UNLIMITED PRAISE

ACT I
Scene 1
Curtain opens to reveal the King’s palace. It is
empty but for the two guards guarding it.

Local drum beats can be heard playing softly in

the background. Then, we HEAR:
VOICE OF NARRATOR:
They say, "the one who sits on the throne is the one
true King, not everyone is fit for it." I say, "the one
true King is he who knows when to sit on the throne and
when to stand for battle."
(dramatic laughter)

The beatings of the drum increases. It’s fast.

Engaging. More of a warlike beat
OBA ADEYEMI, fearsome and intimidating barges in
from his inner chambers looking furious and ready
to devour. His angry eyes scan the palace.

VOICE OF NARRATOR: (cont’d)

(energetic)
Oba Adeyemi!!!! First of his name, of the house
Olarenwaju!!! Ruler of the 7 Kingdoms!!! He drinks from
the skulls of mortals!!! The only human who has gone to
the worlds beyond and returned!!!
Oba Adeyemi moves to the throne and falls into it,
still not a bit relived.
VOICE OF NARRATOR: (cont’d)
Some say he is no longer human but spirit in human
clothing.
Oba Adeyemi sinks into his thoughts. Drum beat
goes back to soft tune.

VOICE OF NARRATOR: (cont’d)

Yet, here he is, troubled like mere mortal and clueless
what to do.
QUEEN MOREMI, a beauty to behold and soft by
nature, rushes in from the inner chambers with
worry written over her face. She stops in her
track as her eyes fall on Oba Adeymi, lost in his
heavy thoughts. She moves gently to him and takes
her seat by his side.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2) 2.

QUEEN MOREMI:
Olowo ori mi! My King! This has been going on for 2
nights now. Talk to me, abi emi ko iyawo re
.? What
troubles your mind?

Oba Adeyemi remains mute, almost like he didn’t

hear a thing she said. Queen Moremi’s face falls
flat, exhausted from the numreous attempt to make
him speak up.
Then, inaudible voices of people approaching is
heard. The CHIEFS, about 3, all anxious, approach
the palace in haste.
VOICE OF NARRATOR:
When the problem of the great cannot be solved in the
bedroom by his wife, it is time to seek counsel from
the wise.
CHIEFS:
(falling flat before Oba Adeyemi)
Kabiyesi o!!!

Oba Adeyemi, reluctantly, raises his hand to

acknowledge their greetings. The Chiefs stand and
take their seats.
QUEEN MOREMI:
Welcome my Chiefs.

CHIEF DEMIDE:
We came as soon as we recieved words.
CHIEF TOUN:
What troubles the king, troubles the land and cannot be
handled with levity.
They all nod in agreement.
CHIEF AYO:
Your majesty, you know we will be always loyal to you
and the throne. Tell us who it is that has provoked
your majesty and we will see to it that you get his
head served on a platter of gold.
OBA ADEYEMI:
(shakes head)
There’s no one.
The Chiefs exchange surprise glances.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3) 3.

CHIEF TOUN:
Then what is it my King, that gives you sleepless
night?
OBA ADEYEMI:
My soul is troubled for reasons not yet revealed and I
find no happiness in this world again.
The chiefs exclaim in shock.
CHIEF DEMIDE:
The gods forbid that our King is unhappy. That would
mean calamity for his people.
The Chiefs share a look. Then, in unison they
stand.

CHIEF AYO:
Ermmmm... Olori.
Queen Moremi looks up at him, he signals to her to
come with them. They all move out of the Palace.

Scene 2
A few distance beside the Place, the Chiefs and
Queen Moremi find themselves a spot to stand.
CHIEF AYO:
Something must be done and in earnest.
CHIEF DEMIDE:
You are right Oloye. Olori, why not tell us, what has
the King told you?

QUEEN MOREMI:
My Chiefs, he has refused to speak with me. This is the
most he has spoken since it all started.
The Chiefs are taken aback by this.

CHIEF TOUN:
And you are sure you haven’t denined him pleasure... If
you know what I mean
(The chiefs laugh)
QUEEN MOREMI:
Never! The last time, I went to the of beauty and
pleasure and I had myself prepared and he still turned
me down.
(the chiefs exclaim in shock. Some deep
thinking follows then --)

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2) 4.

CHIEF DEMIDE:
What do the people say is the way to a man’s heart...
(They all exchange knowing stares.)
Scene 3

The Chiefs returns to their seat at the palace

while Queen Moremi goes in.
Minutes later, she’s out with her maid carrying a
covered meal. Queen Moremi takes her seat by the
king.
QUEEN MOREMI:
Olowo ori mi! I have just prepared your favoruite;
Amala ati Ewedu with gbegiri and brokoto.
(the chiefs salivate at the thought of
that)
The maid kneels before him and drops it on a
stool. Before she can even open it, Oba Adeyemi
kicks it off in anger, and this sends the maid
scampering off. The chiefs and Queen Moremi cringe
in fear.
Chief Toun singals to the rest and they step
outside the Palace.
Scene 4

CHIEF TOUN:
(he smiles slyly)
I think I might know just the right thing we can do.
Chief Ayo and Demide reads his expression loud and
clear.
The Chiefs, inaudibly, make a plan. They laugh out
at the end of it. It’s one hell of a plan and are
positive it will work. Chief Demide and Chief Toun
set off on their way out while Chief Ayo returns
back into the palace.
Scene 5
Chief Ayo joins Queen Moremi and Oba Adeyemi in
the palace. He gives Queen Moremi sign that all
will be fine in a matter of time. She calms down
her worried nerves.
There’s an unusual silence in the palace as they
wait eagerly.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2) 5.

Shortly afterwards, Chief Demide and Chief Toun

return with 5 fair and pleasing to look upon
madiens.
CHIEF AYO:
(smiling)
My King, we have come bearing gifts that your heart may
merry and sorrow long forgotten.
He singals to Chief Toun

CHIEF TOUN:
(to the madiens)
Show the King what you come bearing.
The madiens, one after the other, catwalks before
the King. The Chiefs smiles coyly as they do. Oba
Adeyemi on the other part, looks at them
scornefully.
OBA ADEYEMI:
(furiously)
I swear by the old and new gods I will have your head
for suppper if you don’t leave here.
The maidens run out in fright. The smiles on the
faces of the Chiefs disappears at once.
Oba Adeyemi springs up in anger. Queen Moremi and
the Chiefs fall postrate before him. He sighs out
loudly then falls back on the throne. They all
take their seats.
Unusual silence.

CHIEF AYO:
I think it is time for us to send words to the seven
Kingdoms.
CHIEF AYO: (cont’d)
Guard!!!!
One of the guards fall to one knee before the
Chief.
CHIEF AYO: (cont’d)
Send word across to the 7 kingdoms and inform them of
the King’s unhappiness. Let every man, woman and child
know that if any of them suceeds in making the king
happy, he will be gretaly rewarded.
The gaurd exit...
 6.

Scene 6
Guard walks down the road, then stops --
GUARD:
(hits a gong)
Listen people of the land, I bring you word from the
palace. The King, Oba Adeyemi, first of his name, is
greatly troubled. Anyone who can succeed in making him
happy at heart will be greatly rewarded and will have a
place in the King’s cabinet.

He continues on his way.

Scene 7
Gradually, the people of troop into the palace.

CHIEF AYO:
(stands)
Let the acts begin!!!
One after the other -- from dance, comedy, music,
magic -- the people put up displays but not the
slightless of smile forms on the Kings’s face even
as the Chiefs and Queen Moremi reel in laughter.
It’s all done, all acts gone through and the King
is still sorrowful at heart. Queen Moremi and the
Chiefs are downcast, dried up of ideas on how to
please the king.
VOICE OF NARRATOR:
Thousands of acts done by royals, from the best of
bests and yet, the King, the greatest of all men alive
wasn’t pleased at heart until --
Suddenly, a voice echoes
VOICE:
(singing)
Oba o Oba lase Oba.
All eyes search round for the owner of the voice
and fall on BABAJIDE,

BABJIDE:
(approaches the palace singing)
Oba o Oba lase Oba.
The Chiefs are in shock.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2) 7.

BABJIDE: CHIEF DEMIDE:

Moni ki lan f’oba pe (whisper
loudly)
Isn’t that Babajide,
the outcast!!!

They grunt in disgust.

BABJIDE: CHIEF AYO:
Oba o Oba lase Oba. Sieze him!!! No
outcast is allowed
before the presence of
the King.

The guards move for Babjide.

OBA ADEYEMI:
Leave him be.

The guards stand back.

BABJIDE:
(falls postrate before the king)
Kabeyesi o!!!
(stands)
Oba Adeyemi!!!!
Eléripa, e n lé nibèun.
Oba tótó!, mo lémi ò perí oba
Aláse, èkejì òrìsà.
Adéyemí, omo Alájogun.
Apórógunjó, enikan kúnlè bóògùn sòrò.
Enikan síjú apó pìrí dagba ofà sófun
Rógun-má-tèé, omo Àtìbà,
Rogun-má-sojo, omo Sàngó.
Àtàndá, omo Alówólódù tí n j’Ádéyemí
E
.nikan ti o ti ko
.ja si awo
.n aye loke ati ki o pada
se
.hin
BABJIDE: (cont’d)
(falls postrate before the king)
Kabeyesi o!!!
(stands, english version)
Eléripa, greetings to you!
Your Royal Highness, I cannot call you in vain.
Your Lordship is second in command to the deities.
Adéyemi, the offspring of the warriors
Apórógunjó, the one that kneels down to talk to the
medicine
The one that opens the quiver suddenly to swallow two
hundred arrows
He that does not fail in war, the child of Àtìbà,
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3) 8.

BABJIDE: (cont’d)
He that does not shiver in war, the child of Sàngó
Àtàndá, offspring of Alówólódù that bears Adéyemí
The one that has crossed to the worlds beyond and
returned unscarred

Gradually a smile begins to form on Oba Adeyemi’s

face. The Chiefs and Queen Moremi are stunned.
They too begin to smile.
BABJIDE: (cont’d)
N ó k’Eléripa, oba àrànse Òyìnbó,
Oyinlolá, Ádéyemí Asoba-jagun
Aféfé tíí terí oko ba
Peran-borí Peran-bofá.
Ó jagun Aláké, o pomo Aláké.
Ó jagun Ìgbèìn, Ìbíkúnlé dorò nígbèkùn.
Ó na Sómúyì, ó n’Àpátí
Ó yogi gbóngbó, n l’Álólá kiri
Oba tí n be lóyè n lèmí n ké sí.
BABAJIDE:
(engish version)
I will praise Eléripa the merciful king.
Oyinlolá, Ádéyemí a warrior king
The wild wind that controls the grass.
The one that slaughters animal to his destiny and Ifá
He fought against the Aláké’s army, he killed the son
of Aláké
He fought against Ìgbèìn army, Ìbíkúnlé became a terror
in captivity
He beat Sómúyì, he beat Àpátí
He took a short cudgel and drove Alólá about.
I salute the king on the throne.

Oba Adeyemi stands from his throne. Everyone

postrates before him.
ALL:
Kabeyesi o!!!!!

They all stand

VOICE OF NARRATOR:
Well, that’s my story. The story of how a peasant man
like me, became the King’s right hand just becasue I
knew how to please him.
BABJIDE:
Oba Adeyemi!
The only man that has ever seen the gods and didn’t go
blind
He drinks from the tusk of an elephant.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (4) 9.

BABJIDE: (cont’d)
The elephant he killed with bare hands.
He uses the back of a lion as bed.
Nílè Oki, Oyèéwò, ìwo ni wón n dárúko,
Wón n kominú re nílè Alape.
Ní Aroro, Omo Olanrewaju kúkú ni wón n dárúko.
As the prasies continue, Oba Adeyemi and his
entourage leave the stage smiling.
THE END