Amanirenas: Non was bold enough to stop me. I heard them calling after me, but I paid no heed and went secretly into my room and locked myself up for three days.
Akinidad: Three days without food?
Amanirenas: That was what everybody thought, but I came out every night when they were all asleep and sneaked into the kitchen in the women's quarters where there was always soup to drink…Hahahaha…Anyway that was a long time ago.
(Pause)
What I want you to know is that, later, when I had made my triumphant exit out of the chamber, my mother called together all the divisional Chiefs and with her last breath openly confessed that she had indeed underestimated my fighting spirit.
Akinidad: Before my uncle, the King?
Amanirenas: Yes.
He was there when she said that, so I was told. And as if to pacify her conscience and me, and still satisfy the pride of my younger brother and the men in the kingdom in general, my mother, made one last edict.
Akinidad: And what was that?
Amanirenas: That my bother be the king after her. But after him, any of us who first brings forth a son, shall have that son ascending to the stool after Masinissa Linette Duah, my brother.
Even though customarily it is the nephew who ascends a throne. Due to the matrilineal inheritance, we practice, my mother, for once, set the custom aside. She also had my name changed from Amanirenas to Kyeretwie. Kyeretwie, Meaning the leopard tamer.
Akinidad: I see
Amanirenas: Well, Masinissa Duah quickly married Makena Gyamfi who gave birth to a baby girl, Nala. It was then that I got married to your father and we had to go round all the powerful shrines in the Kingdom so we can be blessed with a son, who will eventually ascend the throne when the time is due, since your uncle conceived a baby girl.
All the oracles predicted a son for me.
Well, I believed it; but what happened? It turned out to be you.
I quickly took steps to hide your identity so that you could succeed you uncle the King when he dies.
Akinidad: Oh Mother, is it for this my life has been a lie? Was it that I might cheat my unoffending cousin of her right? Spare me, mother, spare your child! I can't do it. That stool belongs to my cousin, and I cannot usurp her right of entitlement to it.
No mother, I have no right to what is not mine, mother. It is her birth right, not mine, mother.
Amanirenas: Nonsense! (Pause)
Nonsense!...
RIGHT?
How that word makes my stomach chum. Nobody has any absolute right to anything in this world. You are going to fight to capture the stool, my child. You have a right to it just everybody else.
(Boldly)
And I am saying you SHALL be King. I repeat KING.
Not queen, after my brother, Masinissa Linette Duah II, and rule our people. And so be it.
Akinidad: (Sighs heavily) Hmm…(Pause)
And in case they find out am a woman.
Amanirenas: (Strongly) It will be better for you than for me not to let them find out.
Akinidad: I don't understand?
Amanirenas: You shall be made to pacify the gods with your blood.
Akinidad: (Frightened) No, Mother, I can't act like a boy anymore. I want to be the girl that I really am. I no longer want to hide behind any false identity of who I am not, just to ascend to a throne that isn't rightfully mine.
Amanirenas: Hush…say no more. Walls have ears.
Akinidad: I am sorry, mother…but the truth is…
Amanirenas: The whole exercise is a game, and you cannot betray me just when victory is within arm's reach. No, my child, sustain yourself in the role for a little longer.
Akinidad: (Worried) For how long, Mother…Tell me, for how long am I to…
Amanirenas: I wish I could tell you things but…
Akinidad: Tell me whatever I must know about myself, Mother.
Amanirenas: (Thoughtfully) Well, you've asked for it.
My child, do you know how many people had to lose their lives just to keep your true identity hidden from the public?
Do you know I had to poison your father because at a point he couldn't bear it any longer and swore to tell the world you were a girl?
Akinidad: What?
You mean you…
Amanirenas: Yes, I had to do it.
The midwife who stood by my bed when I was in labour and supervised your birth had to lose her tongue for fear she might squeak.
Akinidad: The gods forbid…
Amanirenas: She is that dumb nurse who serves you.
Many servants in the palace who seemed a little bit suspicious and inquisitive about your sex were quickly eliminated or sold into slavery. And I had the singular satisfaction of despatching the Chief Executioner myself.
Akinidad: (Screaming) Murderer… You are a murderer.
Amanirenas: And your mother. That makes you the daughter of a murderer. And an intelligent at that.
So, be assured that your true identity shall forever be kept hidden. As long as you abide by the rules of the game.
Akinidad: It's a dangerous game you want me to play. Mother,
I…I…want to be a girl and taste the joy of womanhood. I have suffered for far too long.
Amanirenas: You have suffered, I agree, but nobody likes suffering to no purpose. Suffering should be creative. It should give birth to something good, substantive, meaningful. Something lovely and lasting, and what's that thing? The STOOL!
Yes, my child, the stool shall be your reward. The shinning trophy to crown your long suffering.
(Pationately)
Will you go ahead and play the game to the very end? Don't think about me!
Think about womanhood…Think about us… Your fellow sisters, all the down-trodden women out there. It is for them you are doing this great sacrifice of honour. Will you, do it?
(Long pause)
Akinidad: Hmmm…And will you always be by my side in case I decide to do what you ask of me?
Amanirenas: (Quickly) Aaah!
Where else would I be if not by your side? I am going to stand by you, night and day, till the very last of this.
Akinidad? Can you swear to that, Mother?
Amanirenas: Oh! My child.
Need I do that to convince you? Is the fact that you are moulded out of my blood not sufficient to…
Akinidad: All right, Mother…
I will try and do what you ask of me.
Amanirenas: (Dashes to embrace Akinidad)
I am proud of you, my child. Aaah…happiness that will live in my heart forever and ever and…
Akinidad: By the way, Mother, I have a question to ask.
Amanirenas: (Enthusiastically) Go ahead and ask it. Ask, ask. Ask about anything you want to know. Yes, go on and ask, and I will answer all your questions.
Akinidad: Thank you, Mother. Why did you engage that man in duel?
Amanirenas: Hmm…as a matter of fact, it wasn't the man I wanted. It was a careful trap meant to lure the one with whom I one shared the same womb.
Akinidad: Who…My uncle? The King?
Amanirenas: Yes
Akinidad: (Shocked) Your own brother?
Amanirenas: I thought he would rise to defend the honour of manhood so that I could kill him and succeed our mother. But his stars were awake.
Akinidad: And had the Queen Mother not halted the fight would you have gone ahead to finish off the man?
Amanirenas: Of course. You think if he had that opportunity, he would have treated me kindly or differently?
Akinidad: Did you trip him?
Amanirenas: That's what everybody said, but I did no such thing. He went down out of fright. I tell you, if there is anything men fear in this world it is a woman who is a WOMAN!
Akinidad: And by that you mean.
Amanirenas: woman who accepts challenges. A woman who can shout back when a man shouts. A woman who is all out to give the command like a man. A woman who in no uncertain terms, rejects absolute the definition of the word feminine to mean home-oriented, passive, needing-to-be-guided-and-protected.
To the men, such a woman is a real woman and a woe unto manhood. In short, what men fear is female power in motion.
Akinidad: Why? if I may ask?
Amanirenas: Because such power, seeks to break not only the bonds of customs, taboos and antiquated traditions to which women are chained,
But also deals a heavy blow to that age-old myth of male chauvinism. Well, my child, go and get ready. The messengers from my brother have come to take you away to be tutored in his place. They will soon be here.
Akinidad: Yes, Mother.
Amanirenas: And call me the Emissary. Tell him he is summon before me.
Akinidad: Yes, Mother (Exits)
Amanirenas: Yes, everything is now set for the next round of the game. I am going to teach men that there are women and there are still women.
(Knocking at the door) Who is there?
Voice: Your Highness, it is me your Emissary.
Amanirenas: Come in. (She commands)
Emissary: Your Highness, the price informs me I am required in your presence.
Amanirenas: Yes, I wanted you to go prepare six Ahenkwaa and four abrafo to accompany the prince and the messengers to the King palace at Carthage.
Emissary: Yes, Your Highness.
Amanirenas: You may take your leave now.
Emissary: Yes, Your Highness. (Turns to go)