Alex’s teaching notes on The Imprisonment of Obatala

INTRODUCTION

- It is based on the Yoruba myth

- Explores the philosophy of Yoruba orisha worship
- A play written by Obotunde ijimere in 1966
- The myth of of obatala ( the creator/ arch divinity) is that while he was
engaged in the creative task entrusted to him by the supreme deity
(Oludumare) , he became thirsty and drank some palm wine to slake his
thirst[-----[
- Unfortunately the effect of the wine put him to sleep
- The supreme deity observing the cessation in the creative process, sent
oduduwa ( the ancestor of the Yoruba) to complete the task
- Oduduwa did and before obatala woke up, he installed himself on the throne
as the ruler of people.
- Obatala did not forgive him for supplanting him.
- Therefore, both he and his progeny in a long contest aimed at regaining the
ascendency.
- The annual observance of obatalas festival at Ede includes a mock battle
recreating an aspect of obatala’s contest with oduduwa
- In which the former is captured and incarcerated and later released after
the payment of a ransom

THE AUTHOR

- He was an icon man born in otan Aiyegbaju western Nigeria in 1930

- The name OF THE AUTHOR IS FASCINATING
- IT IS A VERY UNCOMMON NAME
- Morphologically the first name Obotunde is of two parts
- OBO means monkey
- TUNDE means ‘has come’ or ‘has return’
- Thus the first name in whole literally means ‘ monkey has come orb return
- Surname ijimere means monkey or gorilla
- Calling someone a monkey (gorilla /chimpanzee) is regarded as an insult even
among the Yoruba people

Characters

Obatala

- King of ife
- The patient and silent one
 - Husband to Yemanja
- Bringer of peace and father of laughter
- Friend to the fierce shango/ loved him so much
- Turns blood to children
- The creator/ arch divinity
- Divine craftsman/ master craftsman
- Second only to the owner of heaven
- He has account to settle with Eshu(the God of fate)
- Oludumare appointed him his craftsmaaan
- He committed sins when got drunk: created an albino, a blind man and a
hunchback

YEMANJA

- Wife to obatala
- Owner of brass and parrots feathers
- Her skin is black like velvet
- Her palms of her hand are soft like liver
- Her teeth are white like corn
- She has wisdom of elders
- Her knowledge is of the oracle

SHANGO

- King of oyo
- Nobody can eat like shango
- Obatala’s fierce friend
- Owner of the palace
- Spits fire from his mouth
- Darts fire from his eyes
- People fear him,except obatala
- Rides fire like a horse
- Has water but yet takes blood to wash
- Covers himself with the cloth of death
- Shaves his children heads with lightning
- Surround by ruffians /warriors who kill the owner of the house/ kills on the
left and right/ quick to use brass and iron and quick to kill before you can
answer
- God of thunder

ESHU

- Confuser of men
- God of fate
 - His words so sweet yet his eyes very evil
- When angry he hits the stone until it bleeds

BABALAWO

- An oracle priest
- Father of secrets

OGUN

- God of war

OYA

- Wife to shango
- One who believes that obatala is the man of peace and silent

A farmer

Servants of shango

Women- sing praise

STRUCTURE OF THE PLAY

-Divided into 5 scenes

- scene 1- at the palace of ife

- scene II- at the palace in a room which is dimly lit

-scene III- in the forest

-scene iv – shango’s palace

-scene V- Shango’s palace

Epilogoue

Stage – eshu stands alone on the stage

-wearing black and red gown