February 17, 2923
Directed By Harry Agina
“CULTURE-WAR” ON “CULTURE-WATCH-AFRICA” CONTINUES ON AFRO-SCOPE
Greetings!
I am Harry Agina, and this is episode 3 of “Culture-War” drama series, a presentation of “Culture-Watch-Africa” Campaign, here on Afro-Scope. In episode 2, the papa of Nneka the “Juliet,” got to hear about “Romeo’s” proposal to his daughter, in this AfroCultural Marriage love story.
Boy, was papa furious, or was he! AfroCultural breaches in the approach to marriage are not taken lightly in Chief Ekwedike’s Igbo tribe. He didn’t even want to know the name of the fool, or “efulefu” as he put it in his Igbo-tribe language. The young man violated his tribal customs, “bringing shame on the Ekwedike family.”
Now, it’s time to find out the AfroCultural reasons why Chimezie the “Romeo” is efulefu to his “Juliet’s papa. Of course, we also get to know what happens next, in episode 3 of Morgan Ukaegbu’s “Culture-War.” And if you missed episodes 1 and 2, not to worry, we’ll take you to them with a link at the end of this episode. Indeed, if I were you and I haven’t seen episodes 1 and 2, I would go catch up on them even before I come back to continue with this.
When we left them in the last episode, Nneka, the “Juliet,” had just run out of the house to avoid papa’s wrath. He had grabbed for her in fury, she escaped, and dashed out of the house for her dear life, or her dear health, at best. Now, Morgan will tell us what next:
Scene 1:
INTERNAL, IN CHIEF EKWEDIKE’S LIVING ROOM; IN THE DAY
CHIMEZIE THE “ROMEO” IS STANDING WITH HIS “JULIET,” NNEKA, AS THEY DISCUSS IN LOW TONES.
CHIMEZIE
I don’t understand. We are getting married.
NNEKA
Yes, but he’s upset about the proposal.
CHIMEZIE
Why would he be upset? He should be proud of you that a man like me knelt in public and proposed to his daughter. It’s only a man who truly loves a woman will do that. He should be….
*NNEKA (Cuts-in)
You just don’t understand; do you?
CHIMEZIE (Puzzled)
Understand what?
NNEKA LOOKS AT HIM WITH A LOVING-PITY IN HER FACE*
EKWEDIKE WALKS IN AT THIS POINT. NNEKA QUICKLY SHIFTS AWAY FROM CHIMEZIE AS HE GREETS EKWEDIKE.
CHIMEZIE
Good morning, sir.
EKWEDIKE IGNORES HIM AND KEEPS STARING AT HIM. CHIMEZIE GLANCES AT NNEKA AND GREETS EKWEDIKE AGAIN, AND HE IS STILL IGNORED. EKWEDIKE FINALLY SPEAKS.
EKWEDIKE
Are you the boy that has decided to bring dishonor and shame to my person and family?
CHIMEZIE
Dishonor? No sir. All I did was to propose to Nneka. I love her dearly, and intend to marry her as soon as…..
EKWEDIKE
And is that how your father married your mother?
CHIMEZIE
I don’t understand, sir.
EKWEDIKE
Did your father propose and marry your mother without the knowledge and consent of her parents?
CHIMEZIE
I wouldn’t know, sir…. I am not sure, sir.
EKWEDIKE
You wouldn’t know because you saw a beautiful girl and decided to throw caution to the wind and committed a sacrilege.
CHIMEZIE
Sacrilege? How sir?
EKWEDIKE
*Going by your name, you’re an Igbo boy. Where did you grow up?
CHIMEZIE IS PUZZLED. HE LOOKS FROM THE CHIEF, TO HIS DAUGHTER, THEN BACK TO THE CHIEF WHO IS NOW STARING AT HIM, CALM…
EKWEDIKE (Calmly)
Is my question too hard for you?
CHIMEZIE
Where I grew up?
EKWEDIKE (Melodramatic)
No, where you grew down.
CHIMEZIE (Still puzzled)
Well, sir, I was born in Lagos, and I…
EKWEDIKE (Cuts in)
I heard that you’re a graduate. Where did you go to school?
CHIMEZIE
In the USA, sir.
EKWEDIKE
No wonder…an Igbo boy, born in Yoruba land, and most likely went through secondary school in the Yoruba land. Then went to university in the USA. And maybe you’re one of those whose parents did not ever bring up with their own Igbo tribe culture…
NNEKA (Whining and protesting with caution)
Daaadiii…
EKWEDIKE
Shut your mouth! I taught you better! You should have coached him about our cultural traditions. We are not American. You should have told him that we have something called “Iku-aka-na-uzo” in Igbo culture. Instead, you chose to disgrace me in public with him.
CHIMEZIE
I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to disgrace you. I was just…
EKWEDIKE (Cuts in, but calm again)
Son, are your parents aware of this act?
CHIMEZIE
No, sir. You see, sir, my uncle has been pushing me to get married, and I didn’t want to, until I met your daughter. It’s supposed to be a surprise for him.
NNEKA
Yes, daddy. He wanted to surprise him, and…
EKWEDIKE (Cuts in)
I told you to shut up already! That type of surprise does not work in our culture. His parents are required for the process to start well…“Iku-aka-na-uzo” first!
NNEKA (Sulking)
Sorry, daddy…I love him so much.
EKWEDIKE EYES NNEKA MENACINGLY FOR A MOMENT, THEN TURNS BACK TO CHIMEZIE*
EKWEDIKE
Now, young man…I am a titled Igbo man. My daughter, Nneka, is an Igbo girl. No man will marry my daughter without my consent first. It is not done. Go and ask how it is done, and then come back prepared.
CHIMEZIE
Alright sir.
EKWEDIKE
And let me warn you. Stay away from my daughter until the right things are done. You may leave.
CHIMEZIE
Thank you, sir.
CHIMEZIE BEGINS TO LEAVE, NNEKA MAKES TO FOLLOW HIM BUT EKWEDIKE BARKS AT HER.
EKWEDIKE
Where do you think you are going?
SHE STAYS BACK, CHIMEZIE LEAVES AND EKWEDIKE TURNS ANGRILY AT HER.
EKWEDIKE
Besides the matter of “Iku-aka-na-uzo,” no well breastfed Igbo girl would accept an engagement ring from a man who has not passed the background check of him and his parents. Proposal and engagement should only take place after both families have approved the union. You want to disgrace me, but it won’t work. We have a tradition that must be followed to the letter.
HE STORMS AWAY AS NNEKA STARES AROUND.
Fade.
Scene 2:
INTERNAL, IN CHIMEZIE’S LIVING ROOM; IN THE DAY
CHIMEZIE WALKS IN WITH HIS CELLPHONE TO HIS EAR AS HE SPEAKS.
CHIMEZIE
It’s all sorted.
Cut.
Scene 3:
EXTERNAL, IN EKWEDIKE’s COMPOUND; SAME TIME/DAY
NNEKA HAS HER CELLPHONE TO HER EAR AS SHE PACES THE GROUND.
NNEKA
Sorted how?
CHIMEZIE
Don’t panic, baby. I am coming with my people this weekend to see your dad.
NNEKA EXPRESSES HAPPINESS.
NNEKA
Really? I can’t wait.
CHIMEZIE
Same here.
NNEKA
Alright. Talk to you later. I love you.
CHIMEZIE
I love you too.
SHE ENDS THE CALL AND HURRIES INTO THE HOUSE.
Fade.
Scene 4: INTERNAL, IN EKWEDIKE’S LIVING ROOM; IN THE DAY
EKWEDIKE IS SEATED… A 50-YEAR-OLD MAN, MAZI UDOKA, IS SEATED WITH CHIMEZIE. THERE’S AN EXPENSIVE CARTON OF WHISKY ON THE TABLE.
EKWEDIKE
You are his uncle. What about his father?
MAZI UDOKA
He’s late. He died when Chimezie was about 15 years old. His mother remarried.
THERE’S SOME SILENCE BEFORE EKWEDIKE SPEAKS. HE IS MORE CIVIL NOW
EKWEDIKE
Well, Mazi Udoka. It is good that you came with your nephew, but I am not happy that he has been stealing from me.
INCIDENTAL SOUND AS CHIMEZIE AND MAZI UDOKA EXCHANGE SHOCKING GLANCES.
CHIMEZIE
Uncle, what is he talking about? I never stole anything from….
EKWEDIKE (Cuts in)
Yes. You have. You are onye ohi otu (a ‘honey-pot’ thief). You have been stealing the pleasure belonging to my family. Mazi Udoka, you should understand what I am talking about.
IT DAWNS ON MAZI UDOKA WHAT EKWEDIKE IS REFERRING TO, AND HE SMILES…
*STILL PUZZLED, CHIMEZIE GAZES AT HIS UNCLE…
CHIMEZIE
Uncle, what is he talking about, please?
EKWEDIKE (Scuffs)
Of course, you wouldn’t understand. How could you…with the total adoption of “white man’s” ways of life by your generation…
HE PAUSES, AS HE LOOKS UP FOR A LONG MOMENT…IN A REFLECTIVE MOOD.
EKWEDIKE (Continues reflectively)
…totally annihilating our African Culture…our traditional values…
STILL PUZZLED, CHIMEZIE STARES FROM CHIEF EKWEDIKE TO HIS UNCLE, MAZI UDOKA…*
END
Written by Morgan Ukaegbu
Augmenting scenes by Harry Agina
Chimezie’s approach to marriage in Africa has some AfroCultural breaches. Chief Ekwedike has expressed a couple of them so far. Marriage in Igbo tribe of southeast Nigeria has a specified procedure. First, there must be “Iku-aka-na-uzo,” or “Knocking-on-the door” of the parents of the girl by the boy. This is idiom for “Introduction of the boy to the parents of the girl.” This is not even undertaken by the boy alone…never! The parents of the boy take him to their would-be in-laws (primarily the parents) to introduce him to the girl’s parents. The boy’s parents (primarily the father) seek the approval of the girl’s father for the marriages, not even the boy himself. But he would be present as his father does most of the talking…speaking only when asked to speak. When the father of the boy has good reason to be absent, as in this case of death, the next closest male kin takes the responsibility. Do note that what you have seen is one tribe in Africa. There are always variations around the African continent—subcultures, as in everything else.
As Chief Ekwedike expressed angrily, in the ‘good old days,’ what the boy and the girl did was abomination in the land. I have a link that takes you to our previous comprehensive series on this topic. The series takes you through the entire wooing and conclusion process. It addresses the traditional character-investigation aspect of an AfroCultural marriage. Chief Ekwedike also talked about this in passing. That series is concluded with the climax of the process, an entertaining film production of a typical real-life marriage.
I can take a bet that you do want to see the other AfroCultural breaches by Chimezie and his “Juliet,” don’t ya? Well, I’ll answer for ya, sir, ma’am. Yes, you do wanno know what happens next, as “Culture-Watch-Africa” continues with “Culture-War,” next week, here on Afro-Scope. You’re already here; do us a favor and subscribe to Afro-Scope.com, would you. That way, you’ll be sure to know when we publish episode 4, as well as our numerous other InfoTainment productions.
Time for me to stop boring you with words, so that you may spend the time to browse through the site, for our InfoTaining varieties. They call me Harry Agina, and I do answer it…hahaha! Anyway, by for now.
HERE’S THE LINK TO EPISODE 4 OF THE SERIES: