CATHOLIC THEATRE AND CULTURAL

TROUPE
MATER MISERICORDIAE CATHOLIC CHURCH

PRESENTS:

HERITAGE

KOOFFREH UDOK
2015

MOVEMENT ONE

The front of the hut is divided into two: the right is adorned with flowers and the left
with pots, statues and clothes indication a shrine.
Uwem enters from the right yawning, singing and sweeping. Uwem makes the sign of
the cross.
Uwem:

Come, Holy Spirit and fill the heart of your faithful, and enkindle in
them the fire of your love; send forth your spirit and they shall be
created and they shall renew the face of the earth.
This is the day you have made, we rejoice and be glad in it. Holy
Spirit, pull down every stronghold, cast down everything that exalts
itself above the knowledge of God. Bring to us an expected end; bless
me with a wife and means of livelihood, success and victory over all
our competitors through Christ our Lord.

Uwem makes the sign of the cross and exits. The statue at the shrine falls.
Itoro enters with the carriage and charisma of a native doctor; singing and dancing.
Itoro:

Akwa-Eto! Defender of my people. The river that swallows children

and spares crocodiles, the forest that buries men and spares beasts.
You who fights our enemies and stops our pursuers. You who burns
the weak with the sun and showers the strong with rain.

Itoro turns and sees the statue freeze.

Itoro:

Sai! Not again! Akwa Eto, gods of my fathers. Why do you hide
your face from your own? Look I bring you wine and kola to
celebrate the life you gave me. I sing you praises in appreciation of
the power you gave me.

Itoro sets the statue in place

Itoro:

This the third time you are leaving your throne. Tell me who dares to
move the great tree. Reveal to me the guilty one and I shall sacrifice
him to appease you myself. Uwem? Uwem! Let him return, I will get
to the bottom of this.

Itoro exits. The statue falls again.

MOVEMENT TWO

Uwem enter unwrapping his food. Mama enter, leaning on a staff.

Mama:

My son find me something to eat.

Uwem:

Mama, I have nothing except this wrap of moi-moi, but you can have
it.

Mama:

What about you?

Uwem:

Dont worry, Ill just uproot some cocoyam and roast for myself.

Uwem hands the moi-moi to mama.

Mama:

Thank you, may you be blessed; may all your efforts yield fruit; may
you marry a good wife.

Uwem:

Anyii, Anyii!

Mama exits.
Uwem:

Me marry! Who is she that cometh forth as the morning, fair as the
moon, bright as the sun, awesome as army set in the battle array.

AdiahaObong enters.
Adiaha:

Are your thoughts of me so strong that you speak of me even in my

absence?

Uwem:

Ah my princess, I was just, never mind you are welcome.

Adiaha:

She must be a lucky woman.

Uwem:

Who?

Adiaha:

The woman you love, the one you were dreaming of.

Uwem:

I pray the one I love will be like her, nevertheless I dont have what it
takes to tell her I love her.

Adiaha:

You are intelligent, you have a mouth and you can speak. What else
do you need to say. I love you.

Uwem:

You do? I mean even if I tell, I could not afford

Itoro enters and hurries to join.

Itoro:
Adiaha:

Good morning my princess.

ObongEkpo! Eye of the gods I greet you.

Itoro:

AdiahaObong why do you insist on addressing me by a title. I thought

we are friends.

Adiaha:

I can only earn the respect of people by giving respect as it is due.

Itoro:

So to what do we owe this honour from the most beautiful woman in

the land?

Adiaha:

Please stop, the maiden might be jealous.

Itoro:

My concern is the guards, they may be interested in you.

Adiaha:

Anyway my reason for coming is that my illness, rather than abate,

the symptoms have aggravated.

Itoro:

You exaggerate my princess! No one would look at you and not see a
fresh succulent palm tree oozing with fresh palm wine.

Adiaha:

Eye of the gods, I am in pains all day, feverish at night and shivering
from cold in the morning.

Itoro:

The medicine I gave you, did you take it judiciously?

Adiaha:

Truthfully, I did not.

Itoro:

You see, when you are given medicine, take it as prescribed. Let me
get you a fresh one.

Uwem begins to sing. Adiaha turns, stands from her seat. The guards and maidens turn.
Itoro enters.
Itoro:

(clears throat) here is your medicine.

Adiaha:

Thank you.

Itoro:

Dont mind the noise.

Adiaha:

He seems in love.

Itoro:

The gods will reveal the source of his madness in time.

Adiaha:

Thank you.

Itoro:

I bid you quick recovery.

Adiaha stands up and leaves. Uwem emerges.

Itoro:

Uwem whats the meaning of this?

Uwem:

What is the meaning of what?

Itoro:

Have I not told you to stay away from my wife?

Uwem:

When did you marry her?

Itoro:

And why did you move the statue of the gods.

Uwem:

Why would I play with your little furniture?

Itoro:

Meaning?

Uwem:

Itoro revel in your sense of power all you like but do not disrespect
me.

Itoro:

Why would I respect someone who has nothing to offer himself or

society? And you want to marry the princess. Mgh! You think shell
marry you with no money and no name?

Uwem:

I have the name of Jesus Christ. At the name of Jesus Christ every
knee must bow.

Itoro:

The world only bows to the greatness and power behind a name not
just empty talk.

Uwem:

Greater are they that are with me.

Itoro:

You have gone mad. Why am I wasting my time with you?

Itoro turns to go.

Itoro:

If I see you near the princess again, I will deal with you. Not just
spiritually. You will know machetes are sharper on the skin than in the
farm.

Itoro storms off. Uwem remains thoughtful.

Uwem:

My God, why have you forsaken me? Father said I should call on you
that you will answer. Here I am jobless, disempowered, threatened
and tossed from side to side. Was I wrong to live the god of my
forefathers and follow you whom Ive never seen?

Father Mba enters.

Fr. Mba:
Uwem:
Fr. Mba:

Peace be unto this house.

And with your spirit.
Why the long face, and the drooping shoulder?

Uwem:

I really dont know what to do, EtteEkpo has threatened to kill me if I

mention the name of Jesus. He is now threatening that if I so much as
talk to the princess, he will deal with me physically and spiritually.

Fr. Mba:

Uwem, everybody who comes to Christ need not fear death. Because
you dies with him in baptism. The life you live now is his. When you
received the sacrament of confirmation, the Holy Spirit came to dwell
in you. He lives in you. Let him comfort you, let him defend you.

Itoro rushes in brandishing a machete.

Itoro:

Let him defend you, so you are the one poising his mind?

Uwem stands in between Itoro and Father Mba.

Uwem:

Kill me if you dare.

Itoro:

Get out of my way before I remove your stupid head from your
foolish body.

Uwem:

Kill me if you dare, but you will not lay a finger on the Lords
anointed.

Itoro:

Uwem out of the way before I do something that will us weep.

Uwem:

Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

Itoro hits Uwem to the ground and runs after Father Mba. Uwem stand up and exits.

MOVEMENT THREE
Kokomma enters.
Kokomma:

Greetings! Is anybody at home?

Itoro enters.
Kokomma:

Greetings, eye of the gods.

Itoro:

Kokomma, how are you?

Kokomma:

Fine, I bring you tiding from my father.

Itoro:

How is he?

Kokomma:
Itoro:

He is well. He asked me to come and remind you of his coming later.

How can I forget. When a wise man chooses to visit you, it is your
privilege to prepare to get wisdom.

Kokomma:

This is from my mother, a token for the medicine you gave her.

Itoro:

How is she?

Kokomma:

She is well.

Itoro:

Kokomma, pretty maiden, you know how I like you, but for my
relationship with your father I would have been chasing you like cock
after a hen.

Kokomma:

you are kind with words.

Itoro:

Truthfully, but I you know I like you friend, Adiaha.

Kokomma:

You mean princess Adiaha?

Itoro:

Yes. I would like you to put in a good word for me. You know if I
marry her, your father will be my right hand man.

Kokomma:

Do you love Adiaha?

Itoro:

Ofcourse I like her, you know I can take care of her, I will protect her,
come on.

Kokomma:

Okay, I will talk with her.

Itoro:

Good! Thank you. Once she agrees, Ill give you a gift.

Kokomma:

Ill be on my way.

Itoro:

My regards to your mother. Tell your father, that Ill be expecting him.

Kokomma leaves. Itoro exits.

MOVEMENT FOUR
Adiaha enters with Kokomma.
Kokomma:

My princess, might I speak freely on a very sensitive issue.

Adiaha:

You called me princess, this must be official,

Kokomma:

Its personal and official.

Adiaha:

Okay, speak freely.

Kokomma:

I have watched you move between Itoro and Uwem like a leaf in the
wind.

Adiaha:

Youre meaning?

Kokomma:

I am wondering what your choice will be.

Adiaha:

Thats personal.

Kokomma:

And official, because whatever your choice is will determine the next
king of this land.

Adiaha:

So are you in a position to help me make a choice?

Kokomma:

I like both of them. Uwem lacks the wealth and position befitting your
highness. Besides Uwem is not one of us he worships another God.

Adiaha:

Nice point of view I actually share that point of view. My father told
me I should marry a man, wise, strong and wealthy for the kingdom.
My mother told me to marry a man who would care for, attend to and
respect me. One who would make me laugh, whisper comforting
words when am sad, hold me close and keep me warm on cold and
lonely nights. Koko who will you marry?

Kokomma:

With due respect despite the romantic sentiments, I would marry

Itoro. Think about it a man, a union of spiritual and earthly power.
Think of the people. Think of the kingdom.

Adiaha:

I wish you were in my wrapper so you would know how tightly and
uncomfortable it is. No! I would choose Uwem, if he would only ask
me. I would give him my love for free, he need not pay any bride
price.

Kokomma:

Your highness stop this folly.

Adiaha:

Folly? Funny! I can lie to my head, I can lie to the gods, I can lie to
the people. But I cant lie to my heart. I love him. Uwem; full of love,
joy and peace; he is patient, kind and good, he is mild, modest and
chaste, I admire his tendency to long suffering and contingency.

Kokomma:

Those are good qualities, but no man is so good.

Adiaha:

Uwem is that good. He seems to have changed, just like he someone

else.

Kokomma:

My princess, I know a good man is hard to find. What about the

kingdom, our people.

Adiaha:

I have seen a good man, you want me to choose another. Or do you

want him for yourself?

Kokomma:

No my princess.

Adiaha:

As for leadership, Uwem would be my choice at the drop of a staff. I

mean he has wisdom, he is understating, he gives good counsel. Not
to his fortitude, knowledge, piety and faith.

Uwem emerges staggering weakly.

Uwem:

One would think you are trying to sell goods to an unwilling

customer.

Adiaha:

Uwem! Youre home.

Uwem:

Yes.

Adiaha:

You heard all - interrupted my 9 days prayer.

Uwem:

Thank God! I did!

Kokomma:

Uwem. Im sorry.

Uwem:

Kokomma, dont be. If I were a mother, I would not let my daughter

marry a poor insignificant man. But I thank God that the princess sees
me differently, even worthy of note. But my love, it would be wrong
for me to ask you to marry me when I cant provide for you. Thank
you for your generosity of letting go of the bride price.but what
kind of marriage would that be? Besides, I cannot marry you, even
though I love you so much.

Adiaha:

But why? You know my love is true. Dont let what people say come
between us.

Uwem:

You dont believe in the God I serve.

Adiaha:

Uwem, where is it or he; show me your God and I will believe.

Uwem:

He cannot be held by human hand. He lives in me, my friend.

Kokomma:

An invisible God.

Uwem:

Like the love you feel, you can neither see nor touch it, yet you
believe.

Adiaha:

Uwem, I believe, tell me youll marry me.

Uwem:

I would but

Adiaha:

But what? Is anything too big for the God you want me to believe?

Uwem:

No! His name is Jesus.

Itoro jumps in with a machete.

Itoro:

This will be the first and last you will mention that name in this house.

Uwem:

Itoro, put the weapon down.

Itoro:

Now youre scared.

Everybody runs behind Uwem.

Itoro:

You seek to wrestle with me, you know I am a better wrestle.

Uwem:

I do not wrestle with flesh and blood.

Itoro:

Youre a dreamer. I will cut you with this machete into pieces.

Uwem:

My weapons of warfare are not carnal.

Father Mba arrives.

Fr. Mba:

Itoro, put the machete down.

Uwem:

Father please stay out of this. It does not concern you.

Itoro:

Yes stay out of this, otherwise not just one head will roll.

Uwem:

Itoro, please put down the machete. These statues cannot help you and
if it is the love for Adiaha, I will not let you marry only for your
ambition. If you truly loved her, I would gladly give her up.

Itoro:

But you cannot afford to marry her; her bride price, her wedding
attire, the banquet.

Uwem:

My God shall supply all my needs.

Fr. Mba:

Uwem he has indeed.

Itoro:

Where is this God that you defy the gods for?

Uwem:

Itoro, put the machete down. And I will show you he lives in me.

Itoro:

Then Ill cut you into pieces so I can see him.

Itoro rushes at Uwem and cuts him. Uwem falls to the ground. Itoro raises the machete
to strike.
Itoro:

Aahh! My hand, my eye. Nono I cant see!

Everybody rushes to Uwem.

Fr. Mba:

Thank God youre alive. I wanted to tell you that you are a very
wealthy man. You the palm and plantain plantations behind the
church? They are yours.

Adiaha:

Will you marry me now?

Uwem:

Forever.

Itoro:

Help. I saw your God!

Fr. Mba:

Lets help him.