INTRODUCTION

Year 5 pupils have been working on a project called Inspiration Africa!

In Africa story-telling is a part of life from childhood. A long time ago when there was no electricity, radio or television, elders would sit in their village compounds, with children sitting in a semi-circle in front of them, listening to what are called 'Moonlight Stories'. Such is the story we are about to hear.

THE TORTOISE AND THE ELEPHANT

Scene 1
The Temple

Narrator:

Once upon a time

Response:

Time, time

Narrator (mysteriously):

In a village in the western part of Nigeria, West Africa, a Priest was in the temple when he felt the spirit of the Oracle. The Priest always listened to the Oracle's advice and passed it on to the King because everyone knew how powerful the Oracle was.

The Oracle (wisely):

If the King wishes to live a long life he must bring a live elephant from the deep forest and lead it to the front of the palace where it must be tied up alive for seven days.

Narrator:

When he heard these words the Priest was worried and rushed off to the palace to tell the King.

Scene 2
The Palace
The King is sitting on his thrown surrounded by courtiers.
The Priest enters looking worried.

Narrator:

Before anyone can speak to the King he has to greet him properly to show him respect.

Priest (prostrate and speaking politely):

Kabiese.

Oh great one, the Oracle has spoken to me and this is what he has said: "If you want to live a long life you must bring from the deepest forest an elephant and keep it alive for seven days in front of the palace.

King (alarmed):

What? How can I possibly do that? The Elephant is huge and never does as anyone tells him. How will I ever get him to come to the gates of my palace from the deepest part of the forest?

Narrator:

The King was shocked, worried and angry. He called for the Town Crier.

Enter Town Crier

King (talking with urgency):

Town Crier go to the village and tell each and everyone to meet me outside the palace in two days time.

Town Crier:(addressing the audience):

COME TO THE PALACE IN 2 DAYS TIME! THE KING WISHES TO SPEAK WITH YOU! EVERYONE MUST BE THERE! etc

Narrator:

The Town Crier quickly visited every part of the village and told the Villagers that the King commanded that they should gather outside the palace in two days time. The Villagers wondered what could have happened to make the King do such a thing. Two days later they all hurried off to the palace.

Enter Villagers

Villagers:

Kabiese

King (in a powerful voice):

Listen carefully to my words of wisdom. I have summoned you here today to tell you that the great and powerful Oracle has informed me that I will not live long unless one of you can bring me an elephant from the forest to the palace gates where it must be tied up for seven whole days.

Villagers (looking and sounding worried):

Oh, gasp, ah!

King:

If any one of you can do this I will give you a great reward. Not only will I divide my kingdom into two and share it with you but I will also allow you to marry my beautiful, caring and loving daughter and you will become my in-law. If any of you think you can complete this task you must come and see me at the palace.

Villagers (faces change from worried to excited and happy):

Oh! Yes!

Narrator:

The Villagers were excited. They all wanted to have half the riches of the kingdom and marry the Princess. They all hurried off into the forest boasting and arguing loudly with each other about how on earth they were going to catch an elephant, bring it out of the forest alive and tie it to the palace gates.

Scene 3
The Tortoise's house.
His wife is sweeping the floor.

Narrator:

As well as the Villagers, Tortoise had heard the King's speech and he hurried back home to his Wife.

Tortoise rushes in excitedly

Tortoise:

Wife, wife! I have just been to the palace and the King has promised that whoever brings an Elephant alive from the forest to the palace gates and ties it there for seven days will marry his daughter and be given half his kingdom!

Tortoise's wife:

Oh yes!

Tortoise(proudly):

Yes! and I am the one who will bring the Elephant from the forest. I will take the Elephant to the King then I will become his in-law and have half of his kingdom.

Tortoise's wife (in amazement):

YOU! YOU!, you little weedy stumpy tortoise! You tiny little THING! You... I bet you could never do that!

Tortoise(confidently):

I bet I could!

Tortoise's wife: (worryingly):

Well! if you do I'll eat my shell! You couldn't bring an elephant in from the forest alive, it would crush you to death.

Narrator:

The Tortoise's Wife was really worried. He might well get killed trying to capture the elephant and, even worse, he just might succeed and then marry the Princess!

Tortoise's wife:

If you carry out your ludicrous plan then I will never speak to you again.

Tortoise (cockily):

Well that won't matter will it because I'll have the beautiful Princess to talk to everyday. I'll also have lots of riches, fine clothes, rich food and a stable of horses.

Tortoise's wife:

How dare you insult me and our children. If you do this I will make you sorry.

Tortoise:

Yeah, right! HOW?

Tortoise's wife:

You will see... you will see.

Narrator:

The Tortoise didn't listen to his Wife, he was too busy thinking up a cunning plan. When he had worked it all out he made his way to the palace.

Scene 4
The Palace. The King is sitting on his thrown looking very worried.

Enter Tortoise

Tortoise:

Kabiese, Oh mighty King I will bring you the Elephant to the gates of the palace.

King:

What ? You!!? a Tortoise! The strongest young men in the village have tried and failed to bring the Elephant out of the jungle how can you a little Tortoise succeed where all others have failed ?

Tortoise:

Trust me King, I have a plan but first I must ask you to help me with some of the arrangements.

King:

Yes, yes! ask anything.

Tortoise:

First your cooks must fry some very big bean cakes and then soak them in honey for two whole days.

King:

Yes, yes. What else?

Tortoise:

Next your men must dig a large pit in front of the palace, sticks should be placed over the pit then a large beautiful carpet placed across them. In the middle of the carpet you must place a large and mighty chair.

King:

Yes, yes. That will be done.

Tortoise:

Finally I want the palace drummers, the women dancers and singers and the rest of the Villagers to meet me on the edge of the village in three days time. When I arrive with the Elephant they must join us on our way to the palace gates.

King:

Okay Tortoise, it shall be done. May the gods of our fathers lead you. I hope that your plan succeeds but remember this .... if your plan should fail (the King runs his thumb nail across his throat making a cutting noise).

Scene 5
The Jungle

Narrator:

The Tortoise plodded gradually through the deep, dark jungle. He went in search of the Elephant. With him he took the delicious, sweet, scrumptious beancake which had been soaked in honey for two days.

Tortoise (pondering):

I hope my trick works.

Narrator:

As he went deeper into the jungle he suddenly heard the noise from the Elephant.

Elephant:

Eeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhh

Narrator:

As he approached and saw the huge animal for the first time his eyes glowed like fire torches as he took in his enormous size. The Tortoise slowly and excitedly moved towards the Elephant.

Tortoise (with praise and cunning):

My, what a mighty animal you are. You're the king of the jungle, you're great, you're better than the rest.

Narrator:

The Elephant looked surprised to see such a tiny tortoise praising him. He bowed his enormous head to get a better look at the Tortoise.

Tortoise:

You are so strong, powerful and wise. You must be so proud of your massive size.

Narrator:

The Tortoise continued. The Elephant chewed on some branches and bowed lower to speak to the Tortoise.

Elephant:

Little Tortoise, why are you praising me?

Tortoise (happily):

Haven't you heard the news? The Oracle has decided that you are to be our new King. We all want you to come back to the palace and take your place on the throne.

Narrator:

The Elephant snorted at such a ridiculous suggestion. He turned away and carried on with his lunch. The Tortoise, though did not give up.

Tortoise:

Oh mighty Elephant I will come back in two days and ask you once again.

Narrator:

Now the Elephant was an extremely vain animal. He liked the thought of becoming King and ruling such an enormous land. When the Tortoise returned two days later the Elephant watched and as he approached he lifted his head and wiggled his rear end, excited that he may be given another chance. As the Tortoise got nearer he threw a piece of beancake into the Elephant's mouth.

Elephant (greedily):

Wow! This is delicious. What is it?

Tortoise:

This is beancake. When you are King this will be just some of the delightful food you will be served.

Narrator:

The Elephant wriggled a bit more. He was excited by the thought and moved from side to side. The Tortoise could see that his plan was working and tried to keep the look of delight from his face.

Elephant:

OK, OK, little Tortoise, take me to my palace.

Narrator:

And so it was that in the morning the Elephant followed the Tortoise back through the dark jungle towards the palace.

Scene 6
The Procession

Narrator:

As the Tortoise approached the edge of the village with the Elephant, the Elephant could hear the drums, a band playing and the crowds laughing excitedly. The men were the first to greet the Elephant.

The Men approach the Elephant singing their chant:

Call:
A BA SI O IYO

Response:
EH IYO IYO

They greet him - Kabiese! - turn and lead him in the parade.

The Women enter singing their song:

Call:
A BA KO YO DE

Response:
I YO, IYO YA IYO

They greet the Elephant - Kabiese - then they lead the parade.
The parade eventually ends at the palace gate in front of the throne on the carpet.
The Villagers join together in their song.

Call:
A O MERIM JOBA

Response:
E WE KUM E WE LE

Tortoise:

Your people have gathered to welcome you Oh mighty master.

Villagers:

Wow, what a marvellous King. He's a lot better than our previous King. How lucky we are to have such a mighty leader.

Narrator:

The Elephant lifted his head, proud of his size and authority. He moved confidently through the Villagers. The band played louder, the dancers danced harder. The Elephant approached the throne. The Tortoise hushed the crowds shouting.

Tortoise:

Please greet your new King.

Villagers:

Kabiese.

Narrator:

They all bowed down at the Elephant's feet. The Elephant wriggled his rear and moved his head, content at what he could hear and see. It was a proud Elephant that stood before them. The Tortoise slowly guided the Elephant towards his throne.

Tortoise:

Please sit on your throne so that your people can see you. It is now time to take your place on the throne that we have prepared for you.

Narrator:

The Elephant wriggled proudly towards his throne. As he began to seat his enormous rear, the floor gave way and he fell immediately into the pit.

The Elephant falls into the pit

Villagers:

Hurray! Hurray!

Narrator:

The crowds were silent and now it was the Tortoise who felt proud. A huge smile came across his face. His plan had worked. The King's guards rushed towards the pit and tied the Elephant up. The Elephant no longer felt proud. He had been tricked and defeated. The guards tied him to the tree outside the palace for the remaining seven days.

Scene 7
The Tortoise's Wife's Revenge

The palace, the Villagers surround the thrown singing. The princess is waiting with a veil over her face.

King:

Well done Tortoise you have succeeded in capturing the Elephant so I must keep my side of the bargain. Please step forward and take the hand of my daughter, the Princess, in marriage.

The Tortoise steps up and takes the hand of the Princess

King:

You may now lift the veil and kiss your new wife.

The Tortoise lifts the veil and shouts in surprise

Tortoise:

What ? My wife! How can this be ? AH! I'm meant to be marrying the Princess - NOT YOU!

Tortoise's Wife:

Hah! It serve's you right. Yes, I am the Princess and you were the King's in-law all along.

Tortoise (flabbergasted):

But, but, but ...

Tortoise's Wife:

It serve's you right.

Tortoise:

How?

Tortoise's Wife:

You shouldn't have got all excited about marrying a Princess when you were married to a wonderful Princess all along. You, Tortoise, should have appreciated what you had.

THE END