“AFROCULTURAL DRAMAS” FEATURING “BOOMERANG,” EPISODE 3

September 23, 2022

WHAT’S UP FOR ETU’S INFIDEL WIFE AND HER TROUBLEMAKING LOVER?

Greetings, folks!

This is “No Bullshitting,” by Harry Agina. “AfroCultural Dramas” is one of NBB’s efforts to share the African Culture with the rest of the world. We also offer “AfroCultural Titbits,” and “AfroCultural Entertainment” Categories for ya! Browse around and enjoy our potpourri of AfroCultural InfoTainment.

Now, let’s get to today’s episode of “Boomerang.” This is episode 3 of No Bullshitting Blog’s “AfroCultural Dramas” series on mysticism in Africa. It is titled, “Boomerang.” It is the story of three male friends, and the infidelity of the wife of one of the friends. What’s more, the infidel’s lover has a reputation as the town’s troublemaker. He doesn’t give a damn about what the people say. He sure doesn’t give a damn what the husband of his lover feels. Do remember that this is AfroCultural drama. Hence, you expect to see some implications of African cultural traditions against infidelity lurking somewhere; right? You will not be disappointed in your expectations. Just stay with us as to the end of the series.

At the end of the last episode, Etu’s father-in-law already knew that his daughter is cheating on her husband with Egodede. And, Egodede’s father knew for sure, what he had heard as village gossip. He now knows that  his son is messing around with another man’s wife. So, what next? Read on, and find out, as Michael Shaibu’s “Boomerang” continues, thus:

BOOMERANG 3

1. INSIDE, IN THE SITTING ROOM, AT DUSK.

OTI IS STILL AT HIS RESPECTFUL SQUATTING POSITION, TALKING…HIS FRIENDS, ETU AND AKU, ARE STILL SITTING ON THE BENCH, QUIET…OLD OBELE IS STILL AT HIS CHAIR, HEAD BOWED, LISTENING AND NODDING NOW AND THEN…

OTI (Concludes): …and you elders have a saying: if youths ignore elders and try to resolve an issue on their own, they usually end up escalating it.  That was why we came to you.

NOW, OTI BOWS AGAIN, THEN RISES FROM HIS SQUATTING POSITION AND SITS WITH HIS FRIENDS…OBELE NODS AND REMAINS SILENT FOR ANOTHER LONG MOMENT, DIGESTING THE WHOLE ISSUE PRESENTED, THEN HE LETS OUT A LONG SIGH…

OBELE (Sighs): Like I said, I cannot claim not to have heard the talks going on all over the town about this.  And just before you came, I called Egodede to discuss this particular issue with him.

OBELE GOES QUIET AND LOWERS HIS HEAD TO THINK AGAIN.  THEN HE LETS OUT ANOTHER LONG SIGH IN DESPAIR…

OBELE: Anyway, I must thank you for not taking the law into your own hands and do to him what you think is proper. If I may ask, have you told anyone else?

AKU: Yes, we just came here from old Ilaba, Etu’s father in-law.

OBELE: Good.  And what did he say?

AKU: Well, he expressed his disappointment in his daughter.  But he said he would like to ascertain the truth of it all from his daughter. He asked that we come back to him tomorrow at this time.

OBELE: That is a wise man. Only a foolish man listens to one person’s account of an issue and renders judgment.

AKU: We don’t dispute that, sir.

OBELE: Very well. So please, come back here after leaving Ilaba’s place tomorrow. I will sit my son down and dig the truth from him. I know how to go about that.

OTI: Very well, sir. We appreciate your audience, sir.

OBELE: No, I should be the one saying I appreciate your coming to see me over this. Before you go, however, even though the truth of it all has yet to be established, Etu, I can imagine how you feel. So, please, accept my heart-felt gratitude that you calmly chose to come to me.

ETU: Yes, sir.

OBELE: And to make it even nobler, you came along with your good friends, thereby killing two birds with a stone. This is because you now have witnesses that you actually went to Ilaba and also came to me. Thank you again.

ETU: Yes, sir.

OBELE: And now, I appeal to you to let us have some palm wine together before you leave. Really, I will feel highly insulted if you decline.  Please!

AKU AND OTI TOOK THEIR ALREADY FILLED GLASSES…OTI HANDS HIS GLASS TO ETU, THEN HE GOES TO FILL ANOTHER GLASS FOR HIMSELF…

2. OUTSIDE; UNDER A TREE; AT NIGHT.

IT IS QUIET EXCEPT FOR NIGHT SOUNDS OF CRICKET CHIRPING…EGODEDE STANDS WAITING ALONE, SHIFTING HIS WEIGHT FROM ONE LEG TO THE OTHER, LOOKING THIS WAY AND THAT, HISSING NOW AND THEN…

NOW, ETU’S WIFE AJEDE WALKS HURRIEDLY UP TO EGODEDE AND THEY HUG PASSIONATELY…

EGODEDE: What took you so long?  Now see how late it is.

AJEDE: It is not my fault. I had to go and see my father.  He sent for me and said it was urgent.  I am coming from him now.

EGODEDE: What was it about?  I hope he is not sick again?

AJEDE: Nah!  But why did you say “again” as if he is always sick?  You know my dad is a very strong, healthy man.

EGODEDE: So what was the urgent call about then?

AJEDE: About you and me.  He said my husband and his friends came to see him about us.

EGODEDE SNARLS ANGRILY AND HISSES…

EGODEDE: That idiot!

AJEDE: Who?

EGODEDE: Etu, of course!  The illiterate fool.  Going about ridiculing me.  And yet he cannot face me to my face.

AJEDE: No matter how you look at it, he is still my husband. And by the way, if being an illiterate is an insult, then you are indirectly insulting me too. Don’t forget I am illiterate.

EGODEDE SMILES, QUICKLY GRABS AJEDE, AND KISSES HER…

EGODEDE (Kissing Ajede): But you are beautiful.  And I love you.  You know that.

AJEDE: Still, I am illiterate. And anyway, Etu is still my husband. If you are serious about wanting me for only yourself, then why are you still delaying it?

EGODEDE: Delaying what?

AJEDE: Didn’t we agree that you would give me what Etu paid as my bride price, so I can return it to him, and then become your wife?  And then be yours alone?

EGODEDE OPENS HIS MOUTH TO TALK, THINKS BETTER OF IT, AND QUICKLY SHUTS IT…

AJEDE: And by the way, you said he goes about ridiculing you. How? Has anyone else told you that Etu has spoken to them?

EGODEDE: He and his friends just got to my Dad before I left them to come here.

AJEDE (Scared): What?!  Now this is getting serious!  What do we do?

EGODEDE: What did you tell your Dad?  Did you deny it?  I hope you did.

AJEDE: No, I could not. I never lie to my Dad. I told him the truth.  Then I told him you would come and see him.

ETU’S EYES POP OUT IN SHOCK ON HEARING THAT…

END

By Michael Shaibu

“Etu’s eyes pop out in shock on hearing that,” says the last line of our dramatist, Michael Shaibu. The “that” in question, is Ajede’s mention that Egodede will pay her father a visit. And, you did already hear Ajede talk about the payment of her bride price by Egodede, in order to free her from her current husband. It is an African cultural tradition that divorce of a couple begins with the return of the bride price by the groom, to the father of the bride.

If you ask me, or even if you don’t ask me, I still tell you now that Egodede’s expression of shock is mischievous. You know some playboys and their antics sometimes. Maybe Egodede is playing games with Ajede. Maybe he’s just in the relationship as a playboy. Maybe he only wants to get under the pants of Ajede for as long as she is available for his bedmatic fantasy satisfaction.  Maybe he has no sincere plan to marry Ajede. Maybe he didn’t even intend the affair to go so far and so public. And now, Ajede has gone too far to promise papa that Egodede is soon coming to pay her bride price, to free her from her current husband, Etu. Maybe, Ajede will soon find out that she has  made a huge error of disgracing a husband who wants her, for a playboy who doesn’t want her as a wife! There are so many more maybes to consider. But we leave it all for Mikey to tell us what really is, as “Boomerang” continues, in the next episode.

You will do well to subscribe to us and follow us, so that you will be informed when the next episode is blogged. Until then, it’s bye for now, from Harry Agina.

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