mekatilili wa menza

8/18/2019 Mekatilili Wa Menza

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Characters

Oracle and Acolytes

Young Mnyanzi

Mwarandu

Mnyanzi

Ngonyo wa Mwavuo

Wanje wa Mwadorikola

Midzichenda clan

Charles Hobley

British oldiers

Aziz bin !ashid

Arab Clan

Nabongo Mu"ia

Wanga Clan

#or Mahia

!a$ocesh

Me$oho


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AC% &

Scene 1: The Temple of Kaya

(Oracle in a deep trance chanting her mantra and stroking her familiar, a milk white

cat. Starts her song NZOONI MULOLE and acolytes sing and dance alongside her

in the darkness. She is interrupted as a host of people walk into the

temple….uninvited guests)

Oracle' Ji muon pu Roth Alkebulan, what is it that brings you to the Temple of Kaya

in the wee of the night? What is it that you seek so urgently that could not wait for

morning? That you must hide from suspecting eyes under the dark blanket of our

goddess’ beneolence? That you must interrupt my meditation and prayer?

Mnyanzi' !orgie us "other of the #un$ We seek what all others before us sought,

%reat &racle$ And what all others will eer seek into the dark depths of time$

Oracle' (Smiling secretly) 'ou neer learn, do you?

Mnyanzi' (ae we wronged you, "orning #tar) Are we tresspassers in your temple?

We hae obsered all the rituals of cleansing and marking$ We hae o*ered the

sacri+ces$ &ur only sin is our eagerness and thirst for truth$ Will Kaya not aail us?

Oracle' &h but she will$ #he is a reasonable goddess$ And tonightshe shines her

pale light een brightereen kinder$

The MOONDANCE starts. Oracle sinks back into trance. colytes take the familiar

away.

Oracle' #how your respects$ Join me in paying her tribute$ -t is all she asks of you$

They all !oin in the "oondance, NZOONI MULOLE continues. s it comes to an end,

Oracle sinks deeper into her trance before abruptly gasping out of it

Oracle' (Trembling in awe) #he is here) .o you not hear her?

t #rst "nyan$i cannot hear, but as she trains her ear closer, she does hear the

DISTANT ANGELIC MUSIC. murmur of e%citement runs through the gathered.

Oracle' (&%amining the host) - see the Rituals of "arking hae been obsered$ /ut

hae all those of cleansing and sacri+ce been obsered as well?

All' 'es)

Oracle' All of them?

All' ('esitantly) 'es)


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Mnyanzi' All to our knowledge .aughter of the "oon$ /ut you aboe all know that

knowledge is lost, that is why we seek it$ We humble here with intentions puri+ed,

and our sacri+ces hae been o*ered with the cleanest of hearts$

Oracle' Then you may sip of her gourd of truth$ 0uench your thirst$ The Answerer is

amidst us$ Ask if you dare$ Taste and see that she is good$

&%it oracle and acolytes

Mnyanzi' (*&+) KA'A) %-12 "2 T(2 1&-32 &! "4'A45- WA "245A

Wanje' %-12 "2 T(2 1&-32 &! WA4J2 WA "WA.&R-K&6A

Ngonyo' %-12 "2 T(2 1&-32 &! 4%&4'& WA "WA17&

C( Hobley' %-12 "2 T(2 1&-32 &! 3(AR62# (&/62'

Scene 2: a!e

ritish -mperialist walks onto the stage, spotlight on him. This is C"ALES

"O#LE$ , a young rit tasked with e%ploration and conuering the &ast frican

/rotectorate. 'is eyes are set on are, 0aya of the "id$ichenda, ruled by a blind

chief, NGON$O %A M%A&UO. are is the crown !ewel of all the "id$ichenda

settlements, the biggest by far. The richest. The most liberal. 1onuering it would

mean conuering all other 0ayas.

'obley gives aside of the village that is standing in his way. s he !ots in his

omnipresent !ournal we hear his thoughts.

C( Hobley )(O(' The /ritish 2ast African coast is a humid place burning and

bursting with pomp, culture and colour$ The Arabs, The 8ortuguese, een the

8ersians seem to hae left some indelible mark somewhere upon her astness$


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Wanje' .o you ow upon your life, with your oice and your tongue? .o you take

the oath of the (yena and promise your loyalty and allegiance to all the nine Kayas

of "id:ichenda$

Mnyanzi' - "nyan:i wa "en:a, "other of Katilili, ow, with my oice and my

tongue$ 6et the (yena drag me to my death if - break my oath$ 6et all the nine clansbear witness, before mortal and god alike$

(2an!e drinks from the gourd and spits upon her amidst further ululation)

Ngonyo' Arise "nyan:i wa "en:a$ And remember as you do so, you now belong to

the Kaya, to the %iriama and the "id:ichenda before all else$ 'our life and serice is

pledged to them "nyan:i wa "en:a$ 'ou are reborn into this life to leae your old

one behind$ 'ou must forget of your past and present, and look to your future$

'alopita si ndwele, yagange ya9ayo$ And from now on, when you speak#peak

freely$as a man would) And let all who hae ears listen$

AI LE LE continues as NGON$O and %AN'E walk away in whispers.The villagers

follow MN$ANZI o4 stage as well as the song fades o4.

Scene (: Demon) of *he +a)*

confusing 5ashback dream scene where we watch MN$ANZI,s brother,

M%AANDU kidnapped by the rab slave trading 1hief, AZIZ #IN AS"ID.


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"A%EI ZAE is played and sang by the Spirits and shades in her dream. MN$ANZI

herself is sleeping somewhere on the stage but is cleverly concealed by skins and

darkness. The lighting is somber and spirit like, eerie and unreal.

Young Mnyanzi' "waraaandu)) 6eae him) 6eae him$ (Tries to grab hold of him,

but the rab is towering above them both and is far stronger casts her asidenonchalantly)

Mwarandu' "nyaan:i, don’t let him take me)))) (268 "2))) (268 "222222)

8leaaaaaaaase) .on’t let him take me away from you$

s "warandu is pulled away, "nyan$i sits helpess, hardly able to breathe, lost in

shock and defeat.

ME+O"O- adorned in the blue symbolic of the gods, appears to the young

MN$ANZI from nowhere and bends and whispers something in her ear.

Me$oho' (2alking away) %et up) 4o time for tears$ %et up, come with me$ - hae alot to tell you) %et up)

oung "nyan$i stands up and begins to follow, but looks behind as if e%pecting her

brother to reappear.

Me$oho' 6et’s go girl) %et up)

oung "nyan$i follows her as they disappear into blinds of the dream world,

ME+O"O6s voice still resonates loud and echoing, more spirit like now than mortal

Me$oho' %2T 78)

Startled MN$ANZI- wakes up from her dream. +ights switch back to reality.

Scene : Kaya /0no

7ancing 0ifudu, "nyan$i gathers the people with 0atoto 0atoto


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Mnyanzi' Achee)

Wo"en' (eeee)

Mnyanzi' Achee hoya)

Wo"en' (oya

Mnyanzi' Alume ho)

Men' (o)

British soldier' - cannot allow this gathering to proceed$

Mnyanzi' (intimidatingly looking down on him) "bilikimo weee) Wataka :abwa sio?

British soldier' /y order of 3harles (obley and (er "a9esty the 0ueen of

Mnyanzi> (bending down so she is level with him) %o and tell that your (obley andyour 0ueen, to take his orders, and feed them to his grandmother$ (+ightning speed,

she slaps the ritish soldier across the face, sending him sprawling and

crawling,struggling up to his feet in shock and fear)

1heers and laughs as the soldier run.

Mnyanzi' (enewed vigour) Achee (oya)))

Wo"en' (oyaaa)

Mnyanzi' Alume (oooo)

Men' (oooooo)

Mnyanzi' 'esternight, - had a dream) ( sudden silence as they all settle to listen)

A nightmare) (Slight murmur) .emons of my past were made present, and - relieed

the anguish and torture as if it were actually happening there and then$ And

"epoho

Sudden worried murmurs interrupting her.

'es"epoho reealed herself to me$ "ore murmurs

Mnyanzi' (1ontinues) And in my dream, she reminded me of her prophecy

Stronger and worried murmurs as lights go dim and MN$ANZI starts chanting and

dancing. blue light fades onto ME+O"O,s hologram like image.

Me$oho'

There will come a people with white hair like sisal +bers$ When these people come, you will

also see ehicles in the sky,


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on the waters and on the land$

'ou will see young girls giing birth to babies$

They will also take snu*$

When you see these things happen,

your culture will be destroyed$

And your land shall be taken away from you$ - hae told you of these things$ - am tired$ - do

not want to see our culture destroyed$

- am going away$@

Mnyanzi' Achee)

Wo"en' (eeee)

Mnyanzi' Achee hoya

Wo"en' (oya

Mnyanzi' Alume ho)

Men' (o)

Mnyanzi' /ut in my dream, before she left me in the dark gloom, she gathered me

close like a hen would her chicks, and she whispered in my ear$ !ear is the adent

of defeat$ !or through fear they con


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10/29

C( Hobley' (2hispered !ust loud enough for NGON$O to hear) /ring the Arabs$

(1ontinues) Walk with me 4gonyo, - hae something to show you$ 6et me introduce

you to my friend$ We call him The ma=im gun (eat)$ 4ow, do you think your

"epoho, can +ght this? Wait$ .on’t answer me yet$ B8ives kill signal. The arabs are

shot down, demonstrating the power of the guns, above screams and pleads from

3gonyoC

C( Hobley' - really don’t care much of your diiners and witches blind man$ - will lay

waste to your lands and clean whateer is left of it$ -f you do not gie me that mad

witch "ekanyan:i or whateer you folk call her, - will wipe Rare and Kaya !ungo o*

the face of history and the earth like wiping shit o* my ass$ Remoe them)

Soldiers drag bodies away

Ngonyo' 'ou are a monster

C( Hobley' #ome hae called me that

Ngonyo' (ae you no heart man?

3o response

Ngonyo' -t is decided then$ -t has come to this point$ 4yongo wa "wauo what did

you get yourself into?

C( Hobley' #o what will it be 4gonyo? Will you sae your precious gem Rare, that

you and your forefathers lay the foundation to, or will you gie me this woman you

call "nyan:i?

3o response. lank e%pression

NGON$O 2alking away, 'obley6s eyes tracing his moves. soldier makes to move

to arrest 3gonyo but 'obley silently stops him.

Ngonyo' "eet me in illage s


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than welcomed the two e=iles into his kingdom$ (is courtesy was free$ (e only had

one warning for them$

&nter 3abongo "umia and 2anga villagers.

Nabongo' /eware the 6uo Wi:ard, %or "ahia$ (e comes in di*erent shapes and

colours, now as a dog, then as an old woman$ The shadows are his kingdom and in

them he morphs as he pleases$ A trickster he is, who dwells and feeds on fear and

ignorance$

4ow my daughter, - hear she sings and dances ery well$ Will she not sing and

dance with us? The gods hae been kind to her and to - so far$ #ing with us$ #he

must forget about what is and what has been$ #he must now think of what will be$

Mnyanzi' - will not sing because you ask me to my King, not een to thank your

gods and mine who seem to hae turned their faour against me, but because -

hae heard your music, - hae seen your dance, - hae witnessed your ways, and -

hae reali:ed, we are but one people "y King$ -t is for this reason that - will sing$

K%E"U NI #AANI vs OGUM#E is now sang in celebration, and for its duration

MN$ANZI forgets her woes and is lost in the music.

cene *' A ha$eshi+ter,s Council


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&nter GO MA"IA as %AN'E #nding Mnyan74 softly singing to herself

#or' "katisili, your mind is far$ /ring it back here$

Mnyanzi' What did you call me$

#or' "katisili? Why do you ask?

Mnyanzi' -t has been long since someone used that name Wan9erola$

(/auses and secretly watches him for a reaction)

Mnyanzi' - dreamt of my daughter$ #he was to be married soon, Wan9erola (still

watches him for reaction).

#or' (;alls for trick) 4o need for worry "katisili$ What is to be shall be$ And - am

sure your daughter has blossomed into a +ne young lady, 9ust like her mother$

Mnyanzi' (ow dare you) (Slaps 8or "ahia catching him o4guard)

#or' - am sorry "kati

Slaps him again

#or' - mean no o*ence woman)))))

Mnyanzi' 'ou o*ended me the moment you took me for a fool %or "ahia$ .id

you think that - would not be told of you? - hae been forewarned of your tricks, you

nightrunner$

#or' (+aughs slightly) /y all means, - am no nightrunner$ - know a number, someeen work in my serice when they aren’tummmtoo busy$ (8iggles slightly) The

Wanga king is a senile man wracked with paranaoia$ Take eerything he says with a

pinch of salt$

("akes to wipe his face to reveal his dark skin underneath as)

4ow about this daughter of yours

eaches out to slap but he grabs her hand and twists it.

#or' Ah) Ah) Ah) #hame on me if you fool me once$ #hame on me a do:en times

more if you fool me again$

7oes a uick stance on her, hitting her pressure points on her head and either

shoulder. She sits in an uncomfortable paralysis.

Mnyanzi' "chawi weee) 7menifanyia nini? What hae you done to me, you witch)

#or' -t will wear o* soon enough$ 4ow sit still and listen to me "in Katilili$


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Mnyanzi' "y son$ 'ou know his name) (ow

#or' ('is voice thunders even grander and as he speaks his name W-O. O#A.A

is played. +ights dim as he draws into the full power of his shadow magic. lending

into his very surroundings and morphing through his con!ured shadesC

"nyan:i wa "en:a$ - am wuod &gada$ 4yakwar &galo$ .hoklufunda 4g’in9o$ -

&kumu %or "ahia$ %rand "aster in #hadow "agic$ - hae tasted$ - hae seen the

goodness$ .o not take me lightly$

Mnyanzi' .o what you must, coward of a wi:ard))) Release me from these binds

and +ght me like a man)

#or' - hae no intentions in +ghting you "in Katilili$ - pick my battles wisely$ 4or are

my intentions towards you of ill nature$ "in Katilili$

Mnyanzi' .on’t say his name) 'ou hae no right

#or' #pirits dwell in the shadows "in Katilili$ -t is not my fault if - hear their

whispers$ When - am lucky, we een conerse$

Mnyanzi' -f you intend to +ll my mind with riddles %or "ahia, please spare me the

agony$

/ause

#or' This is what you must do, "nyan:i$ - hae seen it in my sleep$ 'ou must go

back home

Mnyanzi' (+aughing) 'ou are a mad man you know) 2en if we were to be able tocross this ast wilderness

#or' A wilderness it is indeed, and you do not een know its horrors lying hidden in

it yet$ /ut still, you must +nd a way to go home, and you must delay those silk

haired

Mnyanzi' 'ou know of them? /ut how?

#or' 2en before they arried, my %randfather, &galo, had spoken of them

Mnyanzi' As did "epoho$

#or' The daughter of the earth$

Mnyanzi' 'ou know "epoho)

#or' We are kindred, and our kind tend to stick close to each other$

Mnyanzi' #o let us say that - do go home$ That - do arrie in one piece$ Then what?


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#or' 'ou must +ght them, and delay them for as long as you possibly can$

Mnyanzi' Are you asking me to +ght a losing battle?

#or' - do not ask anything of you "nyan:i

( MN$ANZI whispers as GO MA"IA continues speaking= ou knew my name allalong)

#or' ( hint of an of course nod) !ate is the cruelest of gods$ To her, it is but a

game$ A roll of the stone and your world comes crashing down around you$ 8ray

that you fall on her blind side$ !or when she turns her eyes to you

Mnyanzi' %or "ahia - will not +ght) - will not sacri+ce my people for a losing cause

in the name of appeasing !ate and your gods$ (ae you seen their weapons? A

demon of a man called (obley walks around with it like a pet$ -f you steal a glance,

you might happen upon him speaking to it$

#or' /ut "nyan:i, -f you do not +ght themwho will? 'ou need to delay their

adance inland$ We need to make preparations$ 'ou hae seen their power$ We need

to be ready$

Silence

#or ' -f you do not delay them, the cause is lost already and we might as well lie

and wait for death$ &f our cultures$ &f our families and friends$ &f our world as we

know it$ %o back home, "nyan:i$ 'ou do not belong here$ 'ou

Mnyanzi' And who are you to tell me where - belong?

#or' 'our eyes betray you$ !or in them, the truth burns bright as day$ %o back home

"nyan:i$ %o and +nish what you started$ %o and +nish your chapter$

Mnyanzi' !or your sake, and all our sakes, - hope you are right %or "ahia$ /ut know

this, no amount of preparations will get youusready for these demons) &nly the

gods can help us$

#or' Then we all need to pray een harder$

&%it GO MA"IA as the real %AN'E walks in startling MN$ANZI.

Wanje' "nyan:i the 4abongo summons"nyan:i? Are you? 'ou are as pale as

death? "nyan:i?


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Mnyanzi' (Startled) We must go$

Wanje' 'es yes the King summons

Mnyanzi' 4o we must go back$

Wanje' /ack where? (Silence as reali$ation dawns) "nyan:i een if it werepossible

Mnyanzi' - leae now$ 'our choice is yours to haunt you$ - am going back home

Wanje' 'ou know - would follow you to the pits of death$ - took the (yena oath in

your name a third time, and - would do so again$ All in all, don’t you think it would

be courteous to bid our gracious hosts farewell? They hae been kind to us, when

they had no reason at all$

Mnyanzi' (Silence) 1ery well$

Scene 8: A K4n,) /a!e9ell

Mnyanzi' "y King, we came here as isitors, strangers, and you accepted us as

your own$ We hae neer wanted for anything$ /ut a single thing "y King, - must

admit$ -f - may humbly ask for it?

Nabongo' 6et her ask me of whateer she wants and it shall be hers$

Mnyanzi' "y King, - can only ask for one thing$ "y freedom$ Allow me to go back

Nabongo' #he is asking for what? (ow dare she? 7ngrateful little /ring her to

me))) 4ow)

MN$ANZI steps forward meekly towards the 0ing as he looks at her from head to

toe.

Nabongo' Alas) we all knew this day had to eentually come$ #ooner than -

thought, but it is here$ What are we to do?$$$ #it and cry?$$$$(mmph) (istory will

9udge us all by the decisions we make tonight$ &ur choices will be our adocates

and our actions our witnesses$ (+ost in thought brie5y) 6et her come here, here now

my daughter$

"nyan$i walks to him head low in respect.

Nabongo' 6et her kiss my talisman$ (She kisses his bracelet)

And may its light guide her in times of despair and darkness, and may its power

delier her safe and sound$ 4ow can she go, already$ 6ong is her 9ourney, and dark

are the forces that she is yet to encounter$ We hae seen it$


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(To %AN'E )

"y kindred, he must keep his mind sharp$ (e must protect our daughter$ #he must

+nish her chapters$ #he must write her book$

MN$ANZI slightly shocked at the parallel drawn, but does her best to hide it.

Wanje' %reat king, your hospitality shall not be forgotten$ We shall sing songs to

your name and dance to your health$ Keep us in your thoughts$ Keep us in your

prayers$

Nabongo' -t is already done, &ur Kindred$ Aana a Wanga) Today should be a

9oyful day, yet it is +lled with such sadness and melancholy) #urely will you not gie

us light and life? Will you not gie us laughter and dance? Will you not gie us

music? (>lulations)

A&ANA &A %ANGA is sung.

Nabongo' %oodbye "nyan:i$ %oodbye Wan9e$ And may the ancestors and gods

faour your fortunes$

AC% &&

Scene : M574m0

Wanje' #tay close by "nyan:i$ There is a darkness abound$ #tay in my light$

"umbles a spell that makes the light dim after he taps his sta4 on the ground. faint glow envelopes him and MN$ANZI.

Mnyanzi' "d:imu

Wanje' 'es) The foul kind)

"umbles another spell lifting sta4 and knocking the ground even harder.

Reeal yourself spirit$ - can feel you$ - can hear you$ - can smell you- can taste

you) 4ow, let me see you$

!a$ocesh' +aughs eerily.

Wanje' (uthoritative) - speak with the oice of the 1aya$ What is your name?

!a$ocesh' 'ou hold no power here, Wan9e wa "wadorikola)

Mnyanzi' (e knows your name?

!a$ocesh' And yours too, "nyan:i$ And your fathers and his father and his father)


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Wanje' #ilence woman) This foe is beyond you) And eery word you say he will use

against you like a weapon$ -f you let him, he will steal your ery soul)

!a$ocesh' (1lapping sarcastically) -mpressie wi:ard$ -mpressie$ (Teasingly) /ut

you still don’t know my name$ And your mind has peaked my interest$ 'ou wouldn’t

mind if - stepped into it for a bit would you$

/ossesses 2an!e

Wanje' BMN$ANZI makes to help him. +abouringC #tay away woman)

- know your kind$ - hae fought your DAK brothers and sisters of S"ADO% ,

!a$ocesh' #hadow?

Wanje' and defeated them, in my past lies and in my present)

!a$ocesh' 'et you +nd yourself in this predicament Witch$

Wanje' The light of The 1aya will neer fade) 'ou cannot win) 'ou will be scattered

into obliion 9ust like your

!a$ocesh' 'our order weakens een as we speak Wan9e) The impurities of your

greed and pride dull your light with each passing day$ 'ou may hae learnt tricks of

the #pirit world, but your greatest aFiction will always remain your cursed heritage$

'our mortality rots eerything it touches$ And soon, the 1aya will be but a dim and

forgotten race of dust and bones$ /ehold, your .2#T-4')

Wanje' That day will not be today) And that destiny will not be mine)))) The curses

of your tongue will not hold here, foul spirit) - speak with the tongue of the 1aya)/2%&42 /A3K -4T& T(2 .ARK42## !R&" W(2432 '&7 3A"2) /2%&42 -4T& T(2

3(A#" &! 3(A -4 W(-3( '&7 W2R2 /-RT(2.) #tomping sta*, light ;oods

suddenly before total darkness engul+ng, only leaing the markings on the sta* to

glow in the dark self e=orcises himself

!a$ocesh' (+aughing echoes as he fades away) 'ou asked for my name, Witch)

Rapocesh) That is what your kindred call me$ -t will sere you well to remember it)

Mnyanzi' Wan9e?

2an!e is mumbling spells eyes tightly shut.

Me$oho' (e is lost to time and space$ (e can neither see nor hear me, or you for

that matter$

Mnyanzi' (Startled) What is it that you want from me?


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Me$oho' -t is not what - want$ -t what the gods hae already decided$ "ost of the

times, the gods ignore us$ "ere mortals, part of a powerplay that has been ongoing

since the dawn of time$ "ost of the time, the gods ignore us$ /ut once in a while,

they notice us$ A few of us$ The unlucky ones$ They hae noticed you "nyan:i$ 6ike

they did me, and many others before you, and many others who will come$

Mnyanzi' What am - supposed to do with this knowledge "epoho$ Wait) .on’t

leae) 2ach time you appear, disaster crawls in your wake$

Me$oho' And this time will be no di*erent$ BStops but doesn6t look back. 8estures

at 2an!e, with a shift of her head, still not looking back C And keep him close$ As a

matter of life and death$

Mnyanzi' Wan9e wake up$ Wan9e it has left

Wanje' /lank stare followed by uick reali$ation) "nyan:i) The /ritish$ Theshadow wi:ard)) 4abongo #hadows in the darkKatilili is cold on the ;oorThe

1ayaRapocesh (panic) Where?

Mnyanzi' Wan9e you defeated the mdi:mu$

Wanje' (Startled) Where am -?

Mnyanzi' Wan9e$ (e is gone$ 'ou defeated him

Wanje' (+ooks around) -t takes more than simple spells to defeat a md:imu of that

leel$ 6et us leae this place "nyan:i$ -t is ridden with dark forces$ -t drains my light

een as we speak$

Mnyanzi' Wan9e

Wanje' (-mpatiently) 'es woman)))

Mnyanzi> Wan9e you spoke my son’s name, as you left your trance$ 'ou said his

name$ 'ou

Wanje' (-nterrupting) 'ou must hae misheard me$ 4ow we really must

Mnyanzi' Are you hiding anything from me Wan9e? -s there anything - should know?

%or "ahia

Wanje' 6eae that mad shapeshifting trickster alone) -f you keep on doing things

on his account "nyan:i you will +nd yourself in a ery

Mnyanzi' Wan9e - dream of my son$ .ark dreams$


20/29

Silence

Wanje' And that is why we must return home "nyan:i$ 6et us make haste$ What

shall be shall be, whether we crawl or whether we ;y$ The wheel of destiny turns of

its own accord$ And the snake must swallow its own tail$

Mnyanzi' 'our kindred like riddles$ 2specially when faced with a truth they can’t

deal with$ A truth they fear$ A taster always resorts to riddles$

Wanje' - beg to di*er, "ekatilili$ The thing about riddles, is that they hae no +=ed

answer to them 4ow we really must go$

cene 0' Mekatilili wa Menza

Ngonyo' #o it is true then$ The rumours$ The gossip$ Where there is smoke, there

has to be +re$ The lone shadows court the hori:on, and as the sun rises higher, their

feet draw closer to home$ The nine clans will neer fall$ (okambe)

All' (om:e

Ngonyo' (okambe

All' (om:e

Ngonyo' Wa%iriama) Wa.igo) Wa.uruma) WaRibe) WaKambe) WaJibana) WaRabai)

Wa3honyi) WaKauma) "id:i3henda) (&KA"/2)

All' (&"52

Ngonyo' /ehold the power of "ulungu$ /ehold the power of the (yena) #ing) #hout

in delirium$ "nyan:i wa "en:a and Wan9e wa "wadorikola are returned)))

(&KA"/22222222)

All' (&"522222))))

/ILIM#I ZINA+IG%A NZEE Starts as NGON$O6s solo developing into a trio9

*illagers e%cited by the return of the two. Some pinch them to make sure indeed

that they are real.

Ngonyo' &ur daughter is returned$ (>lulations and cheers)

Mnyanzi' Achee)


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Wo"en' (eeee)

Mnyanzi' Achee hoya)

Wo"en' (oya

Mnyanzi' Alume ho)

Men' (o)

Mnyanzi' - am humbled my people) That you should welcome me like a


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villager comes to comfort her but is stopped by %AN'E.

Wanje' "wache alie$ 6et her mourn her son as only a mother can$ 6et her pay him

respect)

++ "23 starts, "nyan$i sings her +ullaby dirge. s it comes to an end, though

still sobbing, she comes out with a new #re and vigour burning in her eyes.

Mnyanzi' They told me that - danced Kifudu, the .ance of .eath, and mocked

"ulungu with it$ They say he embraced me and gifted me with the ery death and

solitude that - danced for$ "7674%7))))) "7674%7 you must forgie me today))))

!or today - will dance) - must dance for my light, my sun and moon, my stars, my

earth, my air, my water, my life my son$ KA'A)))) &! T(2 T(R22 2'2#) &! T(2

4-42 T&4%72#) KA'A) '&7R /R&T(2R (A# WR&4%2. "2) KA'A gie me the oice

of "28&(&)

KULE #A"AINI is sung.

Mnyanzi' "nyan:i wa "en:a is dead "id:i3henda) - shall honour my son for the

remainder of my pitiful life$ -t is the least - can do$ "nyan:i is dead$ And from her

grae, behold arises "ekatilili, mother of Katilili$ That it may be a brand on my

conscience to remind me of my sin to the end of my days$

reaks down again this time %AN'E comes to comfort her as she mourns, as he

chases the villagers away. fter a few moments, NGON$O approaches them.

Ngonyo' "ay - speak with her?

%AN'E hesitant, looks at MN$ANZI who gives ok signal.

Ngonyo' 'ou must go to /amba$ 'ou must rally the arab rebels to stand with us, or

we stand no chance$ /ut you must leae now)

Wanje' 4gonyo will you not let herrest 9amani?

Mnyanzi' (-gnoring 2an!e) The arabs are not our friends$ They hae neer been

Ngonyo' /ut they are enemies of the silk haired ones) And they hae weapons that

we don’t$

Mnyanzi' And how do - know that this isn’t 9ust some other trick 4gonyo? 6ike last

time$

Wanje' Then again, factors considering

Ngonyo' (-gnoring 2an!e) 'ou don’t$ 'ou 9ust hae to trust me "nya$


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Mnyanzi' "4'A45- -# .2A.))) (ow dare you mock me)))) (Tense silence before she

speaks in a calm deadly tone) Trust isn’t the +rst word that comes to my mind when -

think of you, son of "wauo$

Ngonyo' "wanamke we))) What has happened has happened and had to happen$

We are faced with tough realities here "n "ekatilili$ 2ach passing moment the/ritish draw closer$ Their ears are sharp, and their eyes pierce through night and

shadow$ They already knew of your return, and you can rest assured that they will

act soon$ 'ou cannot stay in Rare) 'ou must go to /amba " "ekatilili$ 'ou must

conince A:i: to 9oin our cause$

Mnyanzi' (eluctantly leaving) 'ou chase me from my home again, and from my

son$ - cannot tell the di*erence son of "wauo$ /etween you my ;esh and blood,

and the blueeyed silk haired ones - will do your bidding$ "y oath re


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Aziz' (/ause) - hae, but by a di*erent name$ "nyan:i wa

Mnyanzi' "4'A45- -# .2A.)))) - A" "2KAT-6-6- WA "245A))) #2R1A4T &! T(2

6-%(T) /2AR2R &! TR7T() 3&"!&RT2R &! T(2 A!!6-3T2.) "&T(2R &!BWanje'

(imploring) "nyan:i, keep your oice downC

Aziz' 'ou may be /earer of the #un and "other of the "oon for all - care$ /ut if you

are in the courtesy of the house of Rashid, Woman, you will keep your oice down$

This chambers hae their own rules$ 'ou must abide by themor leae))))

Si$ing each other up.

AZIZ #nally breaks glance. 8ives signal and women come with a buibui to dress her

up.

Mnyanzi' What is the meaning of this?

Aziz' 'ou will respect the sanctity of these chambers, or you will be thrown out withthe dogsand the bitches$

Mnyanzi' Wan9e will you let him talk to me like that? (Starting to walk towards

AZIZ- %AN'E grabs her and restrains her)

Wanje' "ekatilili, our cause is greater than all this$ -f we cannot see eye to eye past

greetings and basic formalities then we might as well hand ourseles to the silk

haired ones$ A:i: ibn Rashid, - beg your courtesies further my old friend$ "y

companion may seem unreasonable, but her reality has shifted drastically in the

past few days$ #he is in deep grieing as we speak, and her mind sometimes forgets

the ways of the true world$ 2=ile is hard$ - can tell you that for sure$ !orgie her$/ear with us$ A parent should neer hae to bury their child$ Worse yet, a mother

should neer hae to bury her son$

MN$ANZI calms down, a 5utter of a suppressed and painful memory crosses her

face.

Aziz' "pe "tandio$

MN$ANZI accepts the headscarf and adorns it reluctantly while the hosts watch.

Aziz' - will not waste your time, for it will be a waste of mine$

Si$es MN$ANZI upagain.

Aziz' (ow many warriors do you need?

Mnyanzi' Ten thousands$

Aziz' (Sniggers) (obley is right in calling you a mad witch, you know$ - will gather

you two thousands$ 'ou must then call the "id:i3henda to arms, especially the men


25/29


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Mnyanzi' -f you will not +ght for yourself, or for your culture, or for your religion

een, +ght for your women$ !ight for your children$ (/ause). !ight for your land)

(okambe)

All' (&"52

Mnyanzi' (okambeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

All' (om:eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

T"E DANCE O/ %A- "A%EI ZAE starts. +ights 5icker, yells and gunshots,

clangs of swords. t #rst it seems like it is a level #ght, before the ma%im gun starts

shooting. Then the fricans and rabs start running and dying. The 2ar has hardly

started before it ends. Soldiers #nd "nyan$i trying to help wounded, arrest her and

carry her o4stage.

The war fades into darkness

Scene 12: A ma**e! of L4fe an5 Dea*h

Soldiers walk in with a struggling "nyan$i. 'er hands are tied but she is still ahandful. 1harles 'obley watches her in a disgusted awe, as he constantly writes in

his !ournal. 'e gives the command for her to be tied at the stake. 'e then dismisses

the soldiers, remaining alone with "nyan$i.


27/29


28/29

Mnyanzi' 4212R) - am no coward

Wanje' ####(((((() 'ou may not be a coward but - am) And it might do you well

to be a slight one right now as well$ A coward can lie to +ght another day) They

think they hae won the battle, the silk haired ones, but the war has hardly started)

Silence

Wanje' -f you will not do it for yourself, do it for me$ .o it for your people "nyan:i)

Mnyanzi' (ow dare you

Wanje' .o it for your son "ekatilili) -f you were to die by +re, he would ask you

the same /ut we shall return

Wanje' 'es, of course$ "ore importantly, we shall lie) We shall lie to +ght another

day$ A wise woman once told me We are not to fear them)

Mnyanzi' 4212R)

Mnyanzi' (s she calls each tribe they #le into formation) Wa%iriama, Wa.igo,WaRabai, WaRibe, WaKambe, Wa3honyi, WaJibana, Wa.uruma, WaKauma$

(&KA"/2)

All' (&"52

Wanje' "-.5-3(24.A) /ehold the 8ower of "ulungu) /ehold Kaya) /ehold

"epoho) (&KA"/2)

All' (&"52)

Oracle' (&KA"/2)

All' (&"52)

Me$oho' (&KA"/2)

All' (&"52)


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Me$oho1 Mnyanzi and Oracle' -f nothing else, Wagiriama, if nothing else,

"id:ichenda

(8iving each word weight)

W2$ AR2$ 4&T$ T&$ !2AR$ T(2")

1heers9

2A%O%O 2A%O%O

mekatilili wa menza

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