CONCERTACIÓN DEL SUBSIDIO A LOS MUNICIPIOS Y, EN SU CASO, A LOS ESTADOS CUANDO TENGAN A

Scene 1 Evening, Saturday. Hospital.

Odili is lying on a bed. Mr Samalu sits next to him. Enter two Policemen carrying weapons that include two double barrels, five matchetes and two bottles. They drop them front stage guided by one police officer while the other goes out and returns with two files. He hands over one file to his colleague.

MR SAMALU: What is happening? Sergeant!

SERGEANT: No interfere with gov‘ment business! (Tries to handcuff Odili) Mr Odili Samalu, you are under arrest!

MR SAMALU: Doctor! Doctor, oh!

Doctor enters.

DOCTOR: Officer! What is the problem? Come and talk to me(takes the officer away from the bed while the other officer stays put watching the Nurse treat Odili) he is unconscious. What is the problem?

SERGEANT: Co‘cious no co‘cious na your business, doctor. Our own na to arrest him.

DOCTOR: For what?

SERGEANT: Him go disrupt Chief Nanga‘s political rally.

DOCTOR: And what about those who beat him into coma? Have you arrested them? I think this country is sick.

SERGEANT: (Pointing to the weapons) See dangerous weapons wey we find for him car, you dey here dey blow big grammar. In fact, this man, na hardened criminal.

MR SAMALU: My son is not a criminal.

SERGEANT: Copra! Read the charges!

CORPORAL: (Reads from a file) ―On leaving Chief Nanga‘s house, that you, Mr Odili Samalu, on that same day you insulted the aforementioned Chief, Saturday, 12 December 1964, went and deceived a new political party, Common People‘s

Convention, using their name to engage in illegal political activities‖.

DOCTOR: How?

SERGEANT: You dey ask me? (Looks at Mr Samalu) That one no be crime?

MR SAMALU: I am sure my son did everything he was supposed to do.

SERGEANT: Copra, go on!

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CORPORAL: “That you, Mr Odili Samalu, on this day, Saturday, 9 January 1965, went uninvited and disrupted Chief Micah A Nanga‘s political rally in his home town, Anata. That you insulted the aforementioned Chief, the Honourable Minister for

Culture, before all his people, calling him a liar.‖ (Closes the file and salutes Sergeant).

DOCTOR: Officer, we can sort everything out. Just be patient, I will tell you when he is conscious enough to give a statement. (The police officers appear uncompromising) Okay? Please.

SERGEANT: (Taking the weapons away)Make you no think say we don go. We go stay around dey watch am.

(Police officers exit).

MR SAMALU: Thank you Doctor.

DOCTOR: It‘s all right, Mr Samalu. (Checks Odili) MR SAMALU: How is he doing?

DOCTOR: He‘s fine, sir. It may take two to three days for him to regain full consciousness.

Edna enters. She is carrying a wound at the back of her elbow.

DOCTOR: The casualty ward is in the opposite room.

EDNA: I know, sir. I‘ve come to see Odili.

DOCTOR: Okay, but make sure you get yourself straight to casualty.

Nurse enters.

NURSE: Doctor, there are more victims from the election campaign coming in.

DOCTOR: I‘ll be back soon, Mr Samalu.

Nurse and Doctor run out.

EDNA: Good evening sir. I‘m Odili‘s friend.

MR SAMALU: Does my daughter have a name?

EDNA: My name is Edna, sir.

MR SAMALU: (Sighs) Thank you for coming. You are the first of Odili‘s friends that has come to visit him, since... (gets emotional).

EDNA: Papa, it will be all right. Please, Papa… (holds Odili‟s hand).

MR SAMALU: Were you at the rally?

EDNA: Yes, sir.

MR SAMALU: What happened?

Edna and Mr Samalu freeze. Odili lifts his head and appears awake. Lights out or blurry light. Odili speaks (while they – Odili, Edna and Mr Samalu – prepare for the next scene).

ODILI: Let me tell my story. Please don‘t be afraid. I‘m not ghosting. I am still unconscious. But it is very necessary that I must tell you my story. In case I don‘t ever wake up, please, will you tell Edna and tell my father, that it all began the day Chief Nanga came to visit Anata Grammar School….

50 MEMORY Act 1: Scene 2 Before midday. Anata Grammar School.

MR SAMALU: Ladies and gentlemen. As the local chairman of the People‘s

Organisational Party, it is my honour to welcome Chief the Honourable, M. A. Nanga, Minister of Culture! Nnukwu Mmanwu – the great masquerade! A man of the People!!

(Gunshots! Drums! Gong! Ululation! Dance!)

(A poster hangs on Stage “ANATA GRAMMAR SCHOOL welcomes Honourable Chief M A NANGA”. A Masquerade appears with a comic dance leading Nanga and his entourage, including Edna and Principal of Anata Grammar School, onto the stage.

Then, a dance group performs around the Masquerade. Odili stands by the side continuing his narration from the last scene using a voice-over technique).

ODILI:(Commentary continued) Villagers were dancing themselves lame for a very corrupt Minister who led a pack of hounds against honest and more educated politicians in the Parliament in his quest for a ministerial portfolio.

Mr Samalu pushes Odili forward to greet Chief Nanga.

ODILI: (Glares at his father. Greets Nanga respectfully) You are welcome, Chief.

NANGA: I know this fellow. Is this not Odili?

MR SAMALU: Yes, Chief, this is my son/

PRINCIPAL: And one of my teachers.

MR SAMALU: …your old student/

NANGA: (Excited. Hugs Odili) Odili the great! Yes, he was my most brilliant boy. I taught him in Standard Three, you see! Odili the great! What are you doing here?

ODILI: Teaching.

NANGA: Wonderful! Teaching is a noble profession. But you should come and take up a strategic post in Lagos. We shouldn‘t leave everything for the highland people. We must press for our fair share of the national cake, you see.

MR SAMALU: I think he will be happy to come, Chief. He is a university graduate.

NANGA: You have been to University? I said it. (Addressing his entourage) I always said to other boys that he will go to University. He never forgets any lesson you teach him. No be so, Odili?

ODILI: (smiles in approval).

NANGA: (Back to Odili) And I still remember your mates‘ slogan: ‗Odili has the last laugh‘(he laughs loudly). But why haven‘t you called on me since you graduated?

ODILI: As a Minister, you must be very busy. Moreover, I am applying for postgraduate scholarship, first, before I start applying for federal appointments.

NANGA: Ah, Minister na servant. To serve people like you, you see? You will come to Lagos and we will see to your postgraduate scholarship…to England or even America our new friends…. They are awarding me Doctor of Law, LLD next month.

ODILI: Congratulations, sir! You deserve it.

Everyone around expresses „Congratulations!‟ in different ways.

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MALE DANCER: (Prances with dance steps) Eeh! O bukwa nu Chief, buru Honourable burukwa Doctor ooo!

ODILI: (Speaks to Edna) Hello. I‘m Odili.

EDNA: Edna.

ODILI: You are Chief‘s daughter?

EDNA: (Shakes her head and turns away).

ODILI: Can I… (Edna moves the other side of Chief Nanga).

NANGA: (Addresses his hosts) Thank you ladies and gentlemen for this sumptuous and rapturous reception. (Applause). Yes, splendid indeed, splendid! This visit is just a family re-union; you know, I have not come to ask for your votes (laughter) – there is no election. I will continue to do my best for you in Lagos, because I insist that our people must press for their fair share of the national cake. I assure you that I will leave no stone unturned to find every crumb that belongs to us. Thank you. (Applause).

The dancers entertain as people congratulate Chief Nanga.

NANGA: (Turns to Odili) Make you come Lagos this Christmas holidays o; otherwise I go send police to bring you. When you come, I will take you to my friend Chief Koko, Honourable Minister for Overseas Training, make we see if something is going.

(He laughs).

ODILI: No problem Chief. I will be there. Thank you, Chief.

MR SAMALU: Thank you very much, Chief.

NANGA: (Shaking hands with the principal) The honourable principal! Thank you, sir, for this wonderful reception.

PRINCIPAL: Oh, his honourable, I should be the one saying ‗thank you sir‘/

NANGA: No, no, no, no! You all know my motto: ‗Do the right thing and shame the devil.‖ (Applause). Minister or no Minister, I must respect my elders. Is that not our culture? Am I not the minister for culture? (Laughter).

ALL: (As in a chorus) You are!

NANGA: Ahaa! I have to teach by example.

PRINCIPAL: Thank you for coming to visit your people, especially, Anata Grammar School.

NANGA: Minister or no Minister, I am a son of Anata! No be so?

ALL: (As in a chorus) Na so!

NANGA: Ahaa! You don‘t forget where you home (the masquerade performs a comic dance and leads Nanga and his entourage out).

(Exit all except Odili and Mr Samalu).

MR SAMALU: You see? I told you. Chief Nanga is a very good man.

ODILI: I told you, I don‘t like this man.

MR SAMALU: Who do you like, Odili? Is it me? Is it your brothers or your sisters?

No body. Tell yourself the truth, it‘s only yourself that you like.

ODILI: I know how he became a Minister. It was very shameful.

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MR SAMALU: That knowledge that holds you down is not good knowledge. You must go to Lagos and let Chief find you a better job.

ODILI: I will go to Lagos but I am only interested in postgraduate scholarship.

MR SAMALU: What is the use going to school when the less educated are ruling and have all the money?

ODILI: I prefer knowledge to money.

MR SAMALU: Rubbish! (Walking away) You will eat book. And what have you achieved with all the knowledge you have gathered from school?

ODILI: I am teaching others.

Mr Samalu exits.

Act 1: Scene 3

ODILI (Commentary): In the evening of that first day in Lagos, Chief Nanga took me to the Minister for Overseas Training, Chief Koko, to negotiate my postgraduate

scholarship. I was well impressed with how quick he tackled an issue as personal as this. But at Chief Koko‘s house, it was comedy.

Saturday Evening. Lagos. Chief Koko’s house.

Chief Koko walks towards the door. Enter Nanga and Odili.

NANGA: (with excitement as he shakes Koko) Chief the Honourable Simon Koko!

KOKO: Animal in the shooting…

KOKO & NANGA: (Chorus) …eating in progress! (They shake hands again and laugh like jesters. Odili stands looking at them. After laughing, Nanga introduces Odili).

NANGA: This is my boy, Odili. I asked him to come and spend his holidays with me.

He is a university graduate but I laid the foundation. I taught him in Standard Three.

(Enter Chief Koko‟s steward. He puts down a cup of coffee on side table beside Chief Koko‟s seat and exits).

KOKO: Welcome, gentleman.

ODILI: Thank you, sir.

KOKO: Have seat. (They all sit down. Looking at Nanga). What is going for you my man? Tea or coffee?

NANGA: (Laughs comically again). Oyibo! Tea, coffee, me I no follow you black-white men for that. Na whisky I go take. Odili, I hope you dey for my side?

ODILI: No problem, sir.

KOKO: (He serves them whisky; takes a sip from his cup of coffee. Then begins to wiggle his body in discomfort). M. A., they have killed me!

NANGA: (Springs up) What?

KOKO: (Almost crying) They have poisoned my coffee o! What did I do to anybody?

Call the cook! Call the cook! What wrong have I done they want my life? O my God!

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NANGA: (Clearly confused) Steward! Steward! (He rushes to the telephone and dials). This is Chief the Honourable Nanga, Minister of Culture….I said this is the Minister for Culture of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and you are there asking me question. Where is the doctor/

KOKO: What‘s the need for doctor? What do they know about African poison?

NANGA… I said I want to speak to the doctor. Take it easy for what? My friend, the Minister for Overseas Training, is dying, you say I should take it easy....Okay, I will deal with you (bangs the phone. He rushes out calling out to the steward while Odili is standing beside Chief Koko comforting him. Chief Nanga rushes back to the stage.

Behind him comes the Steward).

KOKO: (At the sight of the steward springs to attack him but Odili and Nanga restrain him). You poisoned my coffee! After everything I‘ve done for you? You ungrateful idiot! I am going to kill you before I die!

STEWARD: (Taken aback and frightened) Me? Poison Master? (Shrugs)

Nevertheless! (Moves swiftly and grabs the cup of coffee and drinks all of it. Everyone is shocked into silence as the Steward looks around in affirmation of his claim). How I go poison master? My head no correct? Nevertheless me for poison master. Na because I no remember for time say master coffee finish; na im make I rush buy our homemade coffee make master manage for this night.

KOKO: Why you no tell me say na homemade. I dey drink homemade?

STEWARD: As gor‘ment say make everybody dey drink homemade, I no sabi say e go burn master belle. Sorry, master.

KOKO: Sorry yourself. Carry yourself commot here!

Exit the cook with the teacup and saucer.

NANGA: (Bursts into laughter). Nwoke m, na so you dey fear death?

KOKO: You nko? If na you, you no go shit for trouser?

(Nanga begins to mimic Koko wriggling his body and saying “they have killed me o!”

etc. Koko in turn goes to the telephone and mimics Nanga saying “This is the Minister of Culture for the Federal Republic of Nigeria!” After, they both burst into laughter.

Odili tries to avoid eye contact with any of them, remaining immune to their laughter).

In document INFORME DE ACTIVIDADES (página 21-0)