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Scene Four
- LANGAA RPCIG
- Chapter
- Additional Information
82 Scene Four (Banks of the Kiléy Báh River: Manjong is in full gear dancing and singing. On the foreground is a flat rock on which lies Gwei on one side and a shattered Leopard on another side. Manjong medicine experts are trying to revive Gwei. Gwei starts waking up as drumming and singing rise to a sudden high. Gwei is lifted and taken out by a few hefty Manjong warriors. Women and men dancers form a half circle over the leopard. His Majesty the Fon makes his entrance amidst ululations and jubilation. Then a shout from Tamfu brings silence in the crowd) Tamfu: Manjong, kwéh! Be quiet now and listen! Chong and you mothers and princesses, listen! It is time to open our ears. It is time to hear the lion speak! Let not a toe rustle the sand underfoot; Let not a bird chirp now. It is time! Your Majesty, here are your people Here stands Manjong; Here stands Chong On the foot of Tan. Here your plains are calmed By the murmurs of the river On its tumble from the spine of the hill, Washing clean this mighty flat stone For Gwei, your Gwei To deposit the horror of the night You Majesty, our ears are wide open. Majesty: (The Fon is remarkably alert, articulate, without drooling, chewing or sleeping) Thank you, Bamkov! Many times, I thank you. Today is not an ordinary day. Today is the day we caught our tooth! 83 It is the day we saw Nyuymbom at His best Handing us two trophies in one hand And lifting us onto His lap. How else can we explain this? In just one night, The messenger of death is gone And the evil of fear is destroyed. Not by a troupe but by one hand By our Gwei who is still alive; Alive after looking death in the eyes And thrusting his spear right into its heart. I am yet to see one man face something this massive. I am yet to see a man face death in the slumber of night and win. Today, we are rewarding Gwei! He is living proof that Bamkov will never shrink in the face of danger. He is proof that Bamkov has taken its future into its hands. Gwei is the tiger that lives in all of you, Bamkov. For many years I have not given out a red feather. What is the use of a red feather in a land mangled by death? But today is the day our red feather regained its meaning. Mothers and fathers of this land, our forebears are peaceful this day. They are peaceful because the river has regained course. They are peaceful because you finally pronounced their name correctly! All this because a man of valor called Gwei bit the spear for us.33 So this is a true day for our kingdom to feast: [35.171.22.220] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 09:16 GMT) 84 But in feasting, we mush humble ourselves; We must pour our poor drink to the yawning earth. We must hand over food to the unknown passerby, For then the Mighty Builder will eat and belch freshness onto our land! Bring Gwei forward for his honor. Tawong, bring the bag of the land with the cap and red feather. (Gwei is brought in dressed in fresh leaves over a bare chest and wearing only a wrapper thrust around and below the groin. As soon as Tawong and Yewong bring him in, shouting and ululation ensue in Chong ranks. He is placed in front of the Fon. Tawong is holding a woven tray full of beads, caps and assortments. The Fon first picks up the beads from the woven tray and puts them over Gwei’s head and around his neck. After he is done, he picks up the cap, wears it on Gwei’s head and inserts a red feather into the cap. Ululation come across from the female ranks as Ngwa vigilantes walk in and carry Gwei shoulder high. Manjong music occupies the whole arena as the Fon exits and Tamfu follows. As Manjong music and dancing peak, the women’s ranks break as Lantir starts tearing in. Her voice is drowned by the excited women who to her surprise and shock carry her shoulder high, praise and hug her; then they sit her down in the middle of the semi circle. They dance around her and Yewong motions two...