Princess Tan: (seated on a log in the woods singing): A song from my heart, to touch the whole world, without my hands, I care for you, I’ll sing for you, I’ll love to make you dance to this song, I sing from the bottom of my heart. (the song was interrupted by her guard).

Samuel: Princess Tan, it’s almost the hour for your musical class. We are going to pass to the fruit seller to pick the bananas with the basket full of sunflowers. We are going to be late!

Princess Tan: (hurriedly stood to her feet): I don’t want to be late for my class; you’ll go to get the fruits while I go ahead.

Samuel: But your father, my chief, orders me to not leave your side.

Princess Tan: I am not a little girl who needs to be followed everywhere I go. Please go now!

Samuel: Alright, my princess.

[Princess Tan was the only daughter of chief Zawu and his wife queen Lucy. Chief Zawu and his wife have been married for thirty years, spent on the throne twenty-seven years. Being the only “seed”, they gave her all she ever wanted so she can become an impeccable royalty. But the dream of the princess was greatly detested by her father. Her mother argued on her behalf that the nineteen-year-old princess was still very tender, with time her daughter will properly adorn the expected royalty required of her.]

Queen Lucy: (seated in a cushion chair in a living room): How was your musical class today?

Princess Tan: Mama, it was splendid. I have managed to control that high pitch. I think I’ve finally mastered it.

Queen Lucy: Really?

Princess Tan: Yes Mama. But why do you sound so surprise? Don’t you think your daughter is capable?

Queen Lucy: Of course I know you’re more than capable. You’re just excellent. Let me tell you, I knew all along you were going to make it because you have passion to sing.

Princess Tan: And dancing also, Mama.

Queen Lucy: Yes dancing also!

Chief Zawu: (pointing at his daughter): Look at how scanty your body is? All because of this musical school, you barely sit down to eat. You look as if you’re not from this palace.

Princess Tan: Papa, everything about me is royalty. Who in this town of Osronipa does not know my name? There is not a soul who passes me without paying obeisance to me. There is none, Papa.

Chief Zawu: It is true they know your name, but it seems you don’t know it well. Singing and dancing is not befitting for my daughter, the only heir to my throne. Tomorrow when I’m gone, you’re supposed to be seated and watch people sing and dance for you. For heaven’s sake and the sake of our forefathers, know that you the next queen of a chiefdom.

Princess Tan: Queen or not queen, I love to dance and sing.

Queen Lucy: Don’t give the little girl a hard time. You still have many more years to be on throne. After all, where are you going? (Tan spares them a smile after her mother’s question).

Chief Zawu: A day to God is like thousand years to man. We’re getting older with each day that passes and we’ll soon not always be with her. That’s why she needs to start acting like a real queen. A queen who goes about singing and dancing endangers her throne. It will make her chiefdom fragile. A leader who is not always seated in his or her required seat can be easily dethroned, and that’s what you’ve started. You can’t sit when you’re dancing. You won’t be able to listen to the people you lead; their plights, comments and pieces of advice, because your mouth has been overcome by singing also. The people will underestimate you.

Princess Tan: Fragile may be who I am, singing softly, roughly, expressing my thoughts through my steps to melodious tones. (She sobs). I don’t know why you don’t support my dreams. (She runs out of their presence).

Queen Lucy: Are you happy now, with what you’ve caused? (She follows her daughter leaving the chief alone).

*****

[At the royal palace, Princess Tan is alone with her father.]

Chief Zawu: My daughter, I dislike seeing you sad. It is like a child who says his or her mother will not sleep, that child will definitely not sleep too. I am a child for you. My entire world rotates around you. A royal child hardly wears a frown, but your face reveals unhappiness this morning. Tan, if singing and dancing amuses you, if it brings out the deepest excitement in you, then I fully support you. Don’t mind what I said yesterday. I am sorry that I wasn’t appreciating how much you adore arts.

Princess Tan: (Stands to her feet with a big smile): Papa, you don’t really mean it?

Chief Zawu: I speak from my heart. I speak as your father and chief of this land, except you have a dissenting view? (He returns her with a bigger smile).

Princess Tan: (Speaking with anxiety): No Papa. I don’t! Thank you so much. (She hugs her father) The great chief lives forever, that the forebears of this chiefdom will have your names engraved in their hearts and on their memories. (She bows to him).

Chief Zawu: Wait, I’ve added two of my best guards to Samuel and Tombo, as your escorts to and fro your musical classes.

Princess Tan: Let the chief live forever. Papa, I am going to let my mother know right away. (She calls out to her mother while as she exits out of her father’s presence). Mama, Mama!

[The two choice guards were posted outside the school. Tombo, Princess Tan’s maid and loyal Samuel were inside. There were several students but Tan was the only person who had a maid and bodyguards on wait. She did not like that but she wouldn’t jeopardize her career by complaining, so she decided to cope. The class was almost done. The instructor, Teta, was on the floor before the students.]

Teta: I must admit, you’re picking up very fast. If we continue like this, I think we will produce the world’s greatest dancers and song birds. (The students laugh). Before we depart from here, we will continue to live by the tradition, our routine of selections has fallen on nobody else but the royal one; Princess Tan and this song was originally done by Tokie Tomah. The title is Chechepolay. (Applause)

Princess Tan: (Singing and with instrument accompaniment): “Leave my name ooo, lemme live my life, argh chechepolay, you get your own ooo, lemme live my life, aargh chechepolay”.

[The princess sang and danced for some time. Suddenly her eyes started dimming gradually, the crowd shouted and jumped; thundering in her head, she fell and foamed at the mouth. Immediately Samuel, Tombo and Teta were at her side, touching her pulse. Sadly it was too late, for the princess was dead! The commotion also drew the attention of the two guards, but there was nothing they could do. Samuel asked Tombo to call the queen because he couldn’t break the news. And Tombo made the call.]

Queen Lucy: (In her garden): Hello Tombo? (She takes the phone from her ear and looks at it). Hello, argh is it the network? Okay, I can hear you. Are you on your way home?

Tombo: (Sobbing): My queen, the princess!

Queen Lucy: ( Screaming): What has happened to my daughter?

Chief Zawu: What is it Lucy?

Queen Lucy: (Phone still at her ear): It’s Tombo, she’s not speaking; all I can hear are screams. Something is wrong.

Chief Zawu: Let’s go there now, something might have happened!

Tell us what you think: What do you think of what the chief said? Would people take Princess Tan seriously if she was known for singing and dancing?