Three Plays

By Yemi-D Prince and Yemi D. Ogunyemi

Three Plays is a bond or a combination of three clasical plays, namely The Charmed Comforter, The Peddlers Strike and Farmers' Burden. It is a histrionic display of all the political, economic and social turbulences during the rule of the military juntas in Dagora, a corruption of Nigeria. With over 200 linguistic tongues and ethnic groups in Nigeria, Three Plays could also be entitled Two Hundred Plays, with and without rhyme or reason.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yemi-D Prince
• Release date: Oct 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9789490179083

Yemi-D Prince

Former research fellow, Harvard University, Yemi D. Ogunyemi (also known as Yemi D. Prince) is a luminous fellow whose work reflects the savvies and radiance of his spirit, and always fascinated by books, letters and the power of words.

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THREE PLAYS

Yemi D. Prince

Yemi D. Ogunyemi

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THREE PLAYS

Copyright © Yemi D. Prince/Yemi D. Ogunyemi 2011 Published by Diaspora Press of America

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Foundation Press is the non-academic division of First Published by Foundation University Press.

Second Publication: Diaspora Press of America

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DIASPORA PRESS OF AMERICA

21Nazing Street

Boston, MA 02121-3011

ISBN: 978-94-90179-08-3

DEDICATION

To all the African playwrights who are now dignified the keepers of traditions.

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CONTENTS

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By the Same Author 63

vii

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CAS T O F CHARACTERS 

Gen. Ata, the President and Commander-in-Chief Gen. Ede, second in command, former president Gen. Aburada, military judge

Gen. Tanaka, military lawyer Captain Ariwa, Ata’s aide-de-camp Captain Amina, Ede’s aide-de-camp Captain Morola, military reporter

Jola, a public spirit, tipped as the next president Braimoh, Jola’s inamorato, and people’s attorney Dodo, Court orderly

Temi-Dara, environmentalist, writer, in jail.

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The place is Da-is-Love, capital of Dagora. Dagora is a country in Africa ruled by millipedan junta, otherwise known as barrack-intellectuals.

SCENE I

As early as 2 o’clock in the afternoon, people start to arrive at the auditorium; which for many years has served as a court-martial. Sitting at the table in the center of the stage is Judge Aburada, flanked by Generals Ata and Ede; all in their combatant uniforms. Captains Ariwa and Amina, standing like statuettes watch over the heads of their superiors. Others on the stage are Gen. Tanaka, -Captain Morola, Jola, Buraimoh and Dodo. At each of the three entrances to the auditorium is a soldier, holding a shot-gun.

Gen. Ata Go and fetch the culprit (hitting the table with the gavel and turning to Dodo. Dodo leaves and comes back with a man looking jaded. He wears a pajamas-looking

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THE CHARMED COMFORTER 3

attire. His hands are in chains. He bows low to the ground as he is led to the dock—on the stage).

Judge Aburada Are you the unpatriotic one writing scathingly about the military government of your country?

Temi-Dara I am a writer-an environmentalist writer but I have never been unpatriotic to my country.

Gen. Ede Do you love your country, Mr. Writer?

Temi-Dara From the bottom of my heart, my Lord.

Gen. Ede If you love your country, why are you fanning the embers of commotions and demonstrations, causing destruction to lives and properties?

Temi-Dara My Lord, my demonstrations have always been peaceful.

Gen. Ede You had better tell the truth because as you know, your life is at stake.

Temi-Dara I’ve told every truth I know. And if I have any life worth living, it is in the hand of the Providence.

A momentary silence as Gen. Tanaka stands up to whisper something in the ears of Gen. Ata and Judge Aburada.

Gen. Ata (ordering with a hiccup) You, you can not deceive me and my army colleagues. Tell me all what you know about the lives and properties lost during your illegal demonstrations.

Temi-Dara I have told you everything, my Lord.

Gen. Ata Tell me how you want me to help your people.

Temi-Dara I want you to love them. They don’t deserve what they are now going through.

Gen. Ata How do you want me to love them?

4 THREE PLAYS YEMI D. PRINCE

Temi-Dara My people are your people. Your people are my people. Love them as my parents have loved us. I love peace as I love my parents. I love you too. I love every lover of peace. I love our garden because it is always full of bananas, plantains, mangoes, oranges, pawpaws and tomatoes. I love the sun that greets me every morning. I love the zephyr that tickles my body every morning. I love the moon that