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rk Onbd
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Wikipedia article
'rk Onbd' (English translation: The Sugarcane of the Guardian) is the third novel by the Yorb author D.O. Fgnw, published in 1949 by Thomas Nelson.
Plot
Like Fgnw's other novels, 'rk Onbd' takes the form of a story within a story. One day, the eponymous hero arrives at the unnamed narrator's house and asks him to write down the events of his life. It is revealed that the two met earlier in life when rk Onbd was in the care of Adeorun, a spirit of heaven. Before beginning his life story, rk Onbd tells the tale of Wrestler-cat, who led a life of violence and deception before finally being the victim of deceit himself. The story is intended to impart the lesson that one should be cautious when seeking revenge.
rk Onbd then moves on to the main story of the novel. He tells of how both his parents died when he was younger, leaving him without any relatives or money. It is in this period that he met Adeorun and also crossed paths with the narrator. After leaving Adeorun, rk Onbd breeds chickens and becomes successful man. However, when one of the wives of the farmer he lives with begins pursuing him, he is forced to leave.
He then begins his journey to a town called Backward People. On the way, his friend is killed by a one-eyed goblin. He first arrives at Irewesi, the city of the deads. The then advances on to Ero-ehin (Backward People). There he finds chaos, with people stealing, fighting, lying, cheating and killing one another. To escape, he swims out to a ship and boards it. During a storm, the ship capsizes and rk Onbd is taken prisoner by the Gargantuan-mermaid, the queen of all fishes in the ocean. She gives him a series of impossible tasks but rk Onbd's mother appears to him and with her help, he completes all the tasks. His mother and her heavenly troops then kill the Gargantuan-mermaid and the residents of the palace.
rk Onbd then comes to a town called Alupayida that is being terrorised by a destructive flying python. The king's daughter, Ifepade, is being sacrificed that day in order to appease the creature. rk Onbd fights the python, kills it and falls in love with Ifepade. He decides he would like to marry her and she and her parents accept his proposal. However, rk Onbd's enemies spread rumours that he has been sleeping with the queens and the king orders for him to be beaten. Hearing nothing from Ifepade, whose letters are being intercepted, rk Onbd then flees Alupayida. On learning that he has left the town, Ifepade goes in search of her fiancee. She writes and distributes pamphlets about him, which he eventually finds and which lead him to her. The king's guards find the pair and say they should return as the king's anger has dissipated. Back at the palace, Ifepade finds mean letters which rk Onbd had written to her in his anger. He begs her to forgive him and she does. However, the following day she falls ill and dies soon after. Due to his grief, the king becomes physically and mentally unwell.
The king asks rk Onbd to journey to the home of the famous herbalist Itanforiti in order to find a cure for his ailment, as well as acquire wisdom for the good of the town. rk Onbd chooses two herbalists, Ero-okan and Kumofehinti, to come with him. On their way, they encounter, the Mountain of Tribuations, which moves forwards and backwards, as well as a town populated only by men (Gbayegborun) and another town populated only by women. They lose Kumofehinti, who is tempted by the music from heaven. rk Onbd and Ero-okan find the entrance to Itanforiti's home and are welcomed by him. They pass several days there.
Itanforiti imparts several lessons. He warns against covetousness and pride and explains that love is the force that binds people together. For each lesson, he includes a tale to illustrate his point. The men set out to return to Alupayida. When they return, the king has died and the town has decided to make rk Onbd their new king.
rk Onbd tells the narrator that this is his seventh year on the throne and that three months ago, Adeorun returned to him and instructed him to pass on his life story. As soon as rk Onbd finishes his story, he and his companions disappear.
Adaptations
A film version of 'rk Onbd', made under the Yorb theatre tradition, was released in 1982. It was produced by Bayo Aderounmu and codirected by Tunde Kelani and Bayo Aderounmu.
The dramatist Fmi fisan adapted the novel for the stage as part of the CHAMS (Computer Hardware and Maintenance Services PLC.) Theatre Series. The play toured Ibadan, Akure, Lagos and Abuja in November 2009.
A English translation of 'rk Onbd' by Alg Isaac Oll was published by Nelson Publishers Limited in 2019.
References
Category:1949 novels
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