The Lion And The Jewel Night Flashcards
What is Sidi doing at the start of this scene?
‘Stands by the Schoolroom window, admiring her photos as before’
What is Sadiku doing at the start of this scene?
‘Very furtive. Unveils the object which turns out to be a carved figure of the Bale, naked and in full detail. She takes a good look at it, bursts suddenly into derisive laughter, sets the figure standing in front of the tree’
How does Sidi react to Sadiku’s derisive laughter?
‘Stares in utter amazement’
How does Sadiku describe what she did to Okiki?
‘I killed him with my strength’
How does Sadiku mock Baroka’s shame?
‘Oh high and mighty lion, have we really scotched you?’
What does Sadiku call Baroka?
‘Foolish top you think the world revolves around you’
How does Sadiku describe what the wives do to the Bale?
‘It is you who run giddy while we stand still and watch and draw your frail thread from you slowly, til nothing is left but a runty old stick’
How does Sadiku act to show her mocking and nastiness?
‘Her ghoulish laugh re-possesses her’
How does Sadiku warn all masters?
‘Take warning, my masters, we’ll scotch you in the end’
How does Sadiku respond to Sidi’s presence?
‘You should have chosen a better time to scare me to death. The hour of victory is no time for any woman to die’
How does Sidi express that she doesn’t understand Sadiku?
‘Wait Sadiku. I cannot understand’
Wha does Sadiku say about Sidi restraining her?
‘Oh you are troublesome’
What does Sidi say to Sadiku making no sense?
’Stop your loose ranting. You will not move from here until you make some sense’
How does Sadiku demonstrate her positivity about gender roles?
‘I suddenly and glad to be a woman’
‘Hurray for womankind’
How does Sadiku react to Lakunle entering?
‘The scarecrow is here. Begone fop! This is the world of women’
How does Sadiku threaten Lakunle?
‘We are about to perform a ritual. If you remain, we will chop you up, we will make you the sacrifice’
How does Sadiku insult Lakunle?
‘You less than man, you less than the littlest woman’
How does Lakunle try to prove he is a man?
‘I will have you know that I am a man as you will find out if you dare to lay a hand on me’
How does Sadiku react to Lakunle defending his manliness?
‘You a man? Is Baroka not more of a man than you? And if he is no longer a man, then what are you?’
How does Sidi stop Sadiku talking?
‘Stop. Sadiku stop.’
How does Sidi suggests Sadiku was being blasphemous?
‘Sadiku, what a way to mock the devil’
What is Sidi’s plan for Baroka?
‘I shall ask forgiveness for my hasty words… no need to change my answer and consent to be his bride- he might suspect you’ve told me. But I shall ask a month to think on it’
What does Sadiku warn Sidi about?
‘Baroka is no child you know’
What does Sidi long to see happen to Baroka?
‘I long to see him thwarted, to what his longing’
What does Sadiku think Sidi should do to Baroka?
‘Torment him until he weeps for shame’
What does Sadiku call Sidi in this scene?
‘My daughter’
‘Woman’
‘My lovely child’
How does Sadiku describe the Baroka when she sends Sidi to him?
‘No-man’
How does Lakunle describe Baroka?
‘He is not a fool- he is a savage thing, degenerate he would beat a helpless woman if he could…’
How does Sidi react and what does she say in response to Lakunle’s warning?
‘Running off gleefully’
‘Ta-raa school teacher. Wait here for me’
What does Lakunle call Sidi once she runs off?
‘Foolish girl!’
How does Lakunle accuse Sadiku?
‘Must every word leak out of you as surely as the final drops of mother’s milk oozed from your flattened breast generations ago?’
What does Sadiku call Lakunle?
‘Watch your wagging tongue, unformed creature’
What does Sadiku say to Lakunle wanting to marry Sidi?
‘Fancy a thing like you actually wanting a girl like that, all to your little self’
How does Sadiku describe Sidi’s abilities?
‘Woman though she is, she can take better care of herself than you can of her’
How does Lakunle react to Sadiku saying he is betrothed to Sidi?
‘Pleased at the use of the word ‘betrothed’’
How does Sadiku insult Lakunle about his suitability for Sidi?
‘What a poor figure you cut!’
How does Lakunle defend his suitability for Sidi?
‘I wouldn’t demean myself to bandy words with a woman of the bush’
How does Lakunle show his positivity at Sidi’s proposal acceptance?
‘But it will come in time, I’m sure’
What does Lakunle say when Sadiku asks him about the bride price?
‘Mind your own business’
How does Sadiku question Lakunle on why he can’t just be a farmer?
‘Why don’t you do what other men have done. Take a farm for a season. One harvest will be enough to pay the price, even for a girl like Sidi. Or will the smell of wet soil be too much for your delicate nostrils?’
What does Sadiku think is Lakunle’s plan for the village?
‘It is true what they say then. You are going to convert the whole village so that no one will ever pay the bride-price again’
What does Lakunle think will happen to the bride price?
‘Bride price will be a thing forgotten’
What will happen to wives does Lakunle think?
‘Wives shall take their place by men’
What does Lakunle think about the future and the current for clay pots?
‘We’ll buy saucepans for all the women. Clay pots are crude and unhygienic’
What does Lakunle think about the future of wives?
‘No man shall take more wives than one that’s why they’re impotent so soon’
How does Lakunle think the world will judge this village in the future?
‘The world will judge our progress by the girls that win beauty contests’
Why does Lakunle think the village needs to be westernised?
‘We must be modern with the rest or live forgotten by the world’
How does Sadiku react to Lakunle’s dreams of the village?
‘Who has been staring at him in terror. She retreats’
How does Lakunle show he has power over Sadiku?
‘He continues to talk down at her’
What does Lakunle call Sadiku once he has revealed his future plans?
‘You withered face’
What does Lakunle order Sadiku?
‘From now on, you shall attend my school and take your place with twelve year olds’
How does Lakunle describe Sadiku’s mind?
‘Simple and unformed’
How does Lakunle explain Sadiku’s conniving nature?
‘And now because you’ve sucked him dry, you send my Sidi to his shame’
What is happening when Sidi enters the Baroka’s house?
Baroka is engaged in a form of wrestling match with a squat figure of apparent muscular power. They are in the balanced stage with one knee on the floor.
How does Sidi greet Baroka?
‘A good day to the head and people of this house’
What does Baroka do when he hears Sidi’s greeting?
‘Frowns as if trying to place the voice’
‘Decides to ignore it and concentrate on the contest’
What does Baroka think of Sidi’s intrusion?
‘Do you mean there was no one to bar unwanted strangers from my privacy?’
When she sees Baroka in a good mood, how does Sidi act?
‘Moves forward- saucily’
How does Baroka react to Sidi being saucy?
‘Looks up sharply, relaxes and speaks with a casual voice’
How does Baroka describe Ailatu’s behaviour?
‘In a dark corner sulking like a slighted cockroach’
What did Baroka hope Ailatu would be doing?
‘I had hoped my words were harsh enough to free me from her spite for a week or more’
How does Baroka describe his armpit?
‘My armpit still weeps blood for the gross abuse I suffered from one I called my favourite’
How does Sidi respond to Baroka complaining about his armpit?
‘Oh. Is that all?’
How does Sidi defend Ailatu?
‘I thought perhaps- well- young wives are known to be- forward- sometimes- to their husbands’
Where does Baroka think wives are forward with their husbands?
‘In an ill-kept household perhaps. But not under Baroka’s roof’
What excuse does Baroka give if he loses the wrestling match?
‘If I lose this little match remember that my armpit burns and itches turn by turn’
How does Sidi act when she realises what she has forgotten to do with the Bale?
‘Then clasps her hand over her mouth as she remembers what she should have done to begin with. Doubtful how to proceed, she hesitates for some moments, then comes to a decision and kneels’
How does Sidi describe herself to Baroka?
‘A repentant child’
How does Sidi react when Baroka questions her?
‘ cowed, but angry, rises’
How does Sidi explain what Baroka called her?
‘I remember that the Bale called me an unwanted stranger’
How does Baroka explain why he was offended?
‘Is a man’s bedroom to be made naked to any flea that chances to wander through?’
How does Sidi react to being called a flea?
‘Sidi turns away, very hurt’
How does Baroka try to appease Sidi?
‘Come, come my child. You are too quick to feel aggrieved. Of course you are more then welcome. But I expected Ailatu to tell me you were here’
How does Sidi act after Baroka tries to appease her?
‘Sidi curtsys briefly with her back to Baroka. (…) the mischief returns to her face. Baroka’s attitude of denial has been a set-back but she is now ready to pursue her mission’
How does Sidi show her thoughts about Ailatu?
‘But, like everyone, I had thought The Favourite was a gentle woman’
How does Sidi question the act of the Favourite?
‘Was the Favourite… in some way… dissatisfied… with her lord and husband?’
How does Baroka question the leisure of the Bale?
‘Do you think The Lion has such leisure that he asks the whys and wherefores of a woman’s squint?’
How does Baroka explain his views on Sidi’s question?
‘Now that is a question which I never thought to hear except from a school teacher’
How does Sidi react to Baroka’s change of mood?
‘She is easily cowed by Baroka’s change of mood, all the more easily as she is, in any case, frightened by her own boldness’
How does Baroka blaspheme?
‘Christians on my Father’s shrines, child!’
What story does Baroka give relating to his daily exercise?
‘I allow no one to watch my daily exercise but as we say, the woman gets lost in the woods and every wood deity dies the next’
What does Baroka call Sidi?
‘My daughter’
What moral message does Sidi give to justify why she thinks the wrestler will win?
‘If the tortoise cannot stumble, it does not mean that he can stand’
What moral message does Baroka give in response to Sidi’s ‘riddles’?
‘When the child is full of riddles, the mother has one water-pot the less’
How does Sidi act cheekily to Baroka?
‘Sidi tiptoes to Baroka’s back and pulls asses’ ears at him’
How does Baroka describe the way he changes things?
‘I change my wrestlers when I have learnt to throw them. I also change my wives when I have learnt to tire them’
What message does Baroka give when Sidi asks if he is planning to change wife?
‘Until the finger nails have scraped the dust, no one can tell which insect released his bowels’
How does Sidi react when Baroka gives a gross message?
‘Sidi grimaces in disgust and walks away’
How does Baroka mock Sidi’s comment that she was visited today?
‘And does Sidi find this unusual- that a woman speak with her in the afternoon?’
How does Sidi act in response to Baroka’s mocking?
‘Stamping’
How does Sidi mock Baroka?
‘Makes a rude sign’
How does Baroka act when Sidi calls him old?
‘Baroka winces’
How does Sidi mention one little story of Baroka?
‘He grew the taste for ground corn and pepper- because he would not pay the price of snuff!’
How does Baroka react to Sidi telling the story of Baroka’s snuff?
‘With a sudden burst of angry energy, Baroka lifts his opponent and throws him over his shoulder’
What does Baroka do after he wins the wrestling match?
‘Protests. Baroka is pacing angrily up and down’
The defeated man lifts out a low ‘ako’ bench and sits on the floor. He is joined by Baroka and they place their elbows on the bench and grip hands
What does Baroka say about women?
‘I know the ways of women and I know their ruinous tongues’
How does Baroka claim he relates to himself a lot?
‘And remember, I only use myself to illustrate the plight of many men’
What are Baroka’s views on using ground corn and pepper?
‘Would it be seemly, at my age, and the father of children, to be discovered, in public, thrusting fistfuls of corn and pepper in my mouth?’
How does Baroka describe himself?
‘A daily fellow-sufferer’
How does Sidi act when Baroka notices she hasn’t been listening to him?
‘Sidi stops, somewhat confused and embarrassed, points sheepishly to the wrestler’
How does Sidi try to annoy Baroka?
‘I think this time he will win’
How does Baroka act when Sidi tries to annoy him?
‘Baroka’s grumbling subsides slowly’
How does Sidi use a metaphor to describe Baroka?
‘The Fox is said to be wise so cunning that he stalks and dines on new-hatched chickens’
How does Sidi describe the idea that Baroka is ‘spent’?
‘Perhaps his children have of late been plagued with shyness and refuse to come into the world. Or else he is so tired with the day’s affairs that at night, he turns his buttocks to his wives. But there have been no new reeds cut by his servants, no new cots woven. And his household gods are starved for want of child-naming festivities since the last two rains went by’
What does Baroka think of the fact he has not had children for a while?
‘Planning for a final burst of life, he husbands his strength’
How does Baroka use synecdoche?
‘My beard tells me you’ve been a pupil, a most diligent pupil of Sadiku’
How does Baroka describe Sadiku?
‘My faithful lizard!’
What comment does Baroka make about Sadiku?
‘The sharpest tongues grow from that one peeling bark’
How does Baroka describe his mind?
‘A seven horned devil of strength’
How does Baroka describe his daily attitude?
‘What an ill-tempered man I daily grow towards’
What does Baroka say about his voice?
‘Soon my voice will be the sand between two grinding stones’
How does Baroka comment on Sadiku’s thoughts?
‘Did she not… perhaps… invent some tale? For I know Sadiku loves to be all-knowing’
How does Baroka show he thinks he has authority?
‘Begged? Bale Baroka begged?’
How does Baroka comment on the world they live in?
‘One way the world remains the same, the child still thinks she is wiser than the cotton head of age’
How does Baroka comment on his senses?
‘Do you think Baroka deaf or blind to little signs?’
How does Baroka describe the role Sadiku plays?
‘I know Sadiku plays the match-maker without the prompting’
Give examples of the questions Sadiku asks
‘How fares your daughter?’
‘Is your sister now recovered from her whooping cough?’
‘Have the village lads begun to gather at your door?’
How does Baroka describe Sadiku’s role?
‘If it concerns a woman, Sadiku straightway flings herself into the role of go-between and before I even don a cap, I find yet another stranger in my bed!’
How is Sidi sarcastic about Baroka’s life?
‘It seems a Bale’s life is full of great unhappiness’
How does Baroka question if Sidi is caught in Western ways?
‘You have not caught this new and strange disease, I hope’
How is Sidi self absorbed?
‘Will Sidi, the proud daughter of Baroka, will she step out naked?’
How does Baroka act towards Sidi being saucy?
‘Barok surveys Sidi in an almost fatherly manner and she bashfully drops her eyes’
How does Baroka comment on Sidi’s attitude?
‘To think I once thought Sidi is the eye’s delight but she is vain and her head is feather-light and always giddy with trivial thought. And now I find her deep and wise beyond her years’
How does Baroka describe a stamp?
‘The red trim piece of paper in the corner’
How does Sidi know about stamps?
‘Lakunle receives letters from Lagos marked with it’
How does Baroka react to Sidi knowing what a stamp is?
‘Obviously disappointed’
What does Baroka call postage stamps?
‘Little frippery’
How does Sidi describe the purpose of stamps?
‘Is it not a tax on the habit of talking with paper?’
How does Baroka describe what Lakunle does to Sidi in giving knowledge?
‘I see you dip a hand into the pockets of the school teacher and retrieve it bulging with knowledge’
How does Baroka compete with Lakunle in terms of what is ‘modern’?
‘Now this, not even the school teacher can tell what magic this performs’
How do we know Baroka is secretive with the palace blacksmiths?
‘The work, dear child, of the palace blacksmiths built in full secrecy’
What does Baroka dream the strange machine in his bedroom will do?
‘Ilujinle will boast it’s own tax on paper, made with stamps like this. For I long dreamt and here it stands, child of my thoughts’
How do we know their God is omnipotent?
‘Ogun has said the word’
How does Sidi react to the strange machine in Baroka’s bedroom?
‘Wonder-struck’
How does Baroka assure Sidi that she has nothing to fear of the machine in his bedroom?
‘Come nearer, it will not bite’
How did Baroka describe the figure on Lakunle’s stamp?
‘A lifeless work of craft, with holes for eyes and coldness’
How does Baroka describe the way Sidi will be on the stamp?
‘Tens of thousands of dainty prints and each one with this legend of Sidi’
How does Sidi react to the idea of herself being on postage stamps?
‘Sidi drowns herself totally in the contemplation’
What does Baroka say on his views towards progress?
‘I do not hate progress, only its nature’
What does Baroka plan for the stamps?
‘We shall begin by cutting stamps for our own village alone’
What does Baroka want to leave?
‘We must leave virgin plots of lives, rich decay and the tang of vapour rising from forgotten heaps of compost’
How does Sidi react to Baroka’s dreams?
‘Capable only of a bewildered nod’
How does Baroka show they are together in this?
‘Our thoughts fly crisply through the air and meet, purified as one’
How does Baroka Sidi’s views towards Baroka change?
‘Now that you speak almost like the schoolteacher, except your words fly on a different path’
How does Sidi describe Baroka’s words?
‘Words are like beetles boring at my ears and my head becomes a jumping bean’
‘Everything you say, Bale, seems wise to me’
How does Baroka describe Sidi’s mind?
‘No, Sidi, not simple, only straight and truthful like a freshwater reed’
What must Sidi learn from?
‘From the gloss of ancient leather’
How does Baroka describe the need for change?
‘The old must flow into the new’
How does Baroka give sexual connotations?
‘The truth of this, old wine thrives best within a new bottle. The coarseness is mellowed down and the rugged wine acquires a full and rounded body’
How does Baroka describe himself at the end of this seductive section?
‘The monkey sweats’
What is Lakunle doing waiting for Sidi’s return?
‘Pacing wretchedly’
‘Pacing furiously’
What is Sadiku doing waiting for Sidi’s return?
‘Looks on placidly’
What does Lakunle think Baroka has done with Sidi?
‘He’s killed her’
How does Lakunle threaten Sadiku?
‘I’ll come and see you. Whipped like a dog. Baroka’s head wife driven out of the house for plotting with a girl’
What happens each time Lakunle hears footsteps?
‘Each approaching footstep brings Lakunle to attention)
What does Lakunle say in response to Sadiku claiming she was a great dancer?
‘And you are still just as slippery. I hope Baroka kills you for this. When he finds out what your wagging tongue has done to him, I hope he beats you til you choke on your own breath’
How does Sidi make her entrance?
‘Sidi bursts in, she has been running all the way. She throws herself on the ground against a tree and sobs violently, beating herself on the ground’
What are Lakunle’s first words to Sidi when she enters?
‘Oh, Sidi, let me kiss your tears’
How does Lakunle describe Baroka now?
‘Baroka is a creature of the wilds, untutored, mannerless and devoid of grace’
What does Sidi do when Lakunle starts talking?
‘Only cries all the more, beats on the ground with clenched fists and stubs her toes in the ground’
What does Lakunle plan to do to Baroka?
‘I shall kill him for this’
‘I shall demand redress from the central courts. I shall make him spend the remainder of his wretched life in prison’
What does Sidi call Lakunle and Sadiku?
‘Fool! You little fools!
What does Sidi think of Baroka now?
‘Oh how I hate him! How I loathe and long to kill the man!’
‘The frog. The cunning frog’
How does Lakunle approach the subject of if she was raped?
‘Or did he…? Sidi, I cannot bear the thought. The words refuse to form. Do not unman me, Sidi. Speak before I burst in tears’
How does Sidi show she was raped?
‘Sidi shakes her head violently and bursts afresh with tears’
What does Sadiku say on hearing Sidi was raped?
‘Cheer up. It happens to the best of us’
How is Lakunle melodramatic on discovering Sidi was raped?
‘Oh heavens, strike me dead!’
‘For he no longer has the wish to live’
How does Lakunle try to avoid the bride price again?
‘But you will agree, it is only fair that we forget the bride-price totally since you no longer can be called a maid’
How does Lakunle describe the way Sidi runs offstage?
‘She took off suddenly like a hunted buck’
How does Lakunle describe his faithfulness?
‘There are women to be found in every town or village in these parts, and every one a virgin. But I must obey my books’
How does Lakunle explain his achievements with the bride price?
‘ It solves the problem of her bride-price too. A man must live or fall by his true principles. That, I had sworn, never to pay’
How do we know Sidi is completely submissive to marrying Baroka by the end?
Sadiku says ‘ she is packing her things. She is gathering her clothes and trinkets together, and oiling herself as a bride does before her wedding’
What is humorous about Sadiku’s lack of intellect into the English language?
‘Just what I said but she only laughed and called me a … a… what was it now.. a bra… braba…
Brabararian’
What does Sidi now think of Western weddings’
‘Leave all that nonsense to savages and brabararians’ Sadiku said Sidi said
What is ironic now that Lakunle thinks he is getting married?
‘But I must prepare myself. I cannot be a single man one day and a married one the next. It must come gradually. I will not wed in haste. A man must have time to prepare, to learn to like the thought’
What does Sadiku divulge about the spread of news in this culture?
‘The news of a festivity travels fast. You ought to know that’
How does Lakunle go hysterical about the wedding?
‘The goddess of malicious gossip herself must have a hand in my undoing. The very spirits of partial air have conspired to blow me, willy-nilly down the slope of grim matrimony’
How does Lakunle completely change his mind?
‘Hence parasites, you’ve made a big mistake. There is no one getting wedded, get you home’
How could we say that Sidi has made a Western clothing transformation by the end?
‘She is radiant, jewelled, lightly clothed and wears light leather-thong sandals’
How could we say Sidi has authority at the end?
‘They all go suddenly silent apart from the long-drawn O-Ohs of admiration’
‘The crowd repeat the song after Sidi’
How does Lakunle react to Sidi’s new wedding appearance?
‘Lost in the miracle of transformation’
How is Sidi’s physical weakness shown?
‘I tried to tear it up but my fingers were too frail’
How does Sidi suggest she has changed?
‘A present from Sidi’
Third person like she is different now
What does Lakunle say to being invited to the wedding?
‘Well I should hope so indeed since I am to marry you’
How does Sidi react to Lakunle thinking she is going to marry him?
‘Turns round in surprise’
How is Sidi’s surprise apparent when Lakunle thinks she is going to marry him?
‘Marry who…? You thought… Did you really think that you, and I… why, did you think that after him, I could endure the touch of another man?’
How does Sidi describe Lakunle now?
‘A watered-down, a beardless version of unripened man’
‘Book-nourished shrimp’
How does Sidi describe her gained strength?
‘I who have felt the strength, the perpetual youthful zest of the panther of the trees?’
How does Sidi describe Baroka now at the very end?
‘Panther of the trees’
How does Sidi describe Lakunle when he is sixty?
‘But you, at sixty, you’ll be ten years dead! In fact, you’ll not survive the honeymoon’
What does Sidi do at the idea of Lakunle not coming to her wedding?
‘If not’ (she shrugs her shoulders. Kneels down at Sadiku’s feet)
What blessing does Sadiku give Sidi?
‘I invoke the fertile gods. They will stay with you. May the time come soon when you shall be as round-bellied as a full moon in a low sky’
What else does Sidi ask to be blessed?
‘Now bless my wordly goods. Come, sing to me of seeds of children, sired of the lion stock’
How do we know Lakunle moves on fast from Sidi?
‘A young girl flaunts her dancing buttocks at Lakunle and he rises to the bait. Sadiku gets in his way as he gives chase. Tries to make him dance with her. Lakunle last seen, having freed himself of Sadiku, clearing a space in the crowd for the young girl’
Give examples of some song lyrics
‘Mo te’ni’ ‘Sun mo mi’ ‘We mo mi’ ‘Fa mo mi’ ‘Tolani tolani’
