ERNEST FODAY MANNAH
&
JULIUS MANNAH
PRESENT
RECONCILIATION – THE WAY OUT
IN
NATIONAL VISION PROJECT
WITH
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
(T.R.C)
RECONCILIATION – THE WAY OUT
ACT 1 SCENE 1
TOWN CRIER- (Sound of His Drum-Bum! Bum!Bum!)
People of Terpema town, I am here with a message from our chief and elders to notify all the people of this soil, that there will be an important meeting at the chief’s compound tomorrow morning to discuss issues pertaining the development of our land after the ten years of war and destruction. Failing to show to will be a crime, which results into a serious fine. You have been warned. This is the message from our chief and elders. (Sound His Drum to end his message).
SCENE 2
(THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP IS GATHERED AT THE CHIEF’S COMPOUND AS
THEY DISCUSS IS SMALL GROUPS BEFORE THE CHIEF AND ELDERS ENTER
THE COURT)
CHIEFDOM POLICE- Attention People of Terpema town, here comes our chief and elders of our land.
CROWD- (BOWS IN RESPECT TO GREET THEIR CHIEF AND ELDERS)
Greetings to you chief and elders of our land.
TOWN SPEAKER- People of this land, I am happy to see you in a great number like this after all these years of suffering. You have show your loyalty to our chief and we the elders by honoring our invitation. Once more I greet you. The purpose of our gathering here this morning is to discuss issues about the development of our motherland. We all know the calamity and destruction that be felled our land and us during these years pf agony. Our land was well know for high and good agriculture production, education, health and infrastructure development and now just take a look at the township and even we the inhabitants, everything is in total ruins. What can we do my people now that we have return? (CROWD MUMURS AS THEY BEGIN TO TALK ALL AT ONCE)
CHIEFDOM POLICE- (RAISES UP HIS HAND TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND SILENCE) People of Terpema town hold your peace; our chief is about to speak.
CHIEF- My people and elders of our land, I greet you and I’m grateful to you all for your support towards the improvement of our mother land- Terpema. You all have had our town speaker and all the problems we encountered since the war started, what we can do to gain our former glory in agriculture, education, health and your son was the ringleaders for the destruction of lives and properties. It is high time we correct the errors of the past, which will send a signal to the present and future generation. Let the defaulters to punished. Infact let then repay with their lives. Death for death and life for life
FISHERMAN- (ANGRY) Even their families should pay for that, they should be vanished from the town into exile for given birth to such devilish children. Their houses and properties should be destroyed. The fly that does not listen to the advise of the elders will follow the corpse into the grave. They were stubborn and hard hearted. They are nuisance in our society and must be eliminated.
CROWD FOR- Yes! They must pay for their action, let them be vanished and sent into exile.
CROWD AGAINST- We are children of this land and we have nowhere to go. How can we go into exile for sometime we did not do?
ELDER- How can you turn you anger against the innocent families of the defaulters? You are not working out solutions but rather creating enmity, enmity that will not bring, development to this land. ‘When rains fall on the leopard, does is wash off its spots?
TOWN SPEAKER- My friend sits down, you are one of the enemies of this land, and whosoever is guilty should be dealt with. ‘The mouth does not know the limitation of his master.
ELDER- Yes, I know, but I will not sit down,’ the gentle strives of a tiger does not symbolize cowardice; I have the right as an elder to express my dissatisfaction and views on this matter.
PASTOR- Our chief, elders and people of our land. I thank you for all the contribution towards a way out. Further violence and death cannot solved the problem but a mere addition of fuel to fire. ‘ If you point one finger to others bear in mind that the remaining four will be pointing at you. The only solution to our problem in this land is reconciliation and forgiveness, which are the elements of lasting peace and development. If we continue to kill, vanish, destroy houses and properties development will never return to this land but let us all put hands together as one to rebuild our agriculture, education, health and infrastructure.
CHIEF- I have heard you all, with authority vested in me as the Chief and ruler of this land, I hereby pass the final verdict which will stand as an example to the upcoming generation and those that will come after us the will prevent such things happening in the future. I now therefore vanish the families’ members of the defaulters into exile and all their houses, farms infrastructural development. This is the reason why I gathered you here to find out ways.
FARMER- Chief, elders and people of our land, we should be grateful to God and our ancestors for sparing our lives and also bringing us together after years of pain and suffering. May the should of our departed people rest in peace. We are happy for having a leader with such concern and love for this land and its people, our land and its inhabitants suffered due to the selfish desires and ambition of some citizens of this land who were working in their own interest.
CARPENTER- Hit the nail on the head, go straight to the point and stop beating about the bush.
FARMER- What are we doing with those who have brought us to a stand still as our people say; ‘until the rotten tooth is pulled out the mouth must chew with caution.’
CARPENTER- Let them be punished. They must pay for their actions. The hands of most farmers and others have been amputated, our wives and daughters were raped, our queens and princess have lost their virginity, our houses and properties were burnt down, our future leaders have lost their vision. Should they go free for such action? I don’t believe so.
CROWD- (THE CROW RESPOND IN DEEP SORRW) No! they must be punished, let justice prevail, they must pay for that.
TEACHER- They deserved nothing but death, n eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. “If crocodiles can eat their own eggs what will they do to the flesh of a frog”. If they can burnt down their own town, kill their own brothers, rape their own mothers and sisters, amputated their own fathers, do they deserved to live or should we allow them to destroy our coming generations with their course and abomination?
CROWD- (ARGUMENT AMONG THE CROWD, SOME AGAINST AND SOME FOR) Yes! They deserve nothing but death for their soil. Lets forgive, it its in the past now!.
ELDER- Hold your peace my people,’ even though the snail may tried but can’t cast off its shell’ we are the snails and those who have brought us to a stand still are the shells. They cannot go without us. Are they not our children?, they are the coming generation. Should we too destroy them because of something some of them did unwillingly and some willingly? Some of them were forced against their wish through drugs to take up arms against their own people, others did it willingly. Let us put ourselves in their positions. Think my brothers think.
TOWN SPEAKER- (IN A ANGRY MOOD) Be quick my friend, if you are not here to say something reasonable you better sit down. “An error can only be a mistake when it is not corrected”. You are just saying all this sweet words because and properties should be destroyed. As for the defaulters who have brought some mush suffering on this land, they deserved nothing but death. By tomorrow morning this decision will be executed. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. This is final.
THE CHIEF AND ELDERS LEAVE THE COURT AS OTHER PEOPLE STAND
IN RESPECT FOR CHIEF. SOME GRUMBLE CHIEFDOM POLICE – Attention
people of Terpema town. This is the end of the meeting. You may go home now.
CROWD AGAINST- we did not send our children. We did not approve of their action how can we be punished. This is another war to come.
CROWD FOR- This will stand as a example for the next generation you will train your children well.
ACT 2 SCENE 1
THE NEXT MORNING PEOPLE SET OFF FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF
HOUSES AND PROPERTY OF THE DEFAULTERS FAMILIES. THOSE
BANNED LEAVE THE TOWN WITH BUNDLES AND TEARS IN THEIR EYES
FOR THEIR HOUSES AND PROPERTIES WERE SET ON FIRE.
TOWN SPEAKER- Destroy them. If anyone stands in your way deal with them. You have the chief’s support. Destroy that house; bring it sown to the ground. They do not dwell among us.
CROWD- your wish is our command, we will do anything you say.
TOWN SPEAKER- You! You! And you! Mobilize the others, let us go to that elder’s compound and bring it down. Destroy everything he has, his son was the ring leader for destruction and suffering on the people of this town.
ELDER- (HE STANDS AT THE ENTRANCE OF HIS COMPOUND WITH A CUTLASS) stop at once, if you dare come closer, vulture will feast on your body.
TOWN SPEAKER- We now know that your so was not the only enemy but your Action has clearly shown us that you were the source behind his action. Like father like son.
ELDER- where was I during the war? Didn’t I stay ten years in Displaced camps? Where I lost my wife, suffered with others and lost all I had, now you want to destroy the one I have struggled to build after the war. Over my dead body.
TOWN SPEAKER- If he stands in your way deal with him or kill him if he Deserves it. Foolish elder.
FIGHTING BREAKS OUT AS THE PEOPLE FORCE THEIR WAY IN TO THE ELDER’S COMPOUND FOR DESTRUCTION. DURING THIS PERIOD MEMBERS OF TRC, N. C D. D. R WITH SOME EX-COMBATANTS ENTER THE TOWN IN VEHICLE TO SENSITIZE THE TOWNSHIP ABOUT RECONCILIATION
T. R. C WORKER- Excuse me! What is happening! The town is one fire. What has Happened? Where are you all going with bundles on your head.
VICTIM- They are destroying the houses and properties of the families of combatants and we have been vanished because of that.
T. R. C. WORKER- Please where is the chief’s compound, we want to talk to him and His people. Hurry, show us the place.
VICTIM- Go straight! Look left! That his compound. He is there right now.
T. R. C COMMISSIONER- (THE OFFICIALS ENTERED THE COMPOUND AND FIND THE CHIEF AND ELDERS DISCUSSING, WHILE THE EX-COMBATANTS HID IN THE VANS.) We bring you greetings from the president and our office. We are members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and our friends are from the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration. We are here to talk to you and your people, please ask them to stop the destruction for now. We cannot talk with all the fire and destruction around.
CHIEF- It is agreed decision of the town to see that all rebel and families pay for their action of suffering and destruction they put on the township and it inhabitants. However for your sake I will stop them for now al listen to what you want to tell us. (HE CALLS ON THE TOWN CRIER) Please go immediately, tell them to stop the destruction processes and everybody should assemble at my compound because people from the city want to talk to the township.
TOWN CRIER- (HE BEATS HIS DRUM BUM! BUM! BUM! WHICH SURPRISES THE PEOPLE) Children to Terpama town, this is a message from our Chief that all destruction should stop.
EX-COMBATANT- (THEY GET DOWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND ENTERED THE COURT WHERE THE CROWD WAS GATHERING APOLOGY FORM THE TOWNSHIP FOR THEIR TO ACTIONS) We have totally regretted out actions in the destruction of lives and properties in our town. We are therefore asking for forgiveness. The cockroach cannot be innocent in the gathering of the fowls. We are not here to defend ourselves but to ask for forgiveness and that you accept us again as your children. This time around, we are ready to build our land.
CHIEF- people of this land, are you ready to accept their apology and take then back as your children?
CROWD- ‘A child cannot be thrown into a house on fire because he set that house on fire’. They are our brothers and sisters and we accept their apology
CHIEF- The land is yours, the people are your people and let us all work as one towards the future development of Terpama.
T.R.C. COMMISSIONER- Finally, the only way to a development town and to have your former glory in the next two to three years is to put together and work as one to rebuild your town. I now cal on all citizens of this land, be you farmer, teachers, fisherman, carpenters, builders, pastors, elders, doctors, ex-combatants, tailors etc to put hands together and support your leaders to rebuild the devastated land and it people into what it was first known for. It is only through determination that the past can be put behind us. Forgive and forget the past and look forward through reconciliation and forgiveness. Then your land will be developed. United we stands, divided we fall. Land that we love Sierra Leone.
Written by
Ernest and Julius Mannah
No. 9G Lumley Road, Wilberforce
076-660007
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For now a visitors from the city want to talk to us. You must therefore assemble at his compound right now for and important talk. This is the message. (HE BEATS THE DRUM TO END UP THIS MASSEGE AS HE RETURNS TO THE CHIEF’S COMPOUND AND OTHERS FOLLOW AND GATHERED IN THE CHIEF’S COMPOUND.)
CHIEF- My people, I ordered you to stop the destruction because of a very important reason. As you can see these people, they are from the city, they are here to talk to us. So please let us give then our attention.
T.R.C COMMISSIONER- People of this land, we actually know the way you are feeling, the pains and suffering you went through during the ten years of war. You are in difficult circumstance as lives and properties were destroyed. But however your present decision cannot solve the problems of this land which will bring lasting peace and development. Destroying and burning houses and properties will create more poverty which can leads to another war and suffering. If we actually need peace and sustainable development in this land, then let forgive each other and reconcile.
NCDDR OFFICER- In addition, out own work is to disarm, demobilized and reintegrates the ex-combatants into their various societies. Those you are about to send into exile are you brothers and sisters and those who brought the suffering are your children. Even though they brought so much suffering on you, on the other hand they were caught, forced and injected with drugs which made them behave like animals with no sense of thinking. They have come back to their senses and totally regret their action. They have been trained in various skills, which will help to improve the future of this town. In this light, we are here to plead on their behalf to accept them into this community as your children.
CHIEF- It is heard to swallow the bitter pills but for one to be cured from a disease one has to swallow the pills. Our land and its people are seriously sick and for us to be healed, we just have to swallow the bitter pills which are forgiveness and reconciliation. We all suffered because of their action. Because of this, we took the wrong decision but we have now realized that this will not hold us together but bring mere division in the land.