The Lock on My Lips: Lock on My Lips, The

ACT IV

125 ACT IV Scene I In the Traditional Council (A big hall constructed with mud bricks imposes itself in front of an inner compound. Wave-like tracks of brown lines creep up the walls and disappear through the roofs. Sitting on two large well-designed bamboo stools are Shufai Nsaw and Shufai Sarbam. The Shufais are wearing zebra coloured long gowns that touch their feet. Sewn onto their thread-woven caps are beads of variegated colours. In the centre is an exceptionally huge round bottomed clay pot on a thickly plaited thatch grass stand. The pot has a long neck on top of which is a small round mouth. Sewn onto the neck of the clay pot is a mass of tassels. Close to the clay pot sits a rattle on another interweaved round stand. A small drum with a rope that goes round its neck twice leans against a trunk firmly planted into the ground in the middle of the hall. With red feathers quivering on their caps, some men, in a file, move towards the Shufais, and with cupped hands greet before sitting down. Hanging slantways across their chests are scabbards beautifully glued with animal skins. Present are villagers. The men are drinking palm wine from horns and calabash cups). Shufai Nsaw: Roots of Kibaaka land. Elders: (Hands cupped, almost closing their mouths.) Mmmrrhrr. Shufai Nsaw: Teeth of the elephant. Elders: Mmrrhrr. Shufai Nsaw: Eyes and ears of the gods. Elders: Mmrrhrr. Shufai Nsaw: Cult of traditional giants. We greet you. Elders: Mmmmmmrrhrrr. Shufai Nsaw: (Looks around questioningly and speaks). The face of Honourable Shu-Shey Wirkitum has not yet been seen. Taa Gheh. Taa Gheh: (Stands up, cups his hands and greets). Mmrrhrr. Shufai Nsaw: Is he breathing? 126 Taa Gheh: We have not heard women crying since the sun showed its face. (Cups his hands). Mmrrhrr. Shufai Nsaw: (To Taa Gheh). You may sit down. Guards. Guards: (Cup their hands). Mmmmmmmm! Shufai Nsaw: Come forward! (Giving them a peace plant). Give this to Honourable and return to us immediately. Guards: Mmrrhrr. (The guards storm out of the hall). Shufai Nsaw: Shey Ghamogha may come forward. (Shey Ghamogha moves towards the Shufais with his hands cupped and held to cover his Mouth. He pulls out a cutlass from a scabbard that hangs slantways on his chest, wields it in the air twice, wedges it again in its sheath and drones). Shey Ghamogha: Mmrrhrr. Their reign will be fertile. Mmrrhrr. (The guards barge into the hall followed by Honourable). Hon S Wirkitum: Hie folks. (The elders murmur while Ability frowns). Shufai Nsaw: Honourable Shey Wirkitum. We greet you. Hon S Wirkitum: Hie folks. Shufai Nsaw: What held you behind? Hon S Wirkitum: I’m just returning from Kamangola where I was called up to answer charges of embezzlement. Shufai Nsaw: Kwifon! Hon S Wirkitum: Yeah. Somebody wrote a letter charging me with misappropriation of state funds and requesting for my transfer to Kurawa. Tav Banboye: Hei! Hon S Wirkitum: The author of the allegation claimed that I swindled and diverted Government money into the wrong pockets. (Ability stifles a smile). In the letter, they cited my accounts in Mbengue, my cars, my houses, my hotels, and all my possessions as testimonies of suspected embezzlement. After charging me with high 127 level embezzlement, the letter requested the Supreme Audit Commission to carry out investigations. (Unnoticed, Ability shades his eyes with horizontally window-like fingers and smiles). Shufai Nsaw: Go and talk with the Big Man. Oil his lips. Honourable, take your place on the ladder. Now that Honourable is here, we may proceed. Ability: (Stands and cups his hands). Mmmm. Must issues concerning land be discussed in the presence of Come no Gos? Hon S Wirkitum: Ebilidy. I don’t think you have more rights in this marriage than I do. Ability: (Pointing a finger up). Mr. Wirkitum… Shufai Nsaw: (Cuts in). Ability, how dare you refer to a title holder of no mean standing as a Mr? Tav Banboye: Orrrhrrrrr! Ability: My mouth is too cultured to call a nobody by an arrogated title. (Cups his hands). Mmmm! Hon S Wirkitum: Where did I go wrong that everywhere I’m targeted as a subject for either discussion or ridicule? Tarhnteh: Honourable Shey, that claim is not made by the hierarchy of the traditional ladder. (Shufai Nsaw and Shufai Sarbam nod). Ability: Is it an insult recognizing...