The Drama of the #EndSARS Protests

The Drama of the #EndSARS Protests

The enactments of the melodramatic scenarios of the #ENDSARS protests from Lagos to Abuja and ending up in Delta State are going to be featured in a live performance on stage with the action choreography by one of the best action choreographers in the Nigerian film industry.

My "Sleepless Night" of 2002 dramatised the June 12 protests of 1993 featuring the outstanding actor, Funso Alabi of blessed memory and dramatic choreography by Segun Adefila and the Crown Troupe of Africa.

It was cosponsored by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos, Otunba Dele Momodu and my United Artists For Human Development (UAHD).

This new stage drama will be full of histrionics.

I am the writer, producer and director. And I have completed casting for the historic roles of heroic protesters, Aisha Yesufu and DJ Switch. 

The following is an excerpt from the drama written in verse.

We are marching with our bare feet.

As we stomp on the street.

The echoes of our screams rent the skies 

In A Decade of Tongues.

Bekederemo! 

What are you going to tell Achebe and Okara?

What are you going to tell Saro-Wiwa?

Tell them the truth, the bitter truth

We have eaten the sour grapes of wrath.

Sour grapes of the wrath the earth.

We have bitten our tongues as we gnash our teeth.

 Even The Masquerade of Ngbilebiri has stopped dancing. 

As our mothers' singing has turned to mourning.

Who can dance to the Song of a Goat? 

In the hysteria of Nigeria.

Bekederemo!

Bekederemo!!

Bekederemo!!!

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

©All rights reserved. No copying, duplicating, lifting, paraphrasing and quoting of any part of the text without the authorisation and permission of the author.

I Saw Blood Splashed on the Green White Green

I Saw Blood Splashed on the Green White Green

 I saw them marching on the street.

I saw them stomping their feet.

I saw them carrying banners and placards of their agitation.

Agitation of their #EndSARS demonstration.

I saw them stomping to the toll gate with contorted faces

Contorted faces of angry grimaces.

I saw them waving our national flag like soldiers in parade.

I heard them chanting our national anthem with pride.

Young zealots of the new generation

They are the new patriots of our nation.

They were coming to protest in peace.

To protest against widespread acts of injustice.

Acts of injustice by the brutes in the police.

Then the hoodlums came like demons unleashed from hell.

Stinking street urchins with evil smell.

But they stood their ground against the agent provocateurs.

Among them were the betrayers and saboteurs.

Then I saw a crow flying above their heads in the sky.

Crows fly too as the doves fly.

They say the sight of a crow is not a good omen.

No ill will of evil can stop these young men and women.

Then I saw the troops coming in trucks.

Coming in trucks with their guns.

The street lights were switched off and DJ Switch gasped.

Many of the them were on tenterhooks.

Then I heard the cracks of gunshots.

I heard voices screaming, "They are shooting us!"

Screaming in fear and trembling.

I heard voices screaming, "They are killing us!"

I heard the loud cracks of gunshots.

I saw their red bloodshot eyes.

The bloodshot eyes of the demons.

I will never forget the date.

The fateful night at the Lekki tollgate.

I saw blood splashed on the green white green.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, author of "Scarlet Tears of London", "The Prophet Lied" and other books.

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima