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Let me die alone is one of the few plays he wrote in English and like others staged in Seirra Leone.
His other play titled 'Poyo Togn Wahala' was brilliantly crafted that it portrayed the corruption, incompetence and indifference of the ruling elite. This particular work incurred him wrath of the then government in Seirra Leone thus he was forced to go into exile in Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Kolosa‘s 'Let Me Die Alone' is based on the historical Madam Yoko or Mammy Yoko (1849-1906) of the Mende people in Sierra Leone. She was a leader and a legendary monarch of the Mende people in Sierra Leone. According to history, she is from an advantageous lineage coupled with her shrewd marriage choices and the power given to her from the secret Sande society, Yoko became a leader of considerable influence that she expanded the Mende Kingdom and at the time of her death, she was the ruler of the vast Kpa Mende Confederacy.
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Kolosa's 'Let Me Die Alone', however, addresses the gender struggles of the famous madam Yoko, the crises she encountered within her chiefdom, the sacrifices and her courageous decision to joins all-male secret society and the wielded tremendous influence with the colonial masters. She however, felt betrayed despite her influence with the colonial rulers, that she was instructed to relinquish her conquered territories. This is the last straw that broke the camel's back.
PLOT SUMMARY
John K. Kargbo, "Let Me Die Alone", is a play written in three acts, seven scenes. The play sums up the prevalence of betrayal in a typical African traditional society. The play opens at Senehun in Gbanya's bedroom while Sande drumming is ongoing on the offstage. Gbanya, the ruler of the Mende Chiefdom, is seem in a dire need of romantic play with his wife, Yoko, thus hindering her from to join the company of other Sande women, a cult women dancer. Gbanya urges her to stay with him and attend to his emotional urge andjulst at the moment of succeeding in forcing Yoko to bed, they were instantly interrupted by a violent knocking offstage. It was a message from the Governor through the messenger who informs them that Governor Row, the British colonial representative will be visiting tomorrow. In the light of the news, Gbanya sensed something bad will happen to him as the Governor has never visited before. He acknowledged that it might have something to do with the boys he hired out to John
Caulker to fight against his brother, George and this further confirms his fears and unseats his heart.
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However, Yoko being a smart woman sensed that her husband is disturbed and he confirms it as he confides in her the anxiety, he gets over the constant visit of his ancestors in his dream, imploring him to join them. He also said he dreamt about he been humiliated by the Governor in presence of his people.
At first, Yoko tries to dissuade him from wallowing in negative thoughts. Later when she notices his unwieldiness to her advice, she reminds him of his promise to bequeath the throne to her at his demise. Gbanya objects vehemently to such arrangement by laying claims to the fact that Mende Land is in a state of chaos and disorder and It needs a man to right the wrongs.
In scene Act 1, scene two, we encounter Musa and Lamboi. They both are presumably members of Gbanya's administration. Lamboi, who is obsessed about his ambition to become the chief, seeks the cooperation of Musa, the seer and the medicine man, in killing Gbanya. At first, Musa refuses to oblige to Lamboi's evil agenda. He later accepts to help when Lamboi threatens to reveal his secret of human sacrifices.
Gbanya prepares to receive his enemy the governor with lots of gifts, although his wife, Yoko feels otherwise and advises that Gbanya to prepare for war as he receives the Governor. Also, Lamboi feels gifting so much gift to the governor is not needed, but Gbanya insists.
The anticipated Colonial Governor, Dr Rowe, arrives and as expected, he outrightly humiliates Gbanya for supporting a white brother against the other. He sees it as a direct affront against his orders that there should be no more fighting. Gbanya continues to deny the accusation but the governor humiliates him by ordering his soldiers to flog him with a whip, fined to pay fifty pounds in the equivalence of cattle and rice. When the Governor and his team leave. Lamboi and Musa took the advantage of this incident to poison Gbanya in pretense that it is meant to relive his pain. While in his death throes,
Gbanya is quick to recognize he has been poisoned. He curses his killers and instructs Yoko to take charge of the chiefdom before he dies.
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Lamboi tries to persuade Yoko out of the idea of becoming the new chief as he tries to proclaim himself as one. But suspicious Yoko, who is convinced that Gbanya has been killed by the duo, objects to the pronouncement. She assumes the mantle of leadership and decides to join the Poro cult which would consequently prevent her from bearing children.
As Act two opens with Jilo preparing to cook for her husband Ndapi. Lasana, her lover appears to have an affair with her. Here, we witness the infidelity of Jilo to Ndapi as she is involved in extra marital affairs with Lansana right in her matrimonial home even at a very narrow escape of being caught by her husband and Iavalie who had entered but were engrossed in discussions that concerns the mysterious death of Chief Gbanya and the expansionist war Yoko was about to embark on.
As Ndapi and Lavelie leave the stage to strategize on how to stop Yoko from embarking on war, Lansana and Jilo emerge from the hut and agrees to meet at a safer place.
When Ndapi returns, he is portrayed as a woman-beater, one who maltreats his wife as he won't stop to inflict pain on Jilo even while they converse. After a while, a guard enters and urges him not to beat his wife that it could make him lose his self-esteem. Jilo reveals Yoko's plan to move the chiefdom from Senehun to Moyamba.
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In the following scene, we witness Yoko in her royal splendor in her palace in Moyamba, there is a rapid growth in Yoko's powers with her servitude to the Governor and the expansion of her chiefdom.
We also witness a shift in her government's seat from Senehun to Moyamba. Yoko also expresses an uneasy feeling and fear of being killed by those who don't want her on the throne. She expresses the wishes of being a mother instead of a queen, she misses the joy of motherhood, she then requests the presence of Jeneba, Ndapi's daughter whom she adopted as her own daughter.
While Yoko prepares for a meeting with the elders after a guard announces the arrival of a messenger from the Governor, Ndapi drags his wife Jilo to the barre before Chief Yoko and accused her of adultery with a member of Yoko's household, Lansana who is already on the run to Taiama. Immediately, Yoko deploys two warriors to fetch him as she was disappointed with Jilo and Lansana's abominate act. While this is on, Musa and Lamboi do not relent in their ploy to eliminate Yoko and take the kingdom for themselves. They marvel at how Yoko has successfully managed the affairs of the chiefdom and her dexterity in maintaining a good diplomatic relationship with the Governor. They decide to kill Jeneba and incite the people against her (Yoko).
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Yoko thereafter prepares to embark on a stately visit to the Governor's place. But before she leaves for herjourney, a report of Jeneba being kidnapped was brought to her and she ordered a search to unravel the disappearance of Jeneba before she returns.
Meanwhile, the duo, Musa and Lamboi start their nefarious plan. They kill Jeneba and impress the people into believing that Yoko is the guilty evil doer by engaging in human sacrifices to get the favor of the Governor. They poisoned the mind of the people, the village's Sande women, Jilo and most especially, the father of the child, Ndapi.
Upon yoko's arrival, she is called several unprintable names, such as "witch", "murderer" etc. Yoko is baffled by the people's sudden change in attitude towards her. She is more confused when Ndapi questions her legitimacy to the throne. She then realizes that she had been accused of burying Jeneba alive to sustain her in power and allow good favour from the Governor. Frantically, she plead innocent and denies having a hand in Jeneba's disappearance.
Ndapi will not listen to any of these. Rather he attributes her heartlessness to her inability to procreate. Fortunately for the queen, the dead body of Jeneba is found mutilated; her heart and private part cut off.
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Upon this discovery, everyone realizes that Yoko has been wrongly accused. Ndapi, in particular, tries to make amends for the humiliation he has made her go through. Yoko announces that she will unravel the matter to its very root at the Poro Bush.
After a thorough investigation, she discovers Lamboi and Musa are behind the death of Jeneba. Ndapi attempts to go after them but Yoko reminds him of the consequence of their actions: "Their noses will rot, cataracts will marry their eyeballs, leprosy will devour their fingers and elephantiasis will cling to their legs" which is the Gbeni's revenge.
As all these is ongoing at the Poro Bush, the messenger of the governor arrives to bring message to Queen Yoko. The messenger who is a Poro man was initially stopped by the guards from entering the shrine but allows on confirming by the queen that he also belongs to the Poro society as well. In his message, he tells Yoko that the Governor has instructs her to relinquish all her conquered territories.
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This upset the queen and sees it as the last straw that broke the camel's back She sends Lavalie for some herbs that was delivered through a guard to the queen. Musu prepares the concoction. At the same moment, Yoko turns to the messenger and expressed her displeasure over boundary demarcation. She says she felt humiliated after her long years of services and loyalty to the Governor and this obvious reward is least expected. Yoko realizes she has been overwhelmed by depression, she turned deaf hear to Ndapi and Jilo's apologies and recalls her husband had one time warned her that; "behind every set of white teeth there lurks an evil plotting mind" she dismisses them and the messenger. She receives the concoction from Musu who perceived it was poisoned and wanted to drink it first but the queen disagreed and says;" LET ME DIE ALONE". She poisons herself amidst pleas from everyone and sends words to the entire chiefdom not to mourned as she did not bring a child to this world. She slums to the ground and dies.
MAJOR EVENTS
Gbanya demands a romantic moment from Yoko// Governor Rowe's intend to visit Senehun// Gbanya is troubled about the fate of the chiefdom {Act 1,scene 1. page 1—8,}
The play opens at Senehun in Gbanya's bedroom while Sande drumming is ongoing on the offstage. Gbanya, the ruler of the Mende Chiefdom, is seem in a dire need of romantic play with his wife, Yoko, thus hindering her from to join the company of other Sande women, a cult women dancer. Gbanya urges her to stay with him and attend to his emotional urge and just at the moment of succeeding in forcing Yoko to bed, they were instantly interrupted by a violent knocking offstage. It was a message from the Governor through the messenger who informs them that Governor Row, the British colonial representative will be visiting tomorrow. In the light of the news, Gbanya sensed something bad will happen to him as the Governor has never visited before. He acknowledged that it might have something to do with the boys he hired out to John Caulker to fight against his brother, George and this further confirms his fears and unseats his heart.
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However, Yoko being a smart woman sensed that her husband is disturbed and he confirms it as he confides in her the anxiety, he gets over the constant visit of his ancestors in his dream, imploring him to join them. He also said he dreamt about he been humiliated by the Governor in presence of his people.
At first, Yoko tries to dissuade him from wallowing in negative thoughts. Later when she notices his unwieldiness to her advice, she reminds him of his promise to bequeath the throne to her at his demise. Gbanya objects vehemently to such arrangement by laying claims to the fact that Mende Land is in a state of chaos and disorder and It needs a man to right the wrongs.
Lamboi blackmails Musa in order to graft him into his treachery to kill Gbanya {ACT 1, Scene 2, page 9-16}
Here, Lamboi is seen taken up by the desires to take over the chiefdom from Gbanya and in order to alleviate his fear of it {the throne} been given to his sister, Yoko, he seeks the assistance of Musa, the seer and the medicine man, and when he refuses on the ground of his loyalty to the throne. He blackmailed him by threating to reveal his secret of involving in human sacrifices. Lamboi, however successfully connives with Musa, the seer and the medicine man, to kill Gbanya. They both strategize and resolved to lure Gbanya to the Poro bush after the governor's visit to drink from a medicine poisoned with the gall of alligator.
Governor visits and humiliates Gbanya as foreshowed in scene one // The plot to kill Gbanya was actualized//Yoko join the Poro cult {Act 1, scene 3, page 17—29}
The anticipated Colonial Governor, Dr Rowe, arrives and as expected, he outrightly humiliates Gbanya for supporting a white brother against the other. He sees it as a direct affront against his orders that there should be no more fighting. Gbanya continues to deny the accusation but the governor humiliates him by ordering his soldiers to flog him with a whip, fined him to pay fifty pounds in the equivalence of cattle and rice.
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Shortly after the Governor and his team leave, Lamboi and Musa took the advantage of this incident to poison Gbanya in pretense that it is meant to relive his pain. Gbanya who is quick to recognize he has been poisoned, while in deep pains, He curses his killers and instructs Yoko to take charge of the chiefdom before he dies.
Lamboi tries to persuade Yoko out of the idea of becoming the new chief as he tries to proclaim himself as one. But suspicious Yoko, who is convinced that Gbanya has been killed by the duo, objects to the pronouncement. She assumes the mantle of leadership and decides to join the Poro cult which would consequently prevent her from bearing children.
- Adultery brews between Jilo and Lasana// Ndapi is portrayed as a wife beater/l Yoko plans to expand and move the chiefdom from Senehun to Moyamba. {Act 2,scene 1, page 30-41}
Here, we see Jilo the wife Ndapi and Biological mother of Jeneba preparing to cook and Lansana her lover shows up with the intentions to lure her to bed right in her matrimonial home. Jilo resists, but Lansana succeeded by dragging her into the hut.
As that was on-going in the hut, Ndapi and Lavelie entered from the opposite direction, a narrow escape it was as they both were engrossed on the recent incident that befalls their formal chief and how much they think Yoko is obsessed with the ambition for more expansion. When they both existed the scene to strategize, Lansana and Jilo emerge from the hut and Lansana seems satisfy because he got what he wanted and is prepared to risk his life for another attempt.
Shortly after Lansana exits, Ndapi returns and he began to query Jilo her whereabout which she blames on their sickly child. Of course, Ndapi won't believe her and began to inflict pain on her, while this was on-going, a guard enters and urges him not to beat his wife that it could make him lose his self-esteem. Ndapi and the guard further review Yoko's greed for war that they considered as vain and provocative. Jilo also reveals Yoko's plan and intention to move the chiefdom from Senehun to Moyamba.
- Yoko moves the chiefdom from Senehun to Moyamba// Ndapi caught Jilo and Lansana in adulterous act and Jilo losses three months pregnancy//Lamboi and Musa plot to kidnap and kill Jeneba {Act two, scene two, page 42-56}
In scene two, we witness Yoko in her royal splendor in her palace in Moyamba, there is a rapid growth in Yoko's powers with her servitude to the Governor and the expansion of her chiefdom. The shift in her government's seat from Senehun to Moyamba was also actualized but Yoko expresses an uneasy feeling and fear of being killed by those who don't want her on the throne. She wishes and desires to be a mother instead of been a Queen, recall she joins the Poro cult in Act one, scene two which comes with the consequence of not ever to mothered a child of her own. She wishes to experience the joy of motherhood. Afterwards, she requests the presence of Jeneba, Ndapi's daughter whom she adopted as her own daughter and have some quality fondly time with her.
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After a while, Yoko prepares for a meeting with the elders after a guard announces the arrival of a messenger from the Governor, Ndapi drags his wife Jilo to the barre before Chief Yoko and accused her of adultery with a member of Yoko's household, Lansana who is already on the run to Taiama. Immediately, Yoko deploys two warriors to fetch him as she was disappointed with Jilo and Lansana's abominate act. While this is on, Musa and Lamboi do not relent in their ploy to eliminate Yoko and take the kingdom for themselves. They marvel at how Yoko has successfully managed the affairs of the chiefdom and her dexterity in maintaining a good diplomatic relationship with the Governor. They decide to kill Jeneba and incite the people against her (Yoko).
- Yoko leaves for official duties to Taiama and Lamboi takes over of the chiefdom in Yoko's absence/Jilo reports Jeneba's disappearance //Lamboi instigate the people against Yoko/ Yoko is accused of murder// Jeneba's dead body was found and the real killer was unveiled.
Having receives the messenger in the previous scene from the governor, Yoko thereafter prepares to embark on a stately visit to Taiama. She has been sent to crown two chiefs and in her absent she ordered Lamboi to take charge of the kingdom till she returns. But before she leaves for herjourney, a report of Jeneba being kidnapped was brought to her by Jilo, Jeneba's mother and she ordered a search to unravel the disappearance of Jeneba before she returns.
Meanwhile, the evil duo, Musa and Lamboi start their nefarious plan. They kill Jeneba and impress the people into believing that Yoko is the guilty evil doer by engaging in human sacrifices to get the favor of the Governor. They poisoned the mind of the people, the village's Sande women, Jilo and most especially, Ndapi, the father of the child.
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Upon Yoko's arrival, she is called several unprintable names, such as "witch", "murderer" etc. Yoko is baffled by the people's sudden change in attitude towards her. She is more confused when Ndapi questions her legitimacy to the throne. She then realizes that she had been accused of burying Jeneba alive to sustain her in power and allow good favour from the Governor. Frantically, she plead innocent and denies having a hand in Jeneba's disappearance.
Ndapi will not listen to any of these. Rather he attributes her heartlessness to her inability to procreate. Fortunately, in the Queen's favor, the dead body of Jeneba is found mutilated; her heart and private part cut off.
Upon this discovery, everyone realizes that Yoko has been wrongly accused. Ndapi, in particular, tries to make amends for the humiliation he has made her go through. Yoko announces that she will unravel the matter to its very root at the Poro Bush.
After a thorough investigation, she discovers Lamboi and Musa are behind the death of Jeneba. Ndapi attempts to go after them but Yoko reminds him of the consequence of their actions: "Their noses will rot, cataracts will marry their eyeballs, leprosy will devour their fingers and elephantiasis will cling to their legs" which is the Gbeni's revenge.
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** Governor Rowe reduces Yoko territorial control//Ndapi and Jilo seek forgiveness from Yoko/l Yoko commits suicide.
The messenger from the governor brings a message to Queen Yoko at the Poro bush, he was stopped from entering by the guards because only the initiates and members are admitted into the shrine. But the Queen clears the messenger as a member and he gains access to see her.
The messenger told the Queen that her territorial control has been reduced and she get upsets and sees it as disgrace. The news of her territorial reduction was a last straw that broke the camel's back She sends Lavelie for some herbs that was delivered to her through a guard. Yoko then gives it to Musu to prepare the herbs into concoction.
The Queen expressed her displeasure over her boundary demarcation and tells the messenger to tell the governor that the reward she gets from him after so long years of services and loyalty is least expected.
Ndapi and his wife, Jilo seeks forgiveness from the queen claiming they were misled but the queen wouldn't hear any apologies. She recalls how her late husband, Gbanya has warned her that: "behind every set of white teeth there lurks an evil plotting mind". She dismisses the couple and the messenger.
Yoko takes the concoction from Musu who had suspects it is a poison and wanted to drink it first before the Queen but Yoko disagrees and says: "Let me die Alone" because she savored the fruit of power alone. She drinks the poison and slums, while she is in pain from the poison, she sends words to the entire chiefdom not to mourned her demise because she did not bring a child to this world. She dies and dirge rises.
THEMES
John Kolosa Kaegbo's Let me die alone explores the topical issues of colonialism, gender discrimination, betrayal, excessive desire for power, suicide, homicide, human sacrifice, and a listless other. These issues further accentuate the artistic quality and social relevance of the play.
THEME OF BETRAYAL:
In John k Kargbo's "Let me Die Alone" the theme of betrayal is one of the most prevalent themes in the play. The theme significantly develops the plot and accentuate the social relevance of the play, especially to our present African society. Gbanya trusts Musa, the seer and the medicine man, but one who suppose be the incorruptible loyalist to the throne connive with Lamboi who notjust his trusted warrior, but also a brother to his most loved wife, Yoko. Musa poisoned Gbanya under the pretense that the medicine will alleviate his pain sustained from the strokes he gets from the Governor's soldiers.
These evil duos also betrayed the entire the community who trusted them as they instigated them against Yoko over the disappearance and subsequently the death of Jeneba. Their obsession for power drives all of these evil and treacherous acts.
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In a similar stance, in the play, we see how Yoko responded to Governor Rowe message to on boundary demarcation, which was least expected as a reward for her servitude to the colonial master. Rowe betrays her long years of services and loyalty without blinking an eyelid.
THEME OF COLONIALISM and COLONIALIST ARROGANCE:
We see this theme manifest at the very beginning of the play. Gbanya who was about to get intimate with his beloved wife became troubled at the arrival of the message that the Governor is visiting Senehun.
Despite his mixed feeling and predictions that Governor Rowe might come to humiliate him, we saw a lot of preparations going on to receive the Governor.
Upon arrival, the height of the Governor's arrogance is demonstrated when he commands his soldiers to strip chief Gbanya for flogging. Even on his arrival, when Gbanya attempts to embrace him, but he told him not put his filthy hands on him.
This is however a denigrating treatment of the traditional ruler by the Governor. Rowe's treatment of Gbanya is highly suggestive of the aura of impudence and self —professed superiority colonial administrators exuded.
Furthermore, the colonial master exudes her superiority by striping off Yoko her newly acquired territories without breaking a sweat. It will be recollected that Yoko painstakingly consults the governor before she embarks on her conquest of new territories. She does not go off limit but the governor strips her of the territories all the same. This shows the colonial administrators took Africans and their rulers for granted.
Through these instances in the play, John Kargbo buttresses the puppetry and powerlessness of African traditional rulers during colonialization.
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THEME OF GENDER DISCRIMINATION:
The theme of gender discrimination cannot be over-emphasised in Karpgbo's "Let me die alone" it is also a prevalent theme that actively contributed to the development of the plot.
In Senehun and Mendeland at large, women are not treated as equals of men. Women are considered fragile, vulnerable and incapable of managing crises. We saw this played out at the beginning of the play when Gbanya drags Yoko into his bedroom and he claims that his need of her is more important than the Sande women, he even says they can continue to dance till they die but his sexual needs should be her priority.
Secondly, we learnt from Yoko's discussion with Gbanya that she had been promised to be his successor, but now that it looks like it time for Gbanya to transcend to the land of his ancestors, he reluctantly validate his promises.
More importantly, the conflict in the play builds up because Lamboi felt the necessity to take the throne from Gbanya because he has the knowledge that it might be handover to Yoko, a woman, whom he thinks might not be able to lead the chiefdom to war.
However, Yoko's doggedness allows her to a chief in Mende land that she had to forgo her innate right to bring a child to the world when she decides to join the Poro cult.
THEME OF OBSESSION FOR POWER:
Lamboi's obsession for the throne and power would have him do anything within and outside his reach to achieve. We see this played out when he visited Musa, the seer and the medicine man, to plot against Gbanya but Musa's refusal further shows that Lamboi would not take a no for an answer. He further blackmailed the seer in other to influence his decision to join him execute his evil plans. In his desperation to become the chief, he kills a chief and inspires the death of an innocent child, Jeneba and even imprint on the mind of the people of Senehun the impression that she was buried alive by the Queen.
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THEME OF HOMICIDE:
Theme of Homicide is explored in the character of Musa and Lamboi. These evil duos poisoned Chief Gbanya and they also killed Jeneba, the only daughter of Ndapi and Jilo.
THEME OF HUMAN SACRIFICE:
Lamboi succeeded in getting Musa, the chief priest, on his side of evil plans to kill Gbanya because Musa indulges in human sacrifice, which he uses as a stance to black mail him. We learnt through Lamboi that he often sacrifices children in order to gain prosperity, good health and longevity. Also, the cruel death and mutilation of Jeneba considerably spells out human sacrifice in the play.
THEME OF SUICIDE:
When the people of Senehun; the Sande women and Ndapi humiliated, embarrassed and wrongly accused Yoko of sacrificing her to the gods to get the favor of the colonial masters and for power to get more territories. Yoko fell into depression and the sudden reality of her inability to bring a child to the world as used to hunt her by Ndapi made her sorrowful "a disease of the mind".
While she was still dealing with sorrow from the humiliation she gets from her subjects, the arrival of the message from Dr Rowe adds salt further to her injury. It was the last straw that breaks the camel's back She commits suicide. She poisons herself amidst pleas from her trusted attendants.
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CHARACTERS
Gbanya Lango
Gbanya is the traditional ruler of Mende Chiefdom. He is a polygamist, married to 37 wives. But Yoko is his most cherished wife among the others because her moral flexibility and at some point, he promised to hand over his kingdom to her as his successor.
Madam Yoko
She is Gbanya's favorite wife a courageous and strong woman who believes that women are also human. She is a lover of Music and act as a seer. She rules over Mende after the death of her husband and exhibits a sense of authority and in the process forced to forgo the delights of her womanliness in order to prove that she can be and act like a man. Against all obstacle, she became the chief of Mende land. This doggedness in her character is used to counter the known traditional myths that presents women as unimportant and incapable to function in the affairs that concerns the state.
She receives a great commendation from her imperial Majesty the Queen of Great Britain. She, undoubtedly feared by her male contemporaries, envied by other women and her closeness to the British rulers are talk of the town.
However, she was humiliated and frustrated by her own subject and subsequently disgrace by the Governor who decides to reduce her territorial control in spite of her years of loyalty to him. She commits suicide by taking poison.
Ndapi
Ndapi is the chief warrior of Senehun. H e is the father and husband to Jeneba and Jilo respectively. He is portrayed as an insensitive man and a wife beater in the play. He inflicts pain on Jilo at any slightest mistakes. Even Jeneba confirms to Chief Yoko that her father has been beating her mother, Jilo.
He is a very loyal warrior to chief Gbanya and at his demise he was ready to resign his position but Yoko stops him from laying down his spear.
His wife's infidelity and the subsequent death of his daughter, Jeneba unsettled him. He blamed his wife and later blames Yoko when he believed the story of lamboi and Musa.
He insults Yoko and hinders her from getting to the throne, calls her many unprintable names. He, however return to seek Yoko's forgiveness when the truth behind the killing of Jeneba was revealed.
Musa
He is the seer and medicine man in Mende kingdom, well respected and trusted. He betrays Gbanya when he connived with Lamboi to hijack the leadership of Senehun kingdom. He poisoned King Gbanya with Alligator gall.
Lamboi
He is Yoko's brother who is hell-bent on ascending the throne of Senehun. He deploys blackmail and intrigues to achieve his purpose. He is portrayed in the play as one who is over-ambitions and won’t stop at nothing to get what he is obsessed about. He connives with the seer and the medicine man through blackmail to poison Gbanya. He strategizes to unseat Yoko from the throne and to achieve that, he suggests the kidnapping and killing of the little Jeneba just to accuse Yoko and in turn set the people against Chief Yoko.
Jeneba
she is the only daughter of Ndapi and Jilo. Jeneba was portrayed as brilliant little girl and was very loved by Queen Yoko. Lamboi and Musa murdered Jeneba as a means to blackmail the queen and the dead of the caused Yoko a huge humiliation for barrenness.
Governor Samuel Rowe:
He is a colonial master who undermines Africans and African rulers both in actions and with the use of derogatory utterances. In Act 1, scene 3. Rowe said to King Gbanya, "If you annoy me, Gbanya. I will cut out that lying tongue. Soldiers! If anyone makes just one false move. I will pump him full of hot lead. And now, this will teach you never again to go against the command of her Imperial Majesty in whose service I am proud to be. It will teach you to confine your war boys at home. (Signals to another soldier who brings out a whip which Gbanya is beaten). Stop! Now you dog, get up! You will pay a fine of fifty pounds in the equivalent of cattle and rice. And next time you disobey my orders,
you will be arrested and locked up in the colony". He is autocratic without respect for traditional institution, he treats the Sande dancer with scorn and thinks highly of what he has done to Mende
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Jilo
Jilo is a careless mother to Jeneba, because her carelessness exposed Jeneba to her untimely and gory death. She is also portrayed as an unfaithful wife to Ndapi, the chief warrior, she seems not to be happy in her marriage as we see lot of ineffectiveness in carrying out her domestic duties such as delays in cooking for her husband, delays in fetching firewood and all of these display of ineffectiveness get on Ndapi nerves and he doesn't hesitate to beat or inflict pain on her at any slightest mistakes or query. She was caught by her husband flirting with Lansana in the bush. Jilo's daughter Jeneba draws her
closeness with Madam Yoko who is fond and adopted her daughter since she can not have a child of her own. As a result of her closeness to the royalty, she is privy to some vital information, for instance, she reveals to her husband that chief Yoko plans that move Mende's capital from Senehun to Moyamba.
In addition, Jilo's carelessness exposes Jeneba to danger as she was abducted and killed by Lamboi and Musa.
Lansana
Lansana is captive from one of the numerous war trip that Gbanya embarked and conquered. Yoko saved him from death when he was brought back as a slave. He has three wives but still goes to make love to Jilo, a wife of his own friend, Ndapi. When he Ndapi finds out the affairs between him and his wife, he runs away to Taiama knowing the gravity of his offence. Although, Jilo finds him a better man than her husband because he admires, tressures her and make her feel proud as a woman than her husband.
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