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Upload Browse Download of 44 The Lion and the Jewel Ratings: (0)|Views: 14,537|Likes: 22 Published by OmidSalehi See more [Re-enter the mummers, dancing straight through (more centrally this time) as before. Male dancer enters first, pursued by a number of young women and other choral idlers. The man dances in tortured movements. He and about half of his pursuers have already danced off-stage on the opposite side when Sadiku dips her hand briskly in Lakunles pocket, this time with greater success. Before Lakunle call stop her, she has darted to the drummers and pressed a coin apiece on their foreheads, waving them to possession of the floor. Tilting their heads backwards, they drum her praises. Sadiku denies the credit, points to Lakunle as the generous benefactor. They transfer their attention to him where he stands biting his lips at the trick. The other dancers have now been brought back and the drummers resume the beat of the interrupted dance. The treasurer removes the coins from their foreheads and places them in a pouch. Now begins the dance of virility which is of course none other than the Baroka story. Very athletic movements. Even in his prime, Baroka is made a comic figure, held in a kind of tolerant respect by his women. At his decline and final downfall, they are most unsparing in their taunts and tantalizing motions. Sadiku has never stopped bouncing on her toes through the dance, now she is done the honour of being invited to join at the kill. A dumb show of bashful refusals, then she joins them, reveals surprising agility for her age, to the wild enthusiasm of the rest who surround and spur her on. With Baroka finally scotched, the crowd dances away to their incoming movement, leaving Sadiku to dance on oblivious of their departure. The drumming becomes more distant and she unwraps her eyelids. Sighs, looks around her and walks contentedly towards Lakunle. As usual he has enjoyed the spectacle in spite of himself, showing especial relish where Baroka gets the worst of it from his women. Sadiku looks at him for a moment while he tries to replace -57- his obvious enjoyment with disdain. She shouts Boo at him, and breaks into a dance movement, shakes a sudden leg at Lakunle.] SADIKU: Sadiku of the duikers feet . . . thats what the men used to call me. I could twist and untwist my waist with the smoothness of a water snake . . . LAKUNLE: No doubt. And you are still just as slippery. I hope Baroka kills you for this. When he finds out what your wagging tongue Has done to him, I hope he beats you Till you choke on your own breath . . . [ Sidi bursts in, she has been running all the way. She throws herself on the ground against the tree and sobs violently, beating herself on the ground.] SADIKU: [on her knees beside her.] Why, child. What is the matter? SIDI: [pushes her off.] Get away from me. Do not touch me. LAKUNLE: [with a triumphant smile, he pulls Sadiku away and takes her place.] Oh, Sidi, let me kiss your tears . . . SIDI: [pushes him so hard that he sits down abruptly.] Dont touch me. LAKUNLE: [dusting himself.] He must have beaten her. Did I not warn you both? Baroka is a creature of the wilds, Untutored, mannerless, devoid of grace. [ Sidi only cries all the more, beats on the ground with clenched fists and stubs her toes in the ground.] Chief though he is, I shall kill him for this . . . No. Better still, I shall demand Redress from the central courts. I shall make him spend The remainder of his wretched life -58- In prison -- with hard labour. Ill teach him To beat defenceless women . . . SIDI: [lifting her head.] Fool! You little fools! It was a lie. The frog. The cunning frog! He lied to you, Sadiku. SADIKU: Sango forbid! SIDI: He told me . . . afterwards, crowing. It was a trick. He knew Sadiku would not keep it to herself, That I, or maybe other maids would hear of it And go to mock his plight. And how he laughed! How his frog-face croaked and croaked And called me little fool! Oh how I hate him! How I loathe And long to kill the man! LAKUNLE: [retreating.] But Sidi, did he . . . ? I mean . . . Did you escape? [Louder sobs front Sidi.] Speak, Sidi, this is agony. Tell me the worst; Ill take it like a man. Is it the fright which effects you so, Or did he . . . ? Sidi, I cannot bear the thought. The words refuse to form. Do not unman me, Sidi. Speak Before I burst in tears. SADIKU: [raises Sidis chin in her hand.] Sidi, are you a maid or not? [ Sidi shakes her head violently and bursts afresh in tears.] LAKUNLE: The Lord forbid! SADIKU: Too late for prayers. Cheer up. It happens to the best of us. -59- LAKUNLE: Oh heavens, strike me dead! Earth, open up and swallow Lakunle. For he no longer has the wish to live. Let the lightning fall and shrivel me To dust and ashes . . . [Recoils.] No, that wish is cowardly. This trial is my own. Let Sango and his lightning keep out of this. It Is my cross, and let it not be spoken that In the hour of need, Lakunle stood Upon the scales and was proved wanting. My love is selfless -- the love of spirit Not of flesh. [Stands over Sidi.] Dear Sidi, we shall forget the past. This great misfortune touches not The treasury of my love. But you will agree, it is only fair That we forget the bride-price totally Since you no longer can be called a maid. Here is my hand; if on these terms, Youll be my cherished wife. Well take an oath, between us three That this shall stay A secret to our dying days . . . [Takes a look at Sadiku and adds quickly.] Oh no, a secret even after were dead and gone. And if Baroka dares to boast of it, Ill swear he is a liar -- and swear by Sango too! [ Sidi raises herself slowly, staring at Lakunle with unbelieving eyes. She is unsmiling, her face a puzzle.] SIDI: You would? You would marry me? LAKUNLE: [puffs out his chest.] Yes. [Without a change of expression, Sidi dashes suddenly off the stage.] -60- SADIKU: What on earth has got into her? LAKUNLE: I wish I knew She took off suddenly Like a hunted buck. [Looks off-stage.] I think -- yes, she is, She is going home. Sadiku, will you go? Find out if you can What she plans to do. [ Sadiku nods and goes. Lakunle walks up and down.] And now I know I am the biggest fool That ever walked this earth. There are women to be found In every town or village in these parts, And every one a virgin. But I obey my books. [Distant music. Light drums, flutes, box-guitars, sekere.] Man takes the fallen woman by the hand And ever after they live happily. Moreover, I will admit, It solves the problem of her bride-price too. A man must live or fall by his true Principles. That, I had sworn, Never to pay. [Enter Sadiku.] SADIKU: She is packing her things. She is gathering her clothes and trinkets together, and oiling herself as a bride does before her wedding. LAKUNLE: Heaven help us! I am not impatient. Surely she can wait a day or two at least. There is the asking to be done, And then I have to hire a praise-singer, And such a number of ceremonies -61- Must firstly be performed. SADIKU: Just what I said but she only laughed at me and called me a . . . a . . . what was it now . . . a bra . . . braba . . . brabararian. It serves you right. It all comes of your teaching. I said what about the asking and the other ceremonies. And she looked at me and said, leave all that nonsense to savages and brabararians. LAKUNLE: But I must prepare myself. I cannot be A single man one day and a married one the next. It must come gradually. I will not wed in haste. A man must have time to prepare, To learn to like the thought. I must think of my pupils too: Would they be pleased if I were married Not asking their consent . . . ? [The singing group is now audible even to him.] What is that? The musicians? Could they have learnt so soon? SADIKU: The news of a festivity travels fast. You ought to know that. LAKUNLE: The goddess of malicious gossip Herself must have a hand in my undoing. The very spirits of the partial air Have all conspired to blow me, willy-nilly Down the slippery slope of grim matrimony. What evil have I done . . . ? Ah, here they come! [Enter crowd and musicians.] Go back. You are not needed yet. Nor ever. Hence parasites, youve made a big mistake. There is no one getting wedded; get you home. [ Sidi now enters. In one hand she holds a bundle, done up in a richly embroidered cloth: in the other the magazine. She is -62- radiant, jewelled, lightly clothed, and wears light leather-thong sandals. They all go suddenly silent except for the long-drawn O-Ohs of admiration. She goes up to Lakunle and hands him the book.] SIDI: A present from Sidi. I tried to tear it up But my fingers were too frail. [To the crowd.] Let us go. [To Lakunle.] You may come too if you wish, You are invited. LAKUNLE: [lost in the miracle of transformation.] Well I should hope so indeed Since I am to marry you. SIDI: [turns round in surprise.] Marry who . . .? You thought . . . Did you really think that you, and I . . . Why, did you think that after him, I could endure the touch of another man? I who have felt the strength, The perpetual youthful zest Of the panther of the trees? And would I choose a watered-down, A beardless version of unripened man? LAKUNLE: [bars her way.] I shall not let you. I shall protect you from yourself. SIDI: [gives him a shove that sits him down again, hard against the tree base.] Out of my way, book-nourished shrimp. Do you see what strength he has given me? That was not bad. For a man of sixty, It was the secret of Gods own draught -63- A deed for drums and ballads. But you, at sixty, youll be ten years dead! In fact, youll not survive your honeymoon . . . Come to my wedding if you will. If not . . . [She shrugs her shoulders. Kneels down at Sadikus feet.] Mother of brides, your blessing . . . SADIKU: [lays her hand on Sidis head.] I invoke the fertile gods. They will stay with you. May the time come soon when you shall be as round-bellied as a full moon in a low sky. SIDI: [hands her the bundle.] Now bless my wordly goods. [Turns to the musicians.] Come, sing to me of seeds Of children, sired of the lion stock. [The Musicians resume their tune. Sidi sings and dances.] Mo teni. Mo teni. Mo teni. Mo teni. Sun mo mi, we mo mi Sun mo mi, fa mo mi Yarabi lo meyi to le domo . . . [Festive air, fully pervasive. Oil lamps from the market multiply as traders desert their stalls to join them. A young girl flaunts her dancing buttocks at Lakunle and he rises to the bait. Sadiku gets in his way as he gives chase. Tries to make him dance with her. Lakunle last seen, having freed himself of Sadiku, clearing a space in the crowd for the young girl. The crowd repeat the song after Sidi.] Tolani Tolani Temi ni Temi ni Sun mo mi, we mo mi Sun mo mi, fa mo mi Yarabi lo meyi to le domo. THE END -64- Activity (27