Title: The Oracle's Demand
Characters:
OLUWO: The King of the land, troubled by a mysterious plague.
BABA FAKUNLE: The blind, revered Ifa Priest (a Tiresias-like figure).
ADEREMI: The King's loyal but conflicted chief adviser.
PRINCESS INIKPI: The King's virtuous daughter, who embodies self-sacrifice.
CHORUS: A group of town elders who provide commentary and context.
ORUNMILA (IFA): The unseen deity of wisdom and destiny, whose words are channeled through the priest.
Setting: A mythical Yoruba Kingdom, reminiscent of ancient Thebes or Denmark.
Plot Structure:
Act I: The Crisis and Consultation. The kingdom is in distress. The Chorus laments the state of affairs. King Oluwo, having exhausted other means, reluctantly agrees to consult the ancient Ifa Oracle.
Act II: The Divination. Baba Fakunle performs the divination rites, casting the opele (divining chain) to reveal the Odu (the specific sign/chapter) that holds the key to the crisis. He chants the relevant ese (verses), which reveal the gods' anger due to a past transgression or broken taboo.
Act III: The Heavy Demand. The oracle's specific demand—a grave sacrifice is required to appease the gods—is announced to the King. The King experiences internal conflict, driven by love for his people but also for his kin, the subject of the sacrifice.
Act IV: Conflict and Resolution. The King initially resists the demand, leading to agitation and doubt among his court. Princess Inikpi, hearing of the demand, voluntarily offers herself, displaying heroism and unflinching patriotism.
Act V: The Sacrifice and Restoration. The King, moved by his daughter's sacrifice, submits to the will of the oracle. The sacrifice is performed, the gods are appeased, the kingdom is saved, and order is restored. The play ends with a reflection on destiny, sacrifice, and the wisdom of Ifa.
Sample Scene (Act II, Scene 1)
Location: The sacred grove before the Ifa shrine. BABA FAKUNLE, blind, stands over his divination tray (Opon Ifa). OLUWO and ADEREMI observe from a respectful distance.
(Enter CHORUS, chanting a solemn tune)
CHORUS:
When skies above are dark, and earth below
Doth heave with sorrow, where shall mortals go?
To Ifa's wisdom must our spirits fly,
To seek the truth beneath the star-crossed sky.
OLUWO:
Good Baba Fakunle, the realm doth groan
Beneath a plague, a curse not overthrown
By earthly physick. Tell us, I beseech,
What hidden ire doth move the gods to breach
The peace we hold? Why doth our land so weep?
BABA FAKUNLE:
(Casting his opele)
My liege, the tongue of Ifa is not mine;
'Tis Orunmila speaks through this design.
The Odu falls; mark well the pattern shown,
A truth of old, that we may make it known.
(He observes the pattern)
Ah, I see it clear as e'er the sun at noon!
'Tis Ogbe-Ate, sung beneath the moon
For Olufe, king in ages long since past,
Whose life in dismal shape was overcast.
ADEREMI:
Pray, speak the verse, for time doth swiftly flee.
BABA FAKUNLE:
"Ifa was divined for Olufe, the King of Ife,
When his life was in bad shape and sore malady.
All hidden problems were revealed,
And solutions thenceforth were unsealed.
He gave due heed, did make the sacrifice,
And peace was then restored at little price".
(Turning towards the King)
The gods are wroth, great King, not for thy fault,
But for a vow forgot, a promise brought
From times foregone. A sin of former days
Doth cast its shadow on our current ways.
The oracle demands a cleansing rite,
Ere dawn may follow this long, weary night.
OLUWO:
A cleansing rite? Speak plainly, I require!
What say the gods? What fan the sudden fire?
BABA FAKUNLE:
The specific ill, my lord, is not yet named,
But in the next cast shall the truth be claimed.
Prepare thy heart, for what the gods decree
Doth oft defy our human sympathy.
The character arcs for the 20 plays can be developed
Title: The Oracle's Burden
Characters:
KING OYEKUN: The troubled monarch.
HIGH PRIESTESS YEYE: The voice of Ifa (as a nod to the vital role of women in Ifa/Orisha traditions).
PRINCE ADEWALE: King Oyekun's only son.
ELDER OBATALA: A wise counselor.
Setting: The King's throne room.
Act III, Scene 1
(Enter KING OYEKUN, HIGH PRIESTESS YEYE, and ELDER OBATALA)
KING OYEKUN:
Enough! My ears are weary of your chants!
You speak of wrath, of gods, and sudden wants.
What hidden ill doth plague my peaceful state?
For weeks the rain has fled, a cruel fate
Upon my fields, my people starve and cry,
Yet naught but riddles from your shrine reply!
HIGH PRIESTESS YEYE:
(Kneeling with deference, yet firm resolve)
My Liege, 'tis not a riddle, but the truth,
Revealed by Ifa, ere we lose our youth
To famine's grasp. The Odu that was cast
Doth speak of pride, a shadow from the past.
The sign was Osa-Meji, twin-born might,
Which warns of broken oaths and fading light.
ELDER OBATALA:
(To the King, gently)
She speaks the truth, my Lord. The message clear
Demands a sacrifice, to calm the fear
Of Olodumare's eye. A child of kings,
Whose purity a true appeasement brings.
KING OYEKUN:
A child of kings? What madness do you speak?
My line is thin, my heart and soul are weak
From loss already! Who is this you seek
To slaughter on your altars, bleak and meek?
Name him!
HIGH PRIESTESS YEYE:
(Rising slowly, her voice trembling)
The oracle doth point, with finger stern,
To him from whom thy future hopes do learn.
Not blood the gods demand, but truth unveiled,
A secret held, where loyalty hath failed.
A choice must be declared, a path defined,
To save the land and ease the troubled mind.
(The KING staggers back, aghast. PRINCE ADEWALE enters, having overheard the last words.)
PRINCE ADEWALE:
(Stepping forward, head held high)
If't be the gods' decree, then I shall speak.
My own heart knows the truth the gods do seek.
A past mistake, a promise left undone,
Hath cast this shadow, beneath moon and sun.
I stand prepared to bear the consequence,
To lift this burden, clear the false pretense.
KING OYEKUN:
(Grasping his son's arm)
Nay, Adewale, stay your noble tongue!
This prophecy is false, a song ill-sung!
The fault is mine! I am the King, not you!
What debt is owed, I shall myself see through!
I will not let my son, my life, my joy,
Be made to pay for failures I employ!
HIGH PRIESTESS YEYE:
(Solemnly)
My Liege, thy pride now speaks with rebel might.
The will of Ifa shall not be set right
By shifting blame. The choice is clear and stark,
A father's truth, or shadows leave their mark.
Obey the sign of Osa-Meji's call,
Or see thy legacy forever fall.
(The KING stares, torn between his duty as a monarch and his love as a father, as the scene fades to black.)
Here is a one-act play in the Shakespearean tradition, inspired by the themes and structure of the Ifa Oracle.
Title: The Burden of Epe
Characters:
OBA SEGUN: The King, consumed by a need for military glory.
AWO TUNDE: The Ifa Priest, grounded in wisdom.
CAPTAIN KOLA: Oba Segun's ambitious military advisor.
MODUPE: A village elder and moral compass.
CHORUS: A group of townspeople.
Setting: The King's court in a Yoruba city-state.
Act I, Scene 1
(Enter CHORUS)
CHORUS:
When ambition blinds the royal eye,
And peace is scorn'd for fame that flies too high,
The land must suffer; thus the gods demand
That truth be heard across this fertile land.
(Exeunt CHORUS. Enter OBA SEGUN and CAPTAIN KOLA, discussing a map.)
OBA SEGUN:
This neighboring realm, Epe, hath wealth untold,
Rich fields of cocoa, stores of purest gold.
Their king is weak, his armies green and raw.
We strike next moon, establishing my law.
The glory of our name shall ring so loud,
It puts the very thunder in a shroud!
CAPTAIN KOLA:
A brilliant plan, Your Grace! The gods consent,
For surely wealth is proof of heaven's bent
Toward our cause. This war shall make us great.
OBA SEGUN:
(Pacing, full of energy)
But hold! Before the trumpet sounds its call,
We must consult the Oracle for all
To hear the gods' assent. Send for the Priest,
We'll have a swift divination, ere the feast.
(Enter AWO TUNDE and MODUPE)
OBA SEGUN:
Good Awo Tunde, cast the sacred chain!
My heart is set, my mind doth entertain
A noble war. We seek to bring our might
Upon Epe's gates, by day or by dim night.
What says wise Ifa of this grand design?
AWO TUNDE:
(Bowing low, his face serious)
My lord, the will of Ifa is not bent
To suit a kingly whim or discontent.
The Opele is cast, seeking honest truth,
For age must speak the wisdom taught to youth.
(AWO TUNDE casts the chain onto the divination mat. He observes the pattern intently.)
AWO TUNDE:
Ah! The sign falls thus. 'Tis Irete-Meji, known
As "The Double Blessing," but beware the stone
Upon the path. It speaks of peace refused,
Of fortune turn'd, of power much abused.
OBA SEGUN:
A blessing, said you? Good! The gods approve!
Captain, our plans with haste we now shall move!
MODUPE:
(Stepping forward, defying the King's glee)
Nay, Sire! Heed the nuance of the word!
Irete-Meji warns against the sword
When peace is possible. The Odu tells
Of one who sought a war where sickness dwells.
AWO TUNDE:
(Nodding to Modupe)
Ifa divined for the Tortoise, who did seek
To conquer all with shell both hard and meek.
The Oracle declared: "Seek peace and thrive,
Go not to war if you would stay alive."
The Tortoise scoffed, ignored the holy plea,
Went forth to battle, met his destiny.
His shell was crack'd, his body sorely pain'd,
Though victory was claimed, naught was regain'd.
CAPTAIN KOLA:
(Whispering to the King)
Mere fables, Sire, for men of weaker will.
The gods help those who take the higher hill!
OBA SEGUN:
(To Awo Tunde, his voice cold and hard)
Your fables bore me, Priest. Your gods are weak
If they deny the glory which I seek!
My mind is made. The war shall come to pass.
Your Oracle is dim as clouded glass!
AWO TUNDE:
(Standing tall, full of spiritual authority)
The wisdom is refused! The King doth sneer
At truth divine, seduced by worldly cheer.
But know this, King: when Ifa's voice you fight,
You challenge Destiny's unending might.
Irete-Meji brings a heavy price,
For those who shun the peace and sacrifice!
(OBA SEGUN stares at the Priest in defiance, his ambition set against the spiritual warning. The sound of war drums begins softly in the distance as the scenes end.
Act I, Scene 2
Location: The edge of a dry field on the outskirts of the city. A few townspeople (CHORUS) mill about, looking at the parched earth.
(Enter MODUPE)
MODUPE:
The King's high pride shall bring us naught but pain.
He scoffs at Ifa, as the clouds lack rain.
The Irete-Meji Odu, a solemn truth,
Doth warn 'gainst war, a folly of his youth.
We are but dust, if gods do turn their face;
No Kingly strength can e'er avert disgrace.
FIRST TOWNSPERSON (Chorus Leader):
Old Modupe, you speak with careful tongue.
Our children's hungry cries have long been sung.
If Epe holds the grain we need to live,
Should not our King go forth, his strength to give?
MODUPE:
The grain is there, but Ifa warns of ire,
A war of sickness, a consuming fire.
The Tortoise in the Odu, full of might,
Ignored the Ebo, and was lost to night.
We must make offering, not draw the sword,
To find the peace that's in the Oracle's word.
(Enter OBA SEGUN and CAPTAIN KOLA, heavily armed)
OBA SEGUN:
Peace is a fool's retreat, an idle dream!
My legacy shall be a rushing stream
Of glory, flowing to the endless sea!
Epe shall fall, and all shall bow to me!
CAPTAIN KOLA:
The troops are ready, Sire. The path is clear.
We march at dawn, dispelling every fear!
MODUPE:
(Kneeling with urgency)
My King! Forfeit this path of certain woe!
The gods are clear, to war you should not go!
Make the Ebo now, a simple, humble plea,
To Earth, to Esu, for our destiny!
OBA SEGUN:
(Laughing scornfully)
Esu and Earth? Mere stones and dusty ground!
No spirit's voice in them is ever found.
My will is iron, stronger than their might!
We create fortune through our own clear sight!
AWO TUNDE:
(Appearing from the shadows)
O King, all human actions bear their consequence.
Ignoring Ifa breaks the natural fence
'Twixt man and fate. The choice is yours to make,
But know the kingdom suffers for your sake.
You court disaster with your stubborn mind,
A glorious war is not what you shall find.
OBA SEGUN:
Silence this priest, his words are full of doubt!
Captain, ensure he does not move about
Till we return, victorious and grand!
We need no wisdom, we possess the land!
(He turns to leave)
AWO TUNDE:
(His voice raised in prophecy)
The sun may shine on pride for just a day,
But Irete-Meji casts a longer ray.
The cost of glory, built on spurned advice,
Shall be exacted, at a dreadful price!
(OBA SEGUN exits, followed by CAPTAIN KOLA, ignoring the pleas. The CHORUS and AWO TUNDE remain on stage, looking at the sky with dread.)
Act I, Scene 3
Location: A battlefield in Epe. Smoke hangs in the air. Soldiers run in confusion.
(Enter CAPTAIN KOLA, wounded, stumbling. OBA SEGUN enters, disarmed and disheveled.)
CAPTAIN KOLA:
A trap! A trap! No battle, but a snare!
They drew us in, with cunning, I declare!
The enemy was prepared, their forces vast,
A strength that made our own seem quickly past!
OBA SEGUN:
My glory turn'd to ash, my spirit low.
The wealth I sought, became a field of woe.
My soldiers fall, my pride has led us here.
The Oracle was true, a truth I fear!
(Enter a messenger, breathless and covered in mud.)
MESSENGER:
My King! The drought at home has spawned a pest!
A sickness rages, puts us to the test!
Your firstborn son, Prince Adewale, lies sick,
The healers work, but life doth quickly tick
Away from him! The people wail his name,
They curse the war, and curse your sudden fame!
OBA SEGUN:
(Falling to his knees, utterly defeated)
My son! My kingdom! All is lost, undone!
I fought the gods, and felt the wrath of one.
Awo Tunde! The wisdom I denied!
The heavy burden of my kingly pride!
Oh, Epe's burden falls upon my soul,
And makes my grand ambition less than whole!
(OBA SEGUN weeps as the scene fades to black, the sound of lamentation growing.)
Location: The King's throne room, now dimly lit. The air is heavy with sorrow.
(Enter MODUPE and AWO TUNDE. OBA SEGUN is seated on his throne, head in hands. ELDER OBATALA stands nearby, a figure of silent support.)
MODUPE:
(Quietly, to Oba Segun)
My Lord, the people wail. The sickness spreads.
A shadow lies upon our children's beds.
Prince Adewale, he burns with fever's fire,
A symbol of the gods' increasing ire.
OBA SEGUN:
(Rising slowly, his voice raspy with grief and shame)
The King was a fool, the proud and stubborn King,
Who thought that glory was a simple thing!
The King spurned the Oracle, called its wisdom weak,
And now the very curse the King sought doth speak
In the King's son's gasping breath. Oh, wretched man!
The King sought a war that broke the natural plan!
ELDER OBATALA:
The path of pride is ever fraught with pain.
True strength is knowing when to seek the rain
Of wisdom's counsel. Ifa still has power,
To change the fortune of this darkest hour.
OBA SEGUN:
(Turning desperately to Awo Tunde)
Good Priest, what Ebo must the King now perform?
What sacrifice can calm this sudden storm?
The King will give the King's crown, the King's gold, the King's life, the King's all!
Just save the King's son! Avert this dreadful fall!
AWO TUNDE:
(Approaching the King with compassion)
The Odu Irete-Meji, which you scorn'd,
Speaks not of death, but life to be adorn'd
With change of heart. The gods demand not blood,
But honesty, to stem this deadly flood.
The Ebo is not gold, nor beast, nor land,
But this: an open heart, a guiding hand.
The King must embrace the wisdom you denied,
And cast away your stubborn, kingly pride.
The Tortoise in the verse did nearly die
Because he chose to put Ifa's words by;
But you, O King, can choose a different fate,
And save your son before it is too late!
OBA SEGUN:
(Humbled, falling to his knees before the Priest)
The King yields! The King's pride is gone, the King's spirit broke.
The King listens now, to every word the Priest has spoke.
What must be done? Command, and the King will obey.
Remove this curse, and bring a brighter day!
AWO TUNDE:
(Helping the King to his feet)
First, send a truce to Epe, mend the peace.
Let all hostilities and warfare cease.
Then, with the sacred items Ifa guides,
We'll make the offering where the spirit hides.
The Earth, the Ancestors, and Esu too,
Shall witness your transformation, fresh and new.
The King must choose wisdom over foolish might,
And walk henceforth in Ifa's guiding light.
(Oba Segun nods in solemn agreement. Awo Tunde prepares his items as Modupe helps the King shed his heavy robes. The sound of quiet, hopeful singing from the Chorus replaces the distant drums of war.)
(Curtain)
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