The Estate

Oladipo Agboluaje

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781786821966
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: African Drama
• Index: Literature

A powerful yet comic tale of explosive family secrets and the dead hand of a corrupt patriarchy. Inspired by Chekhov but set in contemporary Lagos, Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Adeyemi is engulfed in burial arrangements for her recently deceased husband, an influential entrepreneur with an extended family scattered across the globe. His children arrive from abroad to hear their father's Will. As they divide his estate an unnatural turn of events takes place and sparks begin to fly.
The Estate toured in 2006 in a production by Tiata Fahodzi ('Theatre of the Emancipated) and directed by Femi Elufowoju, jr.

THE WAKE

Early morning. The sitting-room of the Adeyemi mansion. It is in a state of upheaval. Offstage-right is the front door. The kitchen door is behind the sitting-room. Stage-left, the staircase leading up to the landing and the bedrooms. 1980s ostentation drips from everywhere – except for the chandelier, which is missing a few bulbs. There is a crude vase on the cabinet, which is incongruous with the opulent surroundings. Chief Adeyemi’s portrait hangs on the wall. He wears a full Yoruba outfit. Two smaller portraits hang on either side. One is of Chief Adeyemi with his first wife and their two sons, Yinka and Soji. The other is of Chief Adeyemi with his second wife, Helen, and their daughter, Sola. AFOLABI and EKONG rush in and out of the kitchen with crates of drinks. ABASINA drags along a heavy bag of rice. HELEN is on the phone:

HELEN: If you’re double-booked, nko? That is my problem?

Look! The food arrives on time or no payment! (Slams down the receiver.) Idiot. (Clocks ABASINA.) Look at this lowlife. Because I allowed you to pass through the sitting-room.

ABASINA lifts the bag. AFOLABI enters from kitchen. Helps ABASINA.

Ah, Mr Afolabi. You’ve finished off-loading the drinks?

AFOLABI exits front door. ABASINA exits kitchen. HELEN sits on the sofa. beside her, her head-tie and handbag. Samples of fabric litter the sofa, central table and floor. HELEN takes a pair of scissors off the sofa and puts them on the central table. Copies of ‘Ovation’ lie on the central table. HELEN flicks through each magazine, checking that none of the fabrics worn in the photos match the samples. ABASINA enters from front door with a crate of drinks. HELEN snaps her fingers. ABASINA puts down the crate and stands beside HELEN.

Let me see that one…that one ! (The sample is next to her.) Abasina, you are blind?

ABASINA: (Picks up the sample.) Sorry, Ma. (Treads on a sample on the floor.)

HELEN: Get your charcoal feet off my material!

ABASINA: Sorry, Ma. (Curtseys as she hands the sample to HELEN.)

HELEN: You are a good for nothing. If not that Papa pitied your cursed family, I should have flung you back into the bush… Animal. (Snatches the sample from her, flings another sample at her.) Tell the designer: this one is for the wake. (Gives ABASINA another sample.) For the funeral. (Another sample.) For the first half of the party. (Another sample.) For the second half. (Another sample.) For the Thanksgiving. I want them ready by this evening.

ABASINA waits. EKONG passes into kitchen. AFOLABI exits through front door.

Ehen?

ABASINA: Mr Ekong never finish.

HELEN: What is your business with Ekong? (Claps her hand in disgust.) Can your father afford a driver? Mind yourself. Mind yourself ! Get out!

ABASINA curtseys and exits through kitchen

Let me find a speck of dust on them, you will see.

HELEN heads for the stairs. EKONG enters from kitchen.

EKONG: Eh, Madam, Alhaji say ‘no money, no diesel’.

HELEN: And it is just now you’re telling me?

EKONG: Madam, you say I should bring the drinks inside –

HELEN: You told Alhaji that I say I will pay him later?

EKONG: I tell am, Madam. He say you never pay am for the last diesel –

HELEN: (Puts on her head-tie, grabs her handbag.) I have to do everything myself. (Her mobile phone rings.) Sola … What are you still doing on campus? … No, no! Start coming now… Ekong is busy… Charter taxi! Hold on. (Snaps her fingers at EKONG.) Get the car ready. (As EKONG exits.) Fool.

HELEN exits through front door, continuing her conversation with SOLA.

Is that not Wale’s voice? Ask him to bring you home now…

Enter SOJI, sweating profusely. He is dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, jeans and sandals. AFOLABI carries his bags.

AFOLABI: Everything is rush-rush! (Puts down the bags.)

SOJI: That shouldn’t stop her from saying hello properly.

AFOLABI: She go to buy diesel for the generator. You know Power Holdings is always withholding power. They change their name from NEPA, still is the same no light –

SOJI: (Looks around.) Bloody…! Nothing is ready.

AFOLABI: Is the labour strike is causing all sorts of delay. And also, fear did not allow us to go out on weekend. See soldier and police bruuu! bruuu! (Gesticulates shooting.)

SOJI: At each other?

AFOLABI: They want to collect bribe from the same person. Twenty civilian die from stray bullet. Ehn, person leave his house to follow his own business –

SOJI: Yes, yes, yes…

AFOLABI: Ah-ha. Is only yesterday we buy the cow. Caterer has not deliver the oyinbo food. Ekong queue for three days at petrol station.

SOJI: So? She couldn’t send Sule or Edward to the airport? Or are they queuing for petrol too?

AFOLABI: You don’t know? They sack them.

SOJI: At a time like this? What was she thinking –

AFOLABI: Is Pastor tell Madam to sack them… But I am happy to see your face. You don’t even ask of me on your last visit. Is Papa not tell you I am in the hospital?

SOJI: No time.

AFOLABI: Is okay. As you are big professor, Nigeria’s problem is on your mind. You remember when you are student you are saying you will help us poor people. The English that Wole Soyinka cannot understand, you will talk it an...