Love in the time of Xenophobia

Act 1    

Scene 1

It is from the well that a village draws its life. It is from there also that early in the morning, woman meet to discuss what happened yesterday and possible predict what will happen today. Giving tomorrow its own turn when the sun rises again. There has been a lot of talk in the village, a lot of things have happened but the predominant issue is about the foreign mistress, Mukunda the teacher that bought her a bed and the rumour that Mukunda has fallen in love with a foreign lady. On stage are three women at the well.

 Woman 1

Woman of Barwa, what else do you know except to wake up at the witch’s hour leaving your half  dead husbands snoring like a roaring river after a mighty flood. Sneaking out every dawn the same way you snatched the heart of your man from the hands of a woman you knew she was twice better than you. Now in your lifeless life built out of selfishness what else can you do except to bewitch the poor man by the softness of your breast. Women of Barwa what else can you do except to talk about other people.

Woman 2

Oh!! The all wise maKhumalo, solve your life first before you try to be a solution to ours. You are old yet still selfish. You have four sons yet none of them you have allowed to marry. Why? Oh yes I know, who would want to share a broom with another woman. Go on maKhumalo marry your sons just like a chicken eats its own eggs.

Woman 3

Peace woman of Barwa, if we do not stand as sisters we will die as fools. Pulling each other in a hot pot, instead of allowing one of us to stand on top and pull us out of the fire. Slowly and surely we will escape the heat. Do no worry maKhumalo, have you not heard of the foreign mistress and her beauty? I think one of your sons might fall for her and eventually take away your reproach.

Woman 1

Never, not on my wrinkled body will any of my sons marry an alien. We have seen people eat monkeys and monkeys eat cats but we will never see a foreigner marry one of our children. Anyway who is this foreigner? 

Woman 2

Have you not heard?

Woman 1

Yes I have not heard.

Woman 2

Her name is Rachel. She was deployed by the education office to come and teach at our school. They say she is good. When she came her beauty fooled us we thought she was one of us. However hell broke loose.

Woman 1

How did people find out?

Woman 2

That is not what matters now. What matters now is that her beauty has not gone unnoticed.

Woman 1

What do you mean?

Woman 2

She has captured the heart of one of the teachers at school, Mukunda. It is said that despite warnings from fellow teachers Mukunda went on to buy a bed for the new mistress. He has been seen several times at the mistress place at night. I guess he wants to start a movement called love has no eyes it neither hears nor can smell.

(All laugh)

Woman 1

 You mean Mukunda, cousin to Mangi the gentleman to be ordained Chief.

Woman 2

Yes

Woman 1 
Pity of pities to Mukunda, what a wasted life, but his brother is a good man. We are all grateful for him. This land had gone for while without a chief and we really need him now.

Women 2  

Yes we do. People believe when Mangi comes he will order the retention of the teacher or even speak to education officer to transfer her.

 Woman 3

I know a story I heard it a long time ago, how love joined two nations. You cannot blame Mukunda for his deeds. Surely love has no eyes. It neither hears nor smells. When love takes over you forget who you are and realize that even foreigners are people like you. At least he has a heart to love.

Woman 1

Oh poor maNtuli your heart still bleeds for a man that left you years ago. People tell you everyday that Siziba is not coming back. They say he has married in the city. Surely love is blind to you.

Woman 3

I will not speak. Let me leave lest the sun sets on me at the well.

Woman 1

Yes woman of Barwa go home what else do you know, for tomorrow we shall meet again.

to be continued......

Love in the time of Xenophobia is play meant to reconcile the locals and foreign nationals existing in the same nation.

written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube

a saxjax7 production 

All rights reserved

@hawulethu on twitter