February 12, 2023
“CULTURE WAR” ON “CULTURE-WATCH-AFRICA” CONTINUES
Greetings!
Welcome to “Culture-Watch-Africa” on Afro-Scope, featuring Morgan Ukaegbu’s drama series on “AfroCultural Marriage Versus Western Ways.” It is titled “Culture-War.” Last week on this reality love drama series, the “Romeo” proposed to his “Juliet.” But the mamas and the papas of the youngsters did not have their say yet. In fact, the parents didn’t know about it yet. And, as we have hinted already, the youngsters’ approach was not African, in various ways, too! So, is the marriage to be, or not to be? Let’s find out in episode 2 of “Culture-War,” here on Afro-Scope.
When we left them in the last episode, Nneka, the “Juliet,” was in the living room of Chimezie, the “Romeo.” She was shooting-the-breeze about the proposal with her lady friend, Ebere. Now, the drama continues:
TWO WEEKS LATER
Scene 1:
OUTSIDE, IN EKWEDIKE EKWEDIKE’S COMPOUND; IN THE DAY
INSIDE THE COMPOUND AS THE MIDDLE-AGED GATEMAN, CHIMA IS STANDING BESIDE THE WIDE OPEN GATE. AN SUV DRIVES INTO SHOT AND PULLS TO A HALT IN THE GARAGE. A 60 YEAR OLD MAN, EKWEDIKE EKWEDIKE ALIGHTS FROM BEHIND THE STEERING JUST AS CHIMA LOCKS THE GATE AND HURRIES OVER TO HIM.
CHIMA
Welcome, sir.
EKWEDIKE
Thank you, Chima. Help me with my bag.
EKWEDIKE OPENS THE BACK SEAT DOOR; CHIMA CARRIES A MEDIUM SIZED TRAVELING BAG AND HEADS TO THE HOUSE. EKWEDIKE REMOTELY LOCKS THE CAR DOORS AND FOLLOWS CHIMA. THEY STOP AT THE DOOR AS EKWEDIKE TURNS THE KNOB BUT IT’S LOCKED. HE TURNS TO CHIMA.
EKWEDIKE
No one is home?
CHIMA
No sir.
EKWEDIKE FETCHES HIS KEYS, UNLOCKS THE DOOR AND THEY GO INSIDE.
Mix.
- INT. EKWEDIKE’S LIVING ROOM. SAME DAY
EKWEDIKE
EKWEDIKE GLANCES AROUND, HEADS TOWARDS A ROOM AS HE CALLS HIS DAUGHTER’S NAME, NNEKA. NO RESPONSE. WE HEAR A KNOCK ON A DOOR, ITS OPENING AS HE CALLS HER NAME AGAIN, SHUTS IT AND HE EMERGES AGAIN IN THE LIVING ROOM.
EKWEDIKE
Everywhere is dusty. What has she been doing?
HE DIALS A NUMBER AS HE PACES THE FLOOR.
Cut.
- INT. CHIMEZIE’s LIVING ROOM. SAME DAY
CHIMEZIE, NNEKA
NNEKA AND CHIMEZIE ARE DRESSED CASUALLY WITH NNEKA SITTING ASTRIDE HIS LAPS ON THE SOFA AS THEY DISCUSS OVER GLASSES OF FRUIT JUICE.
NNEKA
And what did your sister say about that?
CHIMEZIE LAUGHS, SIPS FROM HIS GLASS OF FRUIT JUICE AND REMAINS SILENT.
NNEKA
You don’t want to tell me?
CHIMEZIE
She called me woman wrapper.
NNEKA CHUCKLES.
NNEKA
She’s jealous.
CHIMEZIE
Jealous of what?
NNEKA
Of me. She’s jealous you proposed to me publicly, kneeling down. She should be happy for us.
CHIMEZIE
Of course, she is. Calling me woman wrapper doesn’t mean that she’s not happy. She is.
NNEKA
Hmm!
SHE SIPS FROM HER GLASS OF FRUIT JUICE. CHIMEZIE GENTLY PULLS HER FACE TO HIS AND KISSES HER DEEPLY.
CHIMEZIE
I am sure she’s kidding. Don’t take that at heart. She is happy for us. And I have to say…
NNEKA’S CELLPHONE BEGINS TO RING ON THE CENTER TABLE; SHE CHECKS THE CALLER AND ITS HER DAD. SHE QUICKLY PICKS AFTER WARNING CHIMEZIE TO BE SILENT.
NNEKA
Daddy!
Cut.
- INT. EKWEDIKE EKWEDIKE/CHIMEZIE’S LIVING ROOM. SAME TIME/DAY
INTERCUT BETWEEN THE TWO LOCATIONS AND CHARACTERS. EKWEDIKE IS STILL STANDING WITH HIS CELLPHONE TO HIS EAR AS HE SPEAKS.
EKWEDIKE
Where are you?
NNEKA
I am home daddy.
EKWEDIKE
Which of the homes, Nneka? I just arrived home from the village, and nobody is here?
INCIDENTAL SOUND AS SHE’S TEMPORARILY CONFUSED BUT QUICKLY RECOVERS.
NNEKA
I am sorry daddy. I stepped out few hours ago.
EKWEDIKE
Few hours ago, and the entire house is this dusty like an abandoned house? Where are you exactly?
NNEKA
At a friend’s place. Not far from the house.
EKWEDIKE
Be back here in ten minutes.
EKWEDIKE ENDS THE CALL. NNEKA QUICKLY GETS DOWN FROM CHIMEZIE’S BODY.
NNEKA
Wow! My dad is back. I am going home right away. He didn’t inform me beforehand. That’s unusual of him.
CHIMEZIE
You are at a friend’s house. Is that what I am? A friend?
NNEKA EXPRESSES SURPRISE.
NNEKA
Baby, I can’t tell him anything more than that yet.
CHIMEZIE
Why not?
NNEKA
Honey, please let me go home. We will talk about it later. Please. I have to get dressed.
SHE HURRIES TOWARDS THE BEDROOM. CHIMEZIE IS STARING AROUND.
Fade out…
- EXT. EKWEDIKE EKWEDIKE’S GATE/COMPOUND. SAME DAY
NNEKA, CHIMA
CHIMA IS EXAMINING SOME OF HIS TORN CLOTHES AS A KNOCK COMES ON THE GATE. NNEKA SPEAKS FROM OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND.
NNEKA
Open the gate. It’s me.
CHIMA
Oh! Okay.
CHIMA QUICKLY UNLOCKS THE PEDESTAL GATE, NNEKA ENTERS. SHE HAS CHANGED INTO ANOTHER WEARS. CHIMA LOCKS THE GATE.
NNEKA
Why did you tell my dad that I have not been around since?
CHIMA EXPRESSES SURPRISE.
CHIMA
Me? I didn’t tell him anything.
NNEKA
Then how did he know that….?
CHIMA
I swear. I didn’t tell him anything. And he didn’t ask.
NNEKA
Hmm!
SHE HEADS TOWARDS THE BUILDING WHILE CHIMA WONDERS.
CHIMA
Hia! Nobody should involve me in what I don’t know. Your father did not ask me about you so, how will I begin to tell him you have not been around? Abeg o!
Cut.
- Int. EKWEDIKE Ekwedike’s living room. Same day
EKWEDIKE, NNEKA
THE DOOR OPENS; NNEKA ENTERS AS SHE GLANCES AROUND FOR HER FATHER. EKWEDIKE SAUNTERS IN ANGRILY. HE HAS CHANGED INTO CASUAL WEARS. SHE QUICKLY GREETS HIM.
NNEKA (Nervous)
Good evening daddy. Welcome. Daddy, when you travel, you usually call me before….
EKWEDIKE
Nneka, where are you coming from?
NNEKA
I told you I was at a friend’s place.
EKWEDIKE
How long have you been there?
NNEKA IS THROWN OFF BALANCE BY THE QUESTION.
NNEKA
I don’t understand daddy. Did anyone tell you that I have not been….?
EKWEDIKE
The house doesn’t look like a human being has been here for ages. Look at dust everywhere.
NNEKA
Daddy, I cleaned everywhere this afternoon before leaving to my friend’s place.
HER FATHER IS STARING AT HER, WHICH MAKES HER UNCOMFORTABLE.
NNEKA
Daddy, you don’t believe me? You can ask….
EKWEDIKE
I hope you have eaten wherever you are coming from. I brought some fruits from the village. Cut them for me. Clean the sofas before then.
NNEKA
Okay Daddy.
SHE HURRIES OFF INTO THE KITCHEN AS HER FATHER GLANCES AROUND, WAITING.
Crossfade…
- INT. EKWEDIKE LIVING ROOM. SAME NIGHT
EKWEDIKE, NNEKA
EKWEDIKE IS SEATED COMFORTABLY WHILE EATING HIS FRUITS AND WATCHING TELEVISION. MOMENTS LATER, HIS CELLPHONE BEGINS TO RING; HE TURNS OFF THE VOLUME OF THE TELEVISION AND PICKS HIS CALL.
EKWEDIKE
Mazi Udeh….Good evening….I am good…How about your family?….Good…Yes, I am back. I arrived few hours ago…..Yes…What is that?…Alright. Send it.
HE ENDS THE CALL, STARING AT HIS CELLPHONE. JUST THEN A MESSAGE BEEPS AND HE QUICKLY OPENS IT. THERE ARE NOISES IN THE VIDEO. OMINOUS SOUND AS HIS EYES WIDENS IN SHOCK. HE’S VISIBLY ANGRY AS HE STOPS THE VIDEO, JUMPS TO HIS FEET AND SCREAMS FOR HIS DAUGHTER.
EKWEDIKE
Nneka nma! Nneka!
NNEKA ANSWERS OUTSIDE, AND COMES HURRYING INTO THE ROOM.
NNEKA
Daddy!
EKWEDIKE
What is this?
HE THRUSTS HIS CELLPHONE INTO HIS DAUGHTER’S HAND.
EKWEDIKE
Play that video. And you better not be the person in that video.
NNEKA’S HANDS ARE SHAKING AS SHE PLAYS THE VIDEO OF CHIMEZIE’S PROPOSAL TO NNEKA AT THE MALL. EKWEDIKE BARKS AT HER.
EKWEDIKE
What is going on there?
NNEKA
Daddy! Daddy, he….he…
EKWEDIKE
Who is that efulefu, idiot, fool with you?
NNEKA
He’s my frien….fiance.
EKWEDIKE
Fia gini? Fia what? Fiancé gbukwa gi ebe ahu! Fiancé kill you there!
HE ANGRILY GOES FOR HER, SHE SCREAMS AND QUICKLY RUNS OUT OF THE HOUSE.
EKWEDIKE
Alright then. You will sleep outside this night. Can you imagine? My daughter is referring to a boy I don’t know as her fiancé. Aru! Nnekwu aru! Abomination of the highest order. We will see.
HE ANGRILY STORMS AWAY TOWARDS HIS BEDROOM.
Fade out…
END
Story & Teleplay By Morgan Ukaegbu
Do remember, this is Afro-Scope. We’re all about Afro-Cultural values and inter-cultural differences between Africa and the rest of the world. We condemn bad AfroCultural customs/traditions, and campaign for their reformation/purification where applicable, or outright abolition wherever necessary. And we vehemently campaign for the promotion of all the good customs/traditions of the African Culture.
Note Chief Ekwedike’s fury over the violation of his cultural values. “Can you imagine?!” he yelled. “My daughter is referring to a boy I don’t know as her fiancé.” Then he went on to call the “boy” ‘efulefu,’ meaning fool, because the boy does not know his traditional approach to marriage. And the chief declared that it is abomination. You will get to know why the proposal by the “boy” is abomination, according to African traditions of his Igbo tribe in southeast Nigeria, in West Africa. So, now, the question: Is the marriage to be, or not to be?
Of course, you can only find out if you’re in touch with us. And the easiest way to be sure, is to subscribe to Afro-Scope.com, and get alerted when this, and other productions of Afro-Scope are published. It’s bye for now from me, Harry Agina.
HERE’S THE LINK TO EPISODE 3:
AFRO-CULTURAL MARRIAGE VERSUS THE WESTERN WAYS DRAMA, EPISODE 3: