Quinderella E-Book

Christopher Omodia

• Herausgeber: Spines
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Six daughters from four wives, King Omah passionately desires a male-child successor.

A SINGLE SEED OF ALLIGATOR PEPPER from the Sun God priest, mixed in porridge, will make the LUCKY WIFE who eats it to bear the male heir of Ijezah Kingdom.

Selfish queen mother Heziah, fears losing her influence should any of the king's wives, other than her cousin-favorite, beget the heir, and she plots against that. 

Quinderella (the unwelcome fourth wife) is blocked from freely eating the porridge. She eats the spillovers on the floor and luckily eats the SEED.

Heziah plots and renders Quinderella unconscious during labor, swaps the baby boy heir with a girl child, and abandons him (Omalinjo) by the riverbank.

Rescued, nursed, and nurtured by the hermit of Mother Earth for nearly three years, determining Omalinjo's true mother becomes a task that must be done.


Christopher and his family from Delta State, Nigeria, currently live in the United States.

He read Agricultural Education in college, retired as a Merit Grade School Principal, but has a passion for writing. He edited school magazines and has many articles published in several Nigerian newspapers.

A last borne brought up by an aging mother, Amaechi, fondly called, loves tales “by moonlight” and “by the bed,” and QUINDERELLA derives from these.

Leseprobe

QUINDERELLA

Christopher Omodia

QUINDERELLA

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2024 by Christopher Omodia

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Published by Spines

ISBN: 978-965-578-758-0

QUINDERELLA

A PLAY IN NINE ACTS

CHRISTOPHER ONYEMAECHI OMODIA

Edited byDESMOND ECHI-OMODIA

Edited byEFE OMORDIA

Illustrated byPASCAL ECHI-OMODIA

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Ozuma: King of Ijezah Kingdom soon to join his ancestors.

Omah: Ozuma’s successor to the throne of Ijezah Kingdom.

Heziah: Omah’s mother and queen mother of Ijezah Kingdom.

Omalingo: Omah’s son, next heir apparent to the throne of Ijezah after Omah.

Ujoh: Chief priest of Omalana - head of the palace council.

Akuba: Priestess and next in command to Ujoh in the palace council.

First Third

Second Third

Third Priest

Palace Scribe

Ozukunla: Priest of Kunla, Lord of the Shadows.

Ukwa: Chief birth attendant of the palace delivery quarters.

Rhaa: Chief priest of Sun God.

Ushalla: Hermit-servant of Mother Earth Omalana, living in the Omalana forest.

Adarella: First wife of king Omah.

Osurella: Second wife of king Omah.

Oluroma: Third wife of king Omah.

Quinderella: Fourth wife of king Omah - mother of Omalingo.

Uka: Female attendant to Akuba.

Akwuoma: Ujoh’s wife.

Palace Chief Cook in Ijezah Palace.

First male Attendants in Ijezah Palace.

Second male Attendants in Ijezah Palace.

Male Attendant to Rhaa.

Villagers

Dancers

Drummers

Rhaa’s Sunland attendants.

Ozukunla’s three undercover men.

Lady: Female attendant to Ukwa at the royal delivery quarters.

SCENE

Various locations in Ijazah Kingdom and nearby.

TIME

In the past: Igbo folklore.

This book is dedicated to my Children:

Keneose, Uchechukwu, Chinwendu, Kosisochukwu,

And

Grandchildren:

Reighna and Charlotte.

For Brightening the Days and the Nights.

ACT I

SCENE 1

SETTING:

A room in Ijezah Palace. A bed is at the center of the room. There are chairs placed in a horseshoe formation starting from near the head of the bed curving at the foot and ending also near the head on the opposite side.

AT ARISE:

The king near his end, lay on the bed pale, frail, and withered from a prolonged and unknown illness. On the semicircular arranged chairs starting from his left side of the bed sits the queen mother, HEZIAH. Next to HEZIAH sits AKUBA followed by the THIRD PRIEST, SECOND PRIEST, FIRST PRIEST, UJOH, ending with OMAH on the other side nearest to the king’s head directly opposite HEZIAH. Their faces bear sadness and apprehension as they await the obvious departure of their king to the great beyond.

KING OZUMA

(Weakly, and with much effort,

beckons on UJOH to come closer)

You have served me diligently. You have served the Ijezah Kingdom well with all your heart, mind, and will. May Omalana, Mother Earth reward you abundantly. May you have many more days on earth.

(At the last remark, all present gape

at one another. UJOH himself

flinches, emitting an involuntary gasp)

I know it appears strange to wish you longer life as no one here even knows how old you really are.

(He pauses for breath, beckons to

OMAH to come nearer, holds his

hand and goes on talking to UJOH)

But the kingdom needs you. I need you here even when I have joined my ancestors. You shall promise me in the name of Mother Earth that you will do everything in your power to ensure that my son Omah here, soon to be king, begets a son to inherit the throne of Ijezah and continue the royal lineage.

UJOH

(Moves closer to the king

while nodding his head

emphatically in affirmation)

Your Majesty, I promise to fulfill your demand. May Mother Earth be my witness and may all those gathered here be my...

KING OZUMAH

(Before UJOH could finish,

the king breathes his last still

holding OMAH’S hand)

UJOH

(Quickly stands and disengages OMAH’S

hand from the hands of the late father.

Simultaneously there erupt crying

and wailing from all present. UJOH

goes on to arrange the lifeless hands

reverently by the sides of the late king’s

body. Then he addresses all present)

Shall we all now stand up, bow our heads, and observe a moment of silence for the departed soul of our dear king?

ALL

(All stand, bow their heads as the moment

of silence is observed, and then sit)

UJOH

Now, I wish to express my profound and heartfelt condolences especially to our queen mother and her son OMAH for the loss of a loving, caring husband, and father.

Also, I bear the task of consoling everyone here. We know our departed king was one of the best in a recent line of kings in Ijezah Kingdom. He was kind and empathetic. He brought everyone closer to one another and to himself.

You all heard his last wish, which I know is also the desire and concern of all. We’re thus all bound by both our oath of loyalty to the Ijezah kingdom and to Mother Earth Omalana, to do our utmost to fulfill it. And the question in my mind, and which should be in everybody’s mind is, 'How?' As we all leave here, we should continue to think of the 'How?' and may Omalana our mother, reward our efforts.

Meanwhile, the royal scribe will issue a proclamation. Our king has gone to sleep. We shall convene in due course to discuss how to escort our king home to join the ancestors. Long live the King!

ALL

(With closed-fists hailing-gestures

towards the diseased king)

Long live the king!

UJOH

While we leave, I will notify the palace mortician to take necessary steps to make our king comfortable.

ALL

(All depart one by one bowing their

heads reverently as they leave)

HEZIAH

(Beckons to OMAH just

as he is about to leave)

Please I would like to see you in my place now, or at your soonest convenient time.

OMAH

Okay mother, we could go on straight to your quarters from here if that’s okay for you.

(CURTAIN FALLS)

ACT I

SCENE 2

SETTING:

At the queen mother’s well-furnished sitting room.

AT ARISE:

OMAH is seated looking distraught and concerned. HEZIAH paces up and down the room continually for a while before stopping in front of OMAH.

HEZIAH

My son, very soon you will be crowned king of Ijezah and my access to you will become limited. That’s the reason I need to talk to you now. And I’ll be candid and straight to the point.

OMAH

All right mother, go ahead. What’s the problem? What is it you want to talk about?

HEZIAH

You heard what your father said on his death bed. You heard his dying wish, and you heard his mandate to Ujoh,

(Then with a scowl)

the wise old man.

OMAH

Yes mother, I heard.

HEZIAH

Yes. You heard what was said. But I would like you to hear what I, your mother, have to say on the matter because...

OMAH

(Appearing confused, interrupts)

Excuse me mother, do you have a contrary view on the matter? I thought everyone is concerned about it and that we are all in agreement. Anyway, go ahead. Let’s hear your own approach.

HEZIAH

Yes, my son. We all may appear to agree regarding the matter of a male heir, but we may not all have the same motive in our hearts.

OMAH

(Looking surprised)

What? How?

HEZIAH

Yes, my son, but we have to be wary of those individuals who after cutting kpoi-kpoi, chaai-chaai in the forest, would also sneak out to the forest foot path and start asking, “Who is cutting there?” Now, with this royal call for a male child, everyone will soon be running here and there pretending to be helping and dishonestly trying to take credit for being the source of the coveted male heir apparent to the throne. And as I see it, that means trying to get another wife for you—wife number four.

OMAH

Mother, I don’t see what’s wrong if that’s what people intend to do and if that’s going to solve the problem. They probably have good intentions for the kingdom, one way or the other.

HEZIAH

That’s exactly what they would like you to think. But they have ulterior motives, and that is personal benefit. If you believe them and follow their ways, I doubt if that will be good for us all. Listen, I gave birth to you and nursed you. You sucked these my breasts.

(Touching her two breasts)

So, I think I should know better and feel more concerned regarding your welfare.

OMAH

So, what is in your heart? What’s to be done?

HEZIAH

My son, what I think is that we should have faith.

OMAH

(Looking surprised)

What? Have faith? How? In what? On whom?

HEZIAH

Yes, have faith. Nobody needs to go to the market to buy yams when yams are already in their barn. Have faith in your first wife. If we have patience, I’m very sure what we are all looking for will come through her or even from any of your other wives.

OMAH

Oh! Mother, is that all?

(Appearing rather restless)

I need to go consult with the palace chiefs and elders on the funeral arrangements.

HEZIAH

No! That’s not all I have to tell you. The point is that no one needs to go searching all over the place for another wife—the woman with a golden womb to bring forth a male heir. Now tell me, how can anyone even guarantee that the new wife will give birth to a male child?

So, my son, please listen to me. Let’s be patient; let’s have faith. Mother Earth will bring us a son.

OMAH

(Stands up)

Alright mother, I’ve heard you. I’ll think about what you’ve said. I need to go now unless you have something else you want to talk about.

HEZIAH

Nothing my son. Just think properly. Go in peace, and may Omalana guide and protect you.

OMAH

(Departs)

HEZIAH

That old man Ujoh!

(She falls into a rage, banging

the wall opposite repeatedly with

her fists, cursing, raving)

I know what he will do next. He will go looking for another wife for my son to get the woman with the golden womb for an heir apparent. I will never allow it. His countless number of years as the kingdom’s wise man is now making him to think that he is the sole Ijezah land kingmaker, the say all and end all of Ijezah Kingdom.

But, by the gods, I am the queen mother, and I will show him who’ll have the last word in this matter.

The next king, and subsequent kings for that matter, must continue to be of my own making, by lineage or otherwise. My son’s first wife, who is my distant cousin must be the one to bear the heir apparent. I cannot lose my influence and control over the affairs of the palace and that of the kingdom. Ujoh!

(Pointing at an imaginary distance)

Be ready for me; the battle line is drawn.

(CURTAIN FALLS)

ACT I

SCENE 3

SETTING:

Chief Priest UJOH’S reception room.

AT ARISE:

Queen mother HEZIAH is seated facing UJOH who is some paces away on his chief priest’s chair. The chair is covered with a green silk cloth.

UJOH

(Bows briefly)

Welcome to my humble abode respected queen mother of Ijezah Kingdom.

HEZIAH

Thank you, chief priest.

UJOH

We know that when the toad is seen running in the daytime, it’s either the toad is chasing something or that something is chasing the toad. Something serious must have brought our queen here this morning. And, by the way,

(Calling out to his wife)

Akwuoma! Bring some worthwhile refreshment for our queen mother.

AKWUOMA

(Off stage)

Okay my lord, I’m coming.

(Walks in shortly and genuflects)

Welcome, queen mother. May Mother Earth bless you.

(She places a bowl containing cherries, bananas,

nuts, other fruits, and a small saucer

containing honey, on a stool in front of HEZIAH.

She genuflects again before walking away)

HEZIAH

Thank you.

(She picks up a nut, dips it in the

honey and gives it to UJOH praying)

May Mother Earth bless us and grant us our hearts’ desire.

UJOH

So shall it be.

(Takes the nut and starts to eat)

HEZIAH

(Takes a nut and starts to eat)

Now, let’s talk about why the toad is running in the daytime. My son, soon to be crowned king of Ijezah, is being unduly harried and hurried from all quarters into making a hasty decision.