MOVEMENT ONE
There is a gunshot which makes people scream loudly. The lights come on showing people, especially women carrying babies walking out of the community. Some are mumbling, while others running and talking. The atmosphere is tense. A young girl walks into the community trying to find out what is happening.
Debetimi: Please come let’s leave this land. I can’t stay here to be murdered by these wild and mad people.
Tutu: Mama Sabina, who are you waiting for?
Debetimi: my husband, but he’s taking too much time.
Tutu: Are you sure he has not been hit by the bullets of the mad dancers?
Debetimi: May thunder blast and tear your mouth apart; It is your husband that should be hit by the bullet.
Tutu: Am sorry, I didn’t mean it that way?
Debetimi: Better be sorry. Papa Doubra please hurry up.
Tutu: What life is this? We can’t have peace in our land because of a few wicked and greedy people who kill to put themselves in power. (They heard another gunshot)
Debetimi: This is big trouble, another gunshot. This is simply war.
Tutu: This is another version of war. I am going my dear I did not ask to receive
A mortal bullet blow from these people.
(She leaves)
Anne:(comes in and meets Debetimi)
What is the matter woman? Why is the town running? Is there war with a neighbouring community?
Debetimi: My daughter, it is risky to stand here
And be asking questions.
Just find somewhere to go and hide
Otherwise flying bullets will terminate your life.
Anne: why?
Debetimi: This is a very dangerously period
In this community. It is real war.
Many gunshots have been fired,
Many souls have been sent to
Untimely graves, many houses
Have been burnt down, many people
Have been wounded and many
Properties have been destroyed.
Anne: What could be the possible reason?
Debetimi: My daughter, it seems you are new here.
This is election time.
The Amananaowei is to be elected
With his council of chiefs.
Men have made it in such a way
That people vote not with ballot
Boxes but with guns,
Cutlasses, spears and stones.
The last election was bloody so we
Are running away from trouble and from danger.
Anne: I see. So it is as bad as this?
Debetimi: You haven’t seen anything.
Four gun shots have just been heard.
And I am sure people are going
Down with each shot.
This season makes many bleed physically
And emotionally because people’s
Loved ones are killed as if they deserve to die.
Anne: What are the chiefs and elders doing about this?
Debetimi: Chiefs and elders! Aren’t they
The people behind this calamity?
Our safety is flying aimlessly in
The wind and there is no one
To trust except oneself.
Anne: This has got to stop in this community.
We can’t continue like this.
This mad dance must stop.
I will persuade the youths to put
A stop to this war of politics.
Debetimi: You, little girl to stop this war?
You are joking, aren’t you?
Are you sure you are not mad?
All the men that matter are running
Away with their families for safety
And you stand here deceiving the
World that you will fight this war to a standstill?
(They hear another gunshot)
My daughter, I can’t remain
Here with you again, it has passed
The level of caution, I must go now.
(She leaves, and others also run
In her direction, including a man
Who calls the name of his wife)
Man: Debetimi! Debetimi! Debetimi!
Wait for me, I am right behind you.
Debetimi: hurry up my husband!
Man: I said I am right behind you!
Anne: This is madness. How can a mere
Town election send its people packing?
What happens to those who cannot run?
Why has the society closed its eyes
to allow this evil befall the land?
Why have good men failed to
Reason to stop this evil tradition?
Why do violent men take pride and
Pleasure in destroying their
Fellow men to get to power?
And where are these
Defenceless people running to?
This is simply crazy!
This town is sick; we need a new wind
To blow out this sick and bloated wind.
Now they run away leaving the town
For the evil ones to wreck havoc
On innocent soul. No matter how a man
Runs he cannot run away or faster that his shadow.
