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Okey Eni Books
Category:
Drama
Publisher: Okey Eni
Type: Fiction
Pages: 81
Copyright: Jun 16, 2016
ISBN-13: 2940152862317
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
This is a satirical play set in Banana Republic about military adventurism into governance in Africa.
Democracy has been a long drawn out battle for most African states, fighting sit-tight military adventurers, who have held most African nations hostage. This play is all about reckless military incursion in politics and governance in Africa.
Excerpt
THE KHALFA
3
Act 1
Scene 1
At Khalifa’s House
Enter Khalifa
Khalifa: The affairs of men, isn’t it a paradox? How can he please them all? They want democracy, they are clamouring for it. To cast a piece of diamond among pigs, won’t they trample on it, and into dirt, it is enmeshed. Each day, each minute, democracy I hear and my ears are stuffed with indignation. A merry-go-round they want to take us. Didn’t we start with democracy, on attainment of independence? Nevertheless, they turned it into a cacophony of balderdash, and anarchy reigned supreme. However, I Khalifa shall resist them that we do not totter towards the brink of anarchy and a theater of psychosis any more.
Enter Munirat.
Khalifa: And here comes my beautiful wife. On your neck it shall soon be adorned, the title of First Lady. A garland placed on your décolletage and they shall come and bow before you. That they may seek the face of the woman who holds the heart of
THE KHALFA
4
the Head of State. All women shall wish to be like you. On your head, I shall place the crown. Half on yours and half on mine.
Munirat: The lord of my heart. How your sweet voice raises me to the pinnacle of womanhood. That which must be done should be done, that we might pour scorn on the face of our detractors. In derision, they heap banters on us. That bibulous fellow, they point in mockery at you. Much alcohol and much stimulant to hype up the brain they said you have imbibed, and it has addled your brain.
Khalifa: I have always known that we are destined to be husband and wife from up above. For the wife who knows the secret desires of her husband, is a mate made in heaven. We are bound in love together in this deed and we shall succeed. I know where my opposition lies, and is not in those blabbering fools clamouring for a return to civil governance. They can only bark and never bite. It is the generals that I must bend to my desire, am I not the chief among them. They must harken to my clarion call, for here is a nation ripe for plucking. And being bania, won’t they yearn to partake in the bounties of a subdued nation? I know their vices, for the love of money, they will coat their hearts with pallid soot, that no light might penetrate their conscience. Greed isn’t it the tie that binds, soldiers and
THE KHALFA
5
politicians, business leaders and political leaders. Sometimes I get troubled, by a flash of scruples, which soon disappears when I look around me.
Munirat: My lord, the deed we are about to embark on needs certain amount of support from certain quarters. That we may find favour and God’s speed in our endeavour. I know a man who communes with God, let us seek him out, and commit our deed into God’s hands.
Khalifa: I Khalifa the brave does not commit my affairs into the hands of charlatans. Who swell up their tongues with clever words to deceive the undiscerning of the gullible. For they coat their orifice with honey, and wrapped around their tongues, you become a veritable gnome. To do their biddings and they use you for the worth of your human value. I Khalifa will not be leashed to the apron string of another man. I make my own luck, I make my way. For I must reveal to you that those charlatans are well versed in the art of deceit, with a demon perched precariously on their shoulders, they recite your life history. Then, you become snared in their web of intrigues. My fair lady, let us not commit this deed to such arrant nonsense.
Munirat: Mere mortals we are that live on borrowed time. My lord, we need God’s favour and guidance that our short stay on
THE KHALFA
6
earth will be fruitful and fulfilled. About charlatans, I must confess there are many who put on the garb of religious piety to cajole the unsuspecting fools, who flock to God in droves, leaving their heads behind at home. However, this Marabout I trust with my life, let’s go to him.
Khalifa: My beloved, do not make me laugh in derision, you are a woman yet you bear great wisdom. Who can tell the mind of God among mere mortals, to whom has his secrets been revealed to? It is elongated folly for a mere mortal to play god and claim to be the mouthpiece of God. It is a glamourised stupidity that abides in fantasy. My mother (may her soul rest in peace) did not raise up a fool. My destiny is in my hands and I have stoutly grasped it. It is spiritual ineptitude to ask God to chart your course for you. I have chosen mine and I doubt if God will approve. I shall work assiduously on the opportunities abound until my desire comes to fruition.
Munirat: The affairs of our lives we cannot control. It is imperfection that makes us seek God, so He might help out in our grey areas. Many a time we labour in vain for our hearts desire to materialize. Do not arrogate vanity to your soul that you might stand firm. Twelve years I spent after marriage without an issue until I met the Marabout. Let us go to him.
THE KHALFA
7
Khalifa: I shall not go with you, for Khalifa takes no delight in playing the fool. I did not go with you when he gave you your children. If everyone was to be like Khalifa, then these charlatans will pack their bags of lies and find a real job to do. For it is laziness that has hug their bones that they whisper to demons to find their daily bread.
Exit both Khalifa and Munirat
Scene fades.
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