonder, he’s confused at Ilaba’s line to “make noble what is now almost ignoble.”
What happens when Egodede joins the elders next? What are the issues to address, and how? Ilaba’s infidel daughter, Ajede, is presently married to Etu, who, with his friends, had reported Ajede’s infidelity to both her father and her lovers father. Obele has called out to his son Egodede to join him and the father of his married lover, Ilaba. Now, there’s going to be another twist of 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? We did see Egodede being evasive and noncommittal with his lover the infidel about the marriage promise.
Will Egodede be more honest with his father and the infidel’s father? How will both elders look at the new twist? What do cultural customs say about ‘snatching’ a man’s wife from him? Where does the African mysticism that we have talked about come into play? Indeed, when and how will Michael Shaibu’s boomerang strike? These, and more, are the questions to answer in the next edition of “Boomerang.” Please subscribe to Afro-Scope right now, for instant notification for that next edition next week. Until then, it’s bye, from Harry Agina.
