My last post indicated that I was going to be watching a play (Wanjiku's Dilemma) by my good friend Oby Obyerodhyambo. Well, I can now confirm that I did go on the opening night and I was not disappointed. And because I promised one of my readers that I will get back to her about what the play is about, here I am (with help from the play's synopsis.
The moot question that ‘Wanjiku’s Dilemma’ explores is, ‘Why would anyone remain in an abusive, dysfunctional relationship?’ This resonated well with me as it is something I wrote HERE awhile back. Oby asks why it is that someone in an abusive relationship cannot simply tear away and leave if they are getting a raw deal, if they are disrespected, humiliated and trod on? What makes a person stay soaking in the pain and suffering? Is it a nagging thought that things could get better if they stayed just a little longer or that walking out could expose them to even worse? What if the aggrieved party decides to ‘do something’ to free themselves from this bondage? Something finite, something definitive, how will onlookers and spectators, who have watched the humiliation all along, judge that action? Will they approve, appreciate and understand? Will they forgive, if that act calls for forgiving?
In the drama Wanjiku is accused of a capital crime; one that her advocate Tunu is determined will not stick. Tunu believes this is a case célèbre that she has waited for all her life as a human rights lawyer to make a point and set a legal precedent. She is determined to use all the tricks in the book, and out of the books to make the point. This is what worries Alice, her mother, that she is too personally involved in the case to assume the objectivity that an advocate needs for clarity. I have watched Oby in action for a number of years so it was not a surprise that he tries to present powerful arguments by both sides and cajoles you as the audience to try to solve this dilemma. The play is a riveting mind-teaser and Wanjiku’s dilemma is shared by the audience all through. Dilemmas have no easy answers and Wanjiku’s is no exception. The acting was quite good for an opening night and the director, George Mungai, did a super job. If you are in Nairobi and have not watched this play, make a point to. It closes on Saturday at Phoenix.
That was about the play, now about the song. Kenyan Mom is a wonderful blogger and if you want the quirky side of mothering in Kenya, please follow her blog, you will not be disappointed. She also gave me some pointers / inspiration through a blog post that got me blogging with more happiness but she does not know that. Sometimes back, she decided that she could randomly assign me a song. I did not pay much attention to this song but I found myself listening to this song by Bob Carlisle over the weekend and enjoyed it so much that I thought I should share it here with friends. Enjoy Butterfly Kisses.
Hello there, thanks so much for letting us know about your friend's play. I so miss the chance to see a good play. I haven't been in years.
ReplyDeleteYour friend tackles an issue that I've long thought about but seldom discuss with people. I think my views have become more understanding over the years. Perhaps that comes with age. It is still an issue that is taboo in some communities so I applaud any efforts to get the dialogue out in the public realm. Kudos to your friend and to you too for blogging about it earlier.
I think we observe the abuse and staying in an abusive relationship in a rather superficial manner if you ask me. We tend to think that what we see is really the story. But if you think about it, that is just a snapshot. We make judgement based on the story that has currently been presented to us. What if this abusive person has seen you through really tough times? What if the two of you have gone through really nasty things and still stayed together? No. I am not advocating for the 'Hitting Her, Again...And Again' I'm just saying, there's more to life than meets the eye and you never really know a story unless you are the one in it. And even then, you can never present it to the world objectively.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, I told you the song was you...! :D Thank you kind sir. You and the patient others like yourself keep us experimenting on writing :)
I agree that abusive relationships are like dilemmas and as you've rightly says, dilemmas have no easy answers. They are like 3D which outsiders can only view in 2D.
ReplyDeleteCarol, your sentiments are what the play tries to capture - looking beyond the story as presented. If you have some time, please try and watch the play before it ends on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteProject 44, thanks for your comments. 3D which outsiders can only view in 2D? wow, that's another way of expressing it!
ReplyDeleteJoyful, your comments are always welcome. I think with age we just become more experienced and gain more insight on issues. Unfortunately there is also the danger of becoming lax and losing the passion of youth to fight injustices. We can become more tolerating...
Oh, I LOVE this song! I remembered it today when I was writing the post about being a mum bla bla. I love it so much, I know all the lyrics to it.
ReplyDelete*Goes back to reading the post* :)
Mrs Mwiti, Good to know you appreciate the song even though I consider it a song for us fathers to our daughters! Read your post about being a mum, thought my kids are the only ones resistant to the bed and I was the only thought his daughters look beautiful while asleep...
ReplyDelete