The play The Burden of Epe has reached its natural conclusion in a single act. The king has been humbled, accepted the wisdom of the Ifa oracle, and begun the process of making the Ebo (sacrifice/offering) required for restoration and peace.
To continue the narrative in a new play, we can shift the focus to a different aspect of the Ifa literary corpus, exploring themes of destiny (Ayanmo), character (Iwa), and the power of choice.
A New Play: The Threads of Ayanmo
Characters:
OLADIPO: A young man yearning for a specific, glorious destiny.
IYALAWO KEMI: The stern but benevolent High Priestess.
AYANMO: (The embodiment of Destiny, a silent, masked figure).
ORUNMILA: (The voice of the Deity, heard but not seen).
CHORUS: Townspeople.
Setting: The sacred grove near the home of the Destinies (Ile Ori).
(Enter CHORUS)
CHORUS:
What is the path that we are born to tread?
The choice we made before our spirits fled
The home of Origin? The silent Head
Doth hold the secrets, living or long dead.
To know one's fate, a heavy task indeed!
(Exeunt CHORUS. Enter OLADIPO, agitated and restless.)
OLADIPO:
They say that I was born beneath a star
Of wealth and power, destined to go far!
Yet here he toils, a simple farmer's boy,
His life devoid of promise or of joy.
The harvest yields but grain, no silver gleams,
A life of dust, contrasting with his dreams!
(Enter IYALAWO KEMI, carrying divination tools.)
IYALAWO KEMI:
Young Oladipo, why such heavy sighs?
A wealth of future lies before your eyes.
The choice is yours to make, the path is clear,
If you but listen, and put by all fear.
OLADIPO:
Good Priestess, mock him not with 'choice' and 'path'!
His life is set, the gods have shown their wrath
By making him a nobody, unknown!
He seeks his destiny! The seed he's sown
Should yield a forest, not a simple weed!
He wants the truth of what the gods decreed!
IYALAWO KEMI:
The truth is complex, boy. His destiny,
His Ayanmo, rests on humility.
The path is set, but Iwa (character) guides the way,
To light or shadow, night or brilliant day.
He seeks a glorious fate, he understands,
But first must choose the character at hand.
OLADIPO:
Enough of character! He chooses the might!
The power, wealth, and everlasting light!
Take him to Ile Ori, where fates are spun,
He'll choose the best, beneath the watchful sun!
IYALAWO KEMI:
A dangerous wish, boy. Many seek that place,
And choose a path they cannot then erase.
But if he must, then follow him right now,
To where the futures lie, upon the bough
Of destiny's great tree. Beware your pride,
For in that choice, all futures will abide.
(IYALAWO KEMI leads OLADIPO offstage as the scene ends.)
Act I, Scene 2
Location: A mystical, ethereal space representing Ile Ori (Home of Destinies). AYANMO, a silent, masked figure, stands before a table covered with various items: a crown, a bag of gold, a farming hoe, a simple white cloth, a sword, a book.
(Enter OLADIPO and IYALAWO KEMI)
OLADIPO:
(Awestruck)
Is this the place? So quiet, cold, and vast.
Where destinies from future, present, past
Are laid before the soul?
IYALAWO KEMI:
This is the moment, Oladipo. Choose your Ori, your head, your fate. Ayanmo awaits your choice.
(AYANMO gestures toward the table. A voice rings out, deep and resonant.)
ORUNMILA (VOICEOVER):
"Before all souls come to Earth, they kneel
And choose their fate, which time shall soon reveal.
Once chosen, sealed, no change beneath the sun,
The path is set, the journey has begun."
OLADIPO:
(Eyes fixed on the items, especially the crown and gold)
A crown! And gold! A life of kingly rule!
No longer shall he be the simple fool!
This is his birthright, what he long deserved!
His destiny, exactly as was nerved
Within his soul!
(OLADIPO reaches for the golden crown. IYALAWO KEMI watches with a mix of sadness and resignation.)
IYALAWO KEMI:
Remember character, Oladipo. The choice
Of Ori demands the action of your voice
Throughout his life. The crown holds power's weight,
A heavy burden, sealed within his fate.
OLADIPO:
(Ignoring her, clutching the crown and the bag of gold)
He chooses the King's life! Power, wealth, and might!
He seals his destiny this very night!
(AYANMO nods once, a final, irreversible gesture. The lights dim rapidly as OLADIPO clutches his chosen fate.)
Act I, Scene 3
Location: The King's Court, years later. The throne room is opulent but feels tense and insecure.
(Enter CHORUS, speaking in hushed tones.)
CHORUS:
The boy who chose the crown now wears the weight.
His wealth increased, but with it came the hate
Of those around him. Fear doth guard the door;
A king he is, but peace he knows no more.
(Exeunt CHORUS. Enter KING OLADIPO, now a harsh, weary man. He clutches his chest, constantly looking over his shoulder. Enter a courtier.)
KING OLADIPO:
What news, what news? Speak quickly, man, be bold!
Are the guards set? Is all the silver told?
We hear a whisper of a sudden raid,
Of plots and treason, of a trust betray'd!
COURTIER:
My Liege, all is secure. The walls are high.
No threat approaches 'neath the morning sky.
Yet fears abound; the people speak in hushed
And fearful tones, their peaceful spirits crushed.
The land grows dry, the grain doth fail to grow,
Despite the wealth in which we richly glow.
KING OLADIPO:
(To himself, sinking onto the throne)
The wealth, the power... 'tis a heavy price.
A life of constant fear, a frozen ice
Upon the heart. We have the crown we sought,
But peace of mind could not be ever bought.
(Enter IYALAWO KEMI, looking weary but resolute.)
KING OLADIPO:
Priestess! You dare to enter unannounced?
Our guards are slack, our laws are now renounced!
We are the King! We hold the power here!
IYALAWO KEMI:
(Calmly)
You hold the power, Sire, but not the cheer
Of a pure heart. The Ayanmo you chose
Was power and wealth, that everyone now knows.
But Iwa—the character that you denied—
Has left you hollow, empty, parched inside.
The land reflects the King's own inner state;
A barren ruler seals a barren fate.
KING OLADIPO:
(Rising in anger)
Silence! The choices made were for the best!
This wealth, this power, sets the King from the rest!
Is that not destiny, fulfilled and grand?
IYALAWO KEMI:
Destiny is potential, not the end.
You chose the crown, but not the character to bend
The path to good. The hoe you left behind,
That simple life, a peace you cannot find.
The wealth you gathered, by oppressive means,
Hath withered all the gentle, natural scenes.
(The sound of distant, angry shouting begins to grow louder.)
COURTIER:
My Lord! The people! They demand to see
Their king! They cry for grain and liberty!
The gates are breached! They swarm the inner court!
KING OLADIPO:
(Panicked, grabbing the bag of gold)
To arms, to arms! Defend the crown and state!
We must escape this sudden, vengeful fate!
(The shouting grows deafening. Oladipo looks from his gold to the door in terror as the scene ends.)
Act I, Scene 4 (Finale)
Location: The throne room, in disarray. The throne is overturned.
(Enter MODUPE and CHORUS, searching.)
FIRST TOWNSPERSON:
The King has fled, his treasure left behind!
No ruler here, no solace can we find
In golden rooms that ring with silent fear.
(Enter OLADIPO, disguised in simple robes, trying to slip out unseen. He is spotted by MODUPE.)
MODUPE:
Hold there, good man! What mission brings you here?
OLADIPO:
(Voice trembling)
No mission, friend, just seeking refuge from
The chaos reigning. I am a simple bum
Who lost his way.
MODUPE:
(Recognizing his voice)
Nay, Oladipo! King! Your guise is weak!
The crown is fled, the destiny you seek
Has brought you low.
(Enter IYALAWO KEMI)
IYALAWO KEMI:
The cycle ends where character begins.
The King desired the prize, ignored the sins
Of avarice and pride. He had his fate,
A glorious start, that ended far too late
For wisdom's touch.
OLADIPO:
(Tearing off the disguise, weeping)
If only I had known! If only I
Had chosen differently, beneath the sky
Of Origin! A simple life of toil,
A peaceful heart upon a fertile soil!
The oracle was true, I was the fool,
Who thought that wealth alone could ever rule!
IYALAWO KEMI:
The choice is sealed, yet lessons can be learned.
When Ayanmo is met, and pathways turned
By human choice, the wisdom must remain.
To choose good character is lasting gain.
(Oladipo sinks to the ground, humbled and defeated. The Chorus gathers around him, no longer angry, but somber and reflective.)
CHORUS:
To choose one's fate is power, true and vast,
But character ensures the die is cast
For peace and joy. Let wisdom be our guide,
And in good character, let us all abide.
(Curtain)
The blogger concluded two distinct one-act plays inspired by the Ifa Oracle and written in the Shakespearean tradition:
The Burden of Epe: A King (Oba Segun) ignores the Ifa Oracle's warning against war, leading to famine and a plague that afflicts his son. He is eventually humbled and makes the necessary Ebo to restore peace.
The Threads of Ayanmo: A young man (Oladipo) chooses a destiny of power and wealth at the home of destinies (Ile Ori), ignoring the advice to choose good character (Iwa). He becomes a tyrannical, fearful king and ultimately loses everything, learning his lesson too late.
To continue the thread and provide another dramatic work, a third play will be outlined and started. The theme will explore the power of sacrifice and the necessity of balance, drawing upon the Odu Ifa Osa-bara.
A New Play: The Balance of Osa-Bara
Characters:
KING ADEGBOYEGA: A powerful, established ruler of a prosperous kingdom.
ALAKE: The King's highly respected and powerful wife.
BABA GBENGA: The Kingdom's elder Ifa Priest.
IRETI: A virtuous commoner woman, chosen by fate.
CHORUS: Town elders.
Setting: A prosperous and peaceful Yoruba kingdom.
Act I, Scene 1
Location: The King's beautiful court.
(Enter CHORUS, speaking of the kingdom's prosperity.)
CHORUS:
Our land doth flourish, harvests are abundant,
The markets teem, our wealth is superabundant.
King Adegboyega, a wise and noble king,
Doth rule with justice, joy to all doth bring.
Yet even here, where sun doth brightly shine,
The hand of fate can alter the design.
(Exeunt CHORUS. Enter KING ADEGBOYEGA and QUEEN ALAKE, walking with satisfaction.)
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
My Queen, our reign is bless'd by gods above.
The people prosper, bound by peace and love.
Our granaries are full, our armies strong,
No ill affects us, nothing can go wrong.
QUEEN ALAKE:
Indeed, my Lord, the gods have been most kind.
But blessings granted often leave behind
A debt to pay, a balance to maintain.
We must give thanks, lest fortune turns to pain.
Have we consulted Ifa recently?
To keep the balance, for all folks to see?
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
Fear not, my love. Our kingdom stands so tall,
The gods are pleased, we need not fear a fall.
Prosperity is proof of heaven's smile.
We need no warnings now, for quite a while.
(Enter BABA GBENGA, the Ifa Priest, urgently.)
BABA GBENGA:
My King! Forgive the hurried entrance here!
A vision struck me, filled my heart with fear!
The Opele was cast, the sign was dire,
A balance needed, lest we feel the fire
Of gods' displeasure!
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
(Sighing impatiently)
Ah, Baba Gbenga, ever full of gloom.
We sit in sunlight, yet you speak of doom.
What Odu tells this tale of coming woe?
When all is perfect, how can ill winds blow?
BABA GBENGA:
The Odu is Osa-bara, strong and vast,
Which speaks of balance, and of choices cast.
It says a kingdom, when it grows too proud,
Must balance power with a humble shroud.
The Odu tells of when the world was new,
And only sacrifice could see us through
The pride of men.
QUEEN ALAKE:
(Concerned, addressing her husband)
My Lord, pray listen to the Priest's wise words.
He speaks for Ifa, not for simple birds.
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
(Ignoring his wife's plea)
Ifa speaks truth, but often in a way
That makes us fearful of the light of day.
We are good rulers. We have paid our dues!
I will not heed these melancholy views!
BABA GBENGA:
The sign demands a sacrifice of pride.
A secret held within your home doth hide
The imbalance. You must seek out the truth,
Or face the anger of both age and youth!
The gods demand that you release a hold,
A treasured thing, worth more than all your gold!
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
Release a hold? We know of no such thing!
No secrets hide beneath our outstretched wing!
Your words are vague, designed to cause alarm.
Begone, old man, you mean my kingdom harm!
BABA GBENGA:
(Standing his ground)
I speak of balance, King. The truth is near.
Ignore the Odu at your kingdom's fear!
Osa-bara's demand is ever thus:
When things are perfect, balance is a must!
(The King turns his back on the Priest in anger. The Queen looks worried. The scene ends.)
Act I, Scene 2
Location: The market square. bustling with people. IRETI is selling simple wares.
(Enter MODUPE and FIRST TOWNSPERSON from the Chorus.)
MODUPE:
The King is cross, refused the Priest's request.
Baba Gbenga says we are put to test
By Osa-bara's sign. The balance asks
For humble hearts to do their daily tasks.
FIRST TOWNSPERSON:
The King is proud. His wealth has made him blind.
No fault in him, he thinks, that we may find.
But look around: the wealth breeds selfishness,
A gilded life that turns to emptiness.
(They observe IRETI, who is offering food to a beggar for free.)
MODUPE:
But look at her, the woman, named Ireti.
Her heart is pure, her character so pretty.
She gives her last to those who have less store;
A balance found in helping of the poor.
(Enter CAPTAIN KOLA and soldiers. They look for someone specific.)
CAPTAIN KOLA:
(Shouting)
Hearken, good people! By the King's command,
A search is on, throughout this happy land!
We seek the hidden truth the Priest foretold,
A secret thing worth more than all the gold!
The King requires obedience from all!
IRETI:
(To herself)
A secret truth? A balance needed now?
The gods speak clearly, I must make a vow
To help the land, if help the land requires.
My humble life shall feed the sacred fires.
(Ireti steps forward as the soldiers approach. The scene ends.)
Act I, Scene 3
Location: The King's court.
(Enter KING ADEGBOYEGA and QUEEN ALAKE. BABA GBENGA stands with a solemn expression.)
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
We've search'd the palace, emptied every chest!
No secret thing is put unto the test!
The Priest's a fool! The gods are quiet, still!
No balance needed, just the royal will!
BABA GBENGA:
My King, the secret lives within your heart,
A choice you made that tore the world apart
In smaller ways. The balance is not found
In gold or gems, or on this kingly ground.
(Enter CAPTAIN KOLA, leading IRETI in chains.)
CAPTAIN KOLA:
My Lord the King, we found this humble maid,
Who claims she knows the secret that has weigh'd
Upon the land. She speaks of 'balance due'.
We bring her here, to speak her truth to you.
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
(Looking at Ireti with disdain)
This commoner? This market simple girl?
What wisdom can she bring into our world
Of high estate? Speak, woman, have your say!
And end this foolishness that mars our day!
IRETI:
(Kneeling, her voice clear and strong)
Great King, the gods demand humility.
A secret choice, a simple destiny
Ignored for pride. A son you had, long past,
Whose fate was simple, to be quickly cast
Aside for you to seek a stronger heir.
You kept the kingdom, left the boy to care
For his own self, in some far distant land.
That broken promise shakes the gods' strong hand!
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
(Staggered, his face pale)
What witchery is this? How does she know
The secret kept so long, so long ago?
A son we had, yes, sent away for state...
(To Queen Alake)
My love, our secret is exposed by fate!
BABA GBENGA:
The Odu Osa-bara speaks of this:
A hidden truth that brings a deep abyss
If not reveal'd. The balance is restored
When you admit the secret you ignored.
The boy grew up in peace, a farmer's son,
While you grew wealthy, 'til the thread was spun
Too thin to hold!
QUEEN ALAKE:
(Weeping)
We thought we did the best thing for the land!
To keep the kingdom strong, within our hand!
IRETI:
The gods require no wealth, no kingly might,
But truth and character, the inner light.
The boy is safe, he lives a simple life,
Untouch'd by all this kingly pomp and strife.
But you must offer your most precious prize:
The pride that blinds your own two royal eyes.
Admit your fault, admit you chose the crown
Over a father's simple, true renown.
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
(Staring at Ireti, then the Priest, then the floor)
The truth is hard, much harder than the gold
That fills my coffers. Yes, the truth is told.
We hid a son, for fear of losing power.
We own our fault, this very dreadful hour.
(The King sinks to his knees in the center of the court.)
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
We were too proud, too blind to see the wrong.
The gods are just, their judgement swift and strong.
We offer now our pride, our heart, our soul,
To bring the balance back, and make us whole!
BABA GBENGA:
(To the King, with respect)
The sacrifice is made. The balance found.
May peace return unto this hallowed ground.
(The King and Queen embrace, humbled and relieved. The chains are removed from Ireti. The scene ends in a moment of quiet reflection
(scene ends in a moment of quiet reflection.)
Act I, Scene 4 (Finale)
Location: The market square. The atmosphere is lighter.
(Enter CHORUS, speaking of the changes in the kingdom.)
CHORUS:
The King has changed, his pride is cast aside.
He walks among us now, with humble stride.
The secret's out, the hidden son is known,
And seeds of trust are beautifully sown.
(Enter KING ADEGBOYEGA and QUEEN ALAKE, dressed simply. They are greeted with respect, not fear.)
KING ADEGBOYEGA:
Good people, we have erred in our high place.
We sought prosperity, ignored the grace
Of humble truth. The balance is restor'd,
Our hidden past we openly record.
(Enter AWO GBENGA and IRETI)
AWO GBENGA:
The Odu Osa-bara is complete.
The kingdom's balance is again made sweet.
The King has character, the rule is just,
And in the gods, we place our solemn trust.
(The King smiles warmly at his people and the priestess Ireti. A new era of truthful and humble leadership begins.)
(Curtain)
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