WIDOWS' FATE

Episode 9: LOST IN TRANSLATION

Chinanza and her mother were getting too desperate after Alfa's insult in the mosque, her mother Mrs. Okooro decided the only way to secure Chief's mansion was to visit Holy Michael, a powerful white-garment prophet. But again, language would betray them...

Song 7:

Holy Michael wa loja

Baba wa loja

Jah elo elo…

Light shines on the stage. The stage is designed as a white-garment church. Chinanza and Mrs. Okooro are seen kneeling before Pastor Michael, who is dressed in his white garment. Pastor Michael is praying and singing with his eyes closed.

Pastor Michael:

Hallelujah wa ninu ishe wa,

Bi aiye fe, bi aiye ko,

Won teriba fun Oluwa…

Oluwa a se fun wa,

Oluwa a gbe wa ga…

Chinanza: (about to get up but stopped by her mother; whispers) Ahan… did you hear what he is saying at all?

Mrs. Okooro: No, but he is a pastor. He obviously can’t curse us.

Chinanza: Ah, Mummy, you sure? Na because you no dey go church very well you think Pastor no dey curse !

Mrs. Okooro: Mechi onu!

Chinanza: Hmm… he is a Yoruba man, ohh.

Mrs. Okooro: Ewooo!

(She immediately gets up. Chinanza follows.)

Pastor Michael:

…Aiye fe, bi aiye ko, won teri—

(He slowly opens his eyes until they are fully open. He was surprised to see them standing.)

Pastor Michael: Ah!

Mrs. Okooro: Amen!

Pastor Michael: I’m not praying.

Chinanza: Wow! I talk am, ohh. I talk am!

Mrs. Okooro: Wetin you kon dey do since? You no fit pray for my grandchild to be a son, wetin you kon dey do since?

Pastor Michael: I was singing a song to the Most High God on your daughter’s behalf, and I was even in the spirit.

Chinanza: Make spirit speak Igbo abeg ! I no too understand Yoruba.

Pastor Michael: Ahan, Sister Chinanza. Hallelujah wa ninu ishe wa means hallelujah is part of our duty. Bi aiye fe, bi aiye ko means whether the world likes it or not, and won o teriba fun—

Chinanza: Ewooo! Yoruba men go whine you, but no panic.

Mrs. Okooro: Can we get an interpreter, please? Na Yoruba demons we dey deal with for house. Abeg, no vex.

Pastor Michael: Hmm… nawa ohh. Please, let’s sit.

(They all sit.)

Pastor Michael: Sister Rebecca! Sister Rebecca !! Rebe…

Sister Rebecca: (from stage right) Sir! Sir !! I’m coming sir

(Rebecca hurriedly enters wearing her white garment and kneels before Pastor Michael.)

Pastor Michael: Please, I need you to help me translate what I was saying to them.

Rebecca: Okay, sir.

(She faces Chinanza and Mrs. Okooro and explains the meaning to them in Igbo.)

Mrs. Okooro: Hmm! Na God song true true, ohh. Thank you, Sister. Pastor, no vex for me abeg.

Pastor Michael: No problem at all, ma.

(He taps Rebecca gently.)

Pastor Michael: Now, you can go. Thank you.

Rebecca: Okay, sir.

(Rebecca gets up and is about to leave.)

Chinanza: No, no, no! Don’t leave yet, please.

Mrs. Okooro: Aha! She should follow us home?

Chinanza: Yes, Mama.

(Chinanza pulls her mother slightly toward downstage right.)

Chinanza: Mama, I get an idea. I feel since the lady understands both Yoruba and Igbo, she should just follow us home so she can easily let us understand what those Yoruba demons are saying in their language.

Mrs. Okooro: Hmm… my daughter, I understand you, but she no fit follow us for free, ohh. Are you ready to spend on her?

Chinanza: Mama, you don’t need to worry. I will sort that.

(She looks at her stomach.)

Chinanza: I’m making sacrifices for my unborn son. Once I give birth to him, he will inherit the man’s property, which I will manage.

Mrs. Okooro: Hmm…

Chinanza: Mama, let me spend this money now, more is coming later. I go give birth to a boy, na.

Mrs. Okooro: Hmm… yes. I believe you.

Chinanza: So don’t let us worry. Let’s pay for her service. She won’t charge us much.

Mrs. Okooro: Us? How is it “let’s pay” and not “you will pay”?

Chinanza: Mama, now—

Mrs. Okooro: Don’t “Mama” me now at all! I go pay this pastor before leaving here. We go still meet Baba Esubiyi, I go still pay him, and you are still saying I should pay for this one too?

Mrs. Okooro: Tofiakwa!

(She leaves Chinanza and returns to her seat.)

Chinanza: (disappointed) Eheen…

(She nods repeatedly as she returns to her seat.)

Chinanza: Tofiakwa… tofiakwa.

(She turns to Rebecca.)

Chinanza: Good afternoon, Sister.

Rebecca: Good afternoon, ma.

Chinanza: Emm… I want to—

Mrs. Okooro: (cuts in) You see, this is my daughter. She needs your help. Pastor, let me re-explain what we want from you.

Pastor Michael: Go ahead, ma.

Mrs. Okooro: My daughter is pregnant, and we need prayers. We want the child to be a boy. We also need Sister Rebecca to help us whenever we need to understand some things at home.

Pastor Michael: Hmm. I understand.

Mrs. Okooro: And we are ready to pay.

Pastor Michael: Payment is not the problem, ma. What matters is faith.

(He pauses.)

Pastor Michael: But… there are some things we need to discuss privately.

Chinanza: Privately?

Pastor Michael: Yes.

Chinanza: Mama, wetin he wan tell us privately again?

Mrs. Okooro: Shhh! Let him talk.

Pastor Michael: Your mother should understand me better so don’t worry huun (laughs) Sister Rebecca, you will have to accompany them for some time. Help them communicate whenever necessary and make sure they understand what is being said.

Rebecca: Yes, sir.

Chinanza: Thank you very much, Pastor.

Pastor Michael: But remember, prayer is not magic.

Chinanza: Yes, sir.

Pastor Michael: And whatever happens, you must accept the will of God.

(Chinanza briefly looks at her mother.)

Chinanza: Yes, sir.

Mrs. Okooro: What will happen will favor us Amen.

Rebecca: Hmm… just as my father in the Lord agreed, then no problem.

Chinanza: Thank you very much, my sister. Thank you, Pastor. Please, can we go now?

Pastor Michael: Go where?

Chinanza: Aha! Our house now.

Pastor Michael: Ehn… you dey go na.

Chinanza: Aha! Mama, what’s happening?

Mrs. Okooro: Mechi onu! As if I no tell you before.

(She gets up and approaches Pastor Michael.)

Mrs. Okooro: Pastor Holy Michael!

Pastor Michael: Yes, ma.

Mrs. Okooro: I understand your language so well, sir. I no fit pay for Rebecca and ignore you now. I already told you I came prepared, sir.

Pastor Michael: Hmmm I said it earlier your daughter don’t understand anything yet… ahhh haaa (laughs again)

Mrs. Okooro: Hmmm cash or transfer, sir?

Pastor Michael: Anyone, anyone… cash, cash! Yes, cash is preferable so I can break.

(He pauses and rubs his stomach.)

Pastor Michael: I’ve been fasting for days because of you people now. It’s not that I’m after your money at all.

Mrs. Okooro: Say less, Pastor.

(She brings out ₦20,000 cash and places it in his hand.)

Pastor Michael: (immediately becomes excited) Ah! God bless you, ma!

(He gets up and raises his hand.)

Pastor Michael: May the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ keep the three of you—

Mrs. Okooro: Amen.

Pastor Michael: And by the grace of God, you girls will turn four for thanksgiving next time you are coming, in Jesus’ name!

Rebecca: Amen!

Chinanza/Mrs. Okooro: GOD FORBID!

Pastor Michael: Ahhhhh! Mistake, oh! Mistake!

(He quickly corrects himself.)

Pastor Michael: You will come back with a bouncing baby boy, in the name of Jesus!

Chinanza: Amen!

Mrs. Okooro: Amen!

Pastor Michael: It is settled!

Chinanza: Know the kind of prayers you will be praying

(She hisses and turns to her mother.)

Chinanza: Mummy, please let’s go.

(Chinanza, Mrs. Okooro and Rebecca begin to leave.)

Pastor Michael: Sister Chinanza!

Chinanza: Yes what again ?

Pastor Michael: Remember what I said. I’m sorry now, you want a boy right

Chinanza: Yes, Pastor.

Pastor Michael: Don’t worry, it’s settled

Chinanza: Thank you sir

(Chinanza and her mother left the stage.)

Pastor Michael: Hmm…

(He looks at the money in his hand.)

Pastor Michael: Na fasting cause am.

(He looks toward backstage.)

Pastor Michael: Gabriel!

Gabriel: (from backstage) Yes, sir!

Pastor Michael: Abeg come help me buy amala and gbegiri.

(He looks at the money again.)

Pastor Michael: God wey do breakfast for me don do lunch!

Gabriel: (appears on stage with his white garment) Sir, what about dinner?

Pastor Michael: Dinner?

(He pauses.)

Pastor Michael: Eeeeh…ehh (laughs drastically) Make we no test God!

(He quickly hides the money.)

[Light fades]