THE SUBJECT OF LOVE AND BARRENNESS IN DIMGBA

 

THE SUBJECT OF LOVE AND BARRENNESS IN DIMGBA 

by Busayo Fakunle

Without doubt, Africa over the year, has been challenged, bedeviled with myriad of inhumane treatments and of course has her own share of tragic events. So also do her citizens, for what again is more tragic than having experienced the Trans Atlantic journey, neocolonialism, mind colonization, and still believes that barreness is Africa specific. 

Barreness isn't peculiar to Africans alone, rather it has to do with individuals (humans) not minding race, religion, colour, gender, geographical location, and whether being wealthy or not. Unfortunately, in Africa, it is believed (mostly in some quarters) that the process of procreation lies more on the female gender (which I consider injustice) and her failure to perform this very important task automatically over time, earns her the 'IYAALE' title. This is because in Africa, children are considered the most important above several other reasons for marrying each other. However, individual's view differs.

In Dimgba, for Omeonu, Enyidiya's husband, despite his constant proclamation of love for her, Enyidiya's inability to bear children does not deter him to taking a second wife. Worrisome question is, why is it that it is the wife that is traditionally held responsible for childlessness? Again, I think the act is an abuse on the gender. Don't you think so too? Be that as it may, in some cultures, polygamy is a child of necessity, especially, when the first wife couldn't produce a male child and in extreme cases, if she's barren. What is more worrisome too is how fellow females taunt barren women. How can one not grow genuine sympathy for them! Enyidiya's conversation with her husband says a lot about her state.

ENYIDIYA: My husband, of what use is a barren woman in a household? A childless woman is often held in contempt and is always the object of mockery and insults.

Sad. Very sad.

One will again wonder if Omeonu understands the concept of love for what is his rationale for taking a second wife without medical proof that it is his wife that has issues? He believes that Chukwuabiama shut her womb intentionally to punish her. Isn't that kind of love questionable too? Is that not similar to how NLC wants increased minimum wage without first tackling the causes of poor governance? Is that not similar to how those inept leaders of ours seek medical attention abroad without putting our own health sector in good shape? Yet they say they love us, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE IS THAT? 

Yet, some citizens go to extremes to showing them love like Enyidiya who volunteers to die for Omeonu after Amadioha agrees that someone needs to die on his behalf. Ekwesu considers this as an unfortunate thing. He asks Dimgba, ' Onye gbakere n'oria, nwa ya anwuo, onye ahu o gbakeela'? Can you die for such a man? Are you such a virtuous woman? Unfortunately, Onwu doesn't return to his dark abode empty handed. Who is Onwu? 

In Dimgba, we read of Ekwesu the patron deity of Ogwa village, one whose twinkling light pierces the thickest darkness of the night, one who helps and intercedes for the people towards protecting them from illnesses and diseases. He shows great unimaginable love for the people of Ogwa village that he converses with Onwu, the personification of death towards saving them. Such is seen in the case of Enyidiya whom death has come for. Was she eventually taken? Read Ekwesu's conversation with Onwu. 

EKWESU: What other assignment do you have with humans if not causing them sorrow? When a cow is crying, a dog is making merry. 

ONWU: And who is the dog here? Are you calling me a dog? 

Funny, right? Isn't this our situation as citizens? Citizens cry and groan in pains while leaders enjoy the luxury that life has got to offer alone. May Onwu visit their houses? In our case, are they not the ONWUs? Onwu pays no heed to pleas just the same way they (politicans) turn deaf ears to our yearnings, pleas for a safer environment where roads/highways will no longer be littered with death traps (potholes), where health centers will stop being mere buildings with no modern facilities. Sadly, it is here school library room will be opened/commissioned with exercise books or no books inside at all. WHAT MANNER OF LOVE IS THAT?

In Dimgba, we read about the cordial relationship between Dimgba and Azubuike, a hunter and Enyidiya's father. We read how love thrives between them (and by extension, the Igbo people) and such great effort they put into sustaining good friendship among themselves and others. They are not only loyal to themselves, they keep, cherish and respect friendship with a zeal to creating and keeping a loving community, society. Such is the love that Dimgba, the one who wrestles both in the land of the living and of the dead has when he asks Ekwesu of the route Onwu might take or the exact time he might visit Omeonu's household. These lines capture Ekwesu's response.

EKWESU: I know neither the route nor time. That skunk is tricky and sneaky. He sneaks in unannounced like a thief... and disappears into his murky kingdom of no return. 

Exactly the way he sneaked in in 2009, took my father whom was buried on May 8, 2009.

But then, is Enyidiya's decision to die in her husband's stead an act of love or foolishness? Did Dimgba defeat Onwu? How do you justify citizens continuous love for a country that is filled with ONWUs as leaders? 

Dimgba is a play, an African version of Euripides' Alcestis. Typical of Euripidean tragedy, Dimgba's plot raises a lot of questions. I just decided to explore the concept of love and barrenness in the play. The book is written by Phil Nwoko.

THE REVIEWER

Busayo Fakunle is a Diction coach, poet, publisher, book reviewer, English language tutor, an editor, author of children's literary texts. He is a Fellow of Ebedi International Writers Residency, at Iseyin and the current Publicity Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Oyo state chapter.

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