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| Newham Writers Workshop Anthology 1998 | 
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Thandeka Cynthia MfengwanaI am a South African, born in 1975. Since joining Newham Writers Workshop, I have learnt a lot, and am still learning more.MenderPlayers and CostumesCharlie (Kojo) Anabe: young man, tall and dark wearing a black suit with a yellow shirt. Jimmy (Yaw) Anabe: young man wearing traditional white clothes with embroidery John wearing black jeans and a t-shirt Olivier wearing black neat trousers, a white shirt and a navy blue overall The rest of the boys are wearing different jeans and t-shirts First girls are dressed like any ordinary town girls Last ones are fat, wearing tight clothing which reveals every part of their body.
ACT 1 SCENE 1 Inside a bachelor flat. There's a double- bed covered with a clean duvet- cover and two pillows. The are three chairs made of wood, one by the door, one next to the bed and one in the door of the balcony. A black and white television in front of the bed, built-in cupboards the doors not well closed, the tiles on the floor are coming out and the wall needs a paint. There are some clothes on top of the chairs. The door opens, two men enter. Charlie : This is where my heart is. This is where I feel happy. This is where at the end of the day I rest my body and mind. Home sweet home. (Leaving him still standing by the door.) Jimmy : Where can I put my luggage, Charles? Charlie : (looking ing in every corner of the room for an empty space) That's the right place for them. ( Opening the wall-cupboard and putting it inside, and pushing the wall cupboard hard to close it) They are safe, so tell me about your journey. How is mother? Papa, and my sisters and our little brother? Jimmy : They are all fine except father who is very sick. I've got letters from all of them. Charlie : I cannot wait to hear good news from home. (Jimmy still standing in the same place by the door) Make yourself comfortable, feel free. My home is your home. What's mine is yours. Jimmy : Where? Charlie : There's chair near you, one over there, or you can sit on the bed. Jimmy : All the chairs are occupied. Charlie : These boys, I always tell them to tidy the place! (Quickly removing all the clothes from the chairs) Jimmy : (Charlie sitting on the bed and Jimmy still standing in the same place) Can I have my bags please? Charlie : Are you going back home? Jimmy : (In a hash voice) Can I have my bags please? Charlie : (Opening the cupboard and lots of clothes fall out) I always tell my boys to keep the wall-cupboard neat but they never listen. (Giving him a wrong one). Jimmy : My bag please. Charlie : Which one is yours then? Jimmy : That one. (Pointing to an expensive leather bag) Charlie : You can't go back, you just arrived. Jimmy : Where's the lounge or kitchen because I can't be in another man's bedroom? (Looking around) Although the room looks like a drought-stricken place. Charlie : (Rubbing his forehead) You are right anyway, but it's my bedroom, feel free, your brother, small one and we are one. Jimmy : We are no longer small boys, I have to respect your privacy. Charlie : Well in that case the other flats are full and there is no bad payer. Jimmy : You knew I was coming right? Charlie : Yes Jimmy : Can you ask one of your boys to escort me to my room and we will talk about everything after I rested for a while. Charlie : (Lighting a cigarette, coughing) This is your room. Jimmy : (Amazed) Which one? Charlie : This one. (Still coughing) Jimmy : Forgive me, brother, I don't mean to be fussy but this looks like a charity shop store room, and smoking is not good for you. Read the warning before you buy one. Charlie : This is number one in the flats that I own. It's my flat. I own it. Jimmy : This is what you call home sweet home. This, this...this! Charlie : This my home. When we were coming you saw many houses and flats. Jimmy : They were beautiful houses and looked very dignified. Charlie : Let the houses be beautiful but my home is the best. You will stay here with me. You won't pay the rent for the first month only, because you are my brother but after that you pay. There's no `blood is thicker than water' in the business world. Jimmy : Can you please stop joking. We are no longer small boys any more. We are men now. Charlie : (Coming closer to him) Sit down brother and let me explain to you. Jimmy : Where must I sit.? Charlie : On the chair. Sorry, I don't have a mat and there's no palm tree to sit under. Jimmy : There's dust everywhere. This place is dirty. Charlie : It's not bad. We know the laws of hygiene Jimmy : My privacy is important to me. I don't think I can stay with you in this room. It's small for two big man. Charlie : My tenants know what privacy is. (Jimmy puts the his luggage on the bed and starts searching for the letters) Jimmy : I found it. This is the letter you sent to father two years ago. Charlie : That was between me and my father! You violated son and father privacy. I can't believe this, my most respectful brother, an invader. Some things are hard to believe. You! My big brother. Jimmy : (Closing the bag) Father told me in several occasions that I am just a lazy boy, so I am the one who is wasting our family money and fortune. Every year when he had to pay for my fees he will start by telling of you. How proud of you and your achievements. Everyday he speaks about his intelligent boy who went to a foreign country, not knowing anyone, but he found a way to survive, he did, without asking money from the home for this and that. Charlie : Is he..! I never though he would ever be proud. Nobody is except myself. Jimmy : (Sitting down) You sent us these pictures. (Showing him the first picture) I stole them from father, he looked at them everyday and dreamed of the day you will come back home. Charlie : That's Pointe (looking at the picture). I only own one flat there. Jimmy : The whole building or just one flat? Charlie : Flat number 1057. Jimmy : What about 1056, and the next after that, and the numbers before that? Charlie : The Agency owns them. Jimmy : Father told me that you own the whole building. (Showing him the second picture) You told father you were going to buy the building and change it to a hotel only for our people, and I believe this is the flat. Charlie : I own this flat. Jimmy : Is this a flat or a store room? Charlie : What ever it is, it will store you from rains and nights. (showing him the last picture. In a stammering voice ) Actually that's me. The boy cut me. I work outside that shop. Jimmy : That's the picture of a chain-store. You told father that the shop will help our people when they came to this country. At least they will have earnings for a few months until they establish themselves. You never mentioned any working outside - doing what? Charlie : I am a mender and helper to those who need my service. Jimmy : You liar! Charlie : I'm not a liar. I do own flats and I have two machines and boys who work for me. Jimmy : What are your services then? Charlie : I provide a good honest and reliable service. Jimmy : What exactly do you mend ? Charlie : (taking off his jacket) I specialise in unique mending not just mending. I mend something special about a person. Look at this. (Touching him on his shoulder) This is beautiful and expensive attire. Jimmy : I wore it on my graduation day and today it's the second time. Charlie : I believe it holds special memories. Where did you buy those shoes? I like them. Jimmy : I bought them with father, specially for my graduation. Charlie : You will want to keep the memories forever, probably pass it to your son or daughter. This is where I came in, holding memories forever even after dusty, sunny and rainy days. Jimmy : Be a man and start acting like one. Liar. Charlie : It was just a white lie, and my dream everyday when I am mending someone's shoe. If the shoe has a mouth it will tell me everything. Jimmy : (In a loud voice) Liar. Charlie : I am not a liar, only tell white lies. Jimmy : What's the difference between a lie and a white lie? Charlie : A lie is a lie, but a white lie is a lie you can write on with different colours. Jimmy : You are still a small boy. Charlie : I am not a small boy. (Angry) I work hard everyday. The little I have I send it home, and some of it paid your fees. Do you remember you once wrote me a letter asking for money? I never complained or asked you questions, I send it. So I am not a small boy, and I never lied to father. I only shared my dreams with him of becoming in the top ten of the richest men here. Jimmy : If you told the truth about what you are doing. Charlie : I make money. That is important to me, nothing else, and I am in number 5 of the richest men here. (Jimmy sitting down) At least I am getting there. Jimmy : I hope my suit won't be dirty Charlie : There's no manna from heaven here. You work hard to survive. If you are not wise enough you won't see any fruits of your hard labour. Jimmy : You left home just to be a shoe maker? Charlie : I don't steal or kill anyone. I stay at the corner and people bring in their shoes. I mend them. That's all that's my profession, Dr Anabe. Its good to have a Dr in the family. Living in this country you will know life. Jimmy : So that's all you have to say about yourself? If you were asked to comply a C.V. about yourself - you will say I am a shoe maker. Father sent you to school to be a shoe maker! What a shame, you must be ashamed of yourself. Shoe making is for illiterate people, not you. Charlie : That's life brother. Sometimes the wind blows you in things you don't want to be. Jimmy : You can't accept everything wrong in you life and blame it on the wind. You have to fight and debate with it. Nothing must put you down. (Knock on the door) Charlie : That must be John. He finish around this time (Opening the door and John with his trolley enters) How was business today? John : As usual Charlie : Meet my brother. Dr Anabe, fresh from the University. (John gives him his hand and Jimmy looks the other side) John : I also studied accountantcy for two years, and now I am cutting peoples' hair everyday. Anyway that's the beginning. Next year I might go to Witwatersrand University, maybe after that they will believe me. (Pushing the trolley to the balcony. Inside the trolley is a poster of different hair-cuts and prices) Anyway, I still do count money. That's what accounting is all about - money. Charlie : He is very good in his mathematics. (After pushing the trolley to the balcony he comes back) John : Welcome abroad, brother. Soon you will be missing home. The food, your family but you will never miss your girl. Jimmy : I will always miss my girl. John : It's normal we all been through that. I will see you later, I left my darling down stairs (leaves) Charlie : He is a hard worker Jimmy : Him, a hard worker? Charlie : He is a hard worker. We are all hardworkers. I don't steal or kill. I stay at the corner and people bring their shoes, I mend them. Then I had to pay protection fees to those Banjo'd banjoed South African boys, and again to the policeman just to be friendly with them. When we are setting out for the day we don't know what is going to happen. How much money we will get. Jimmy : Do you trade on licensed streets? Charlie : What's the licence for? Jimmy : Rather than taking all the risk - why don't you look for a job? Charlie : You think in this country, being a foreigner, you will get a job? (Door opens - another trolley comes in pushed by another man) What's wrong, brother, you look sad but the trolley is empty? Olivier : Sadness is not the right word to describe my sorrow. (Sitting on the bed) Charlie : Don't tell me they took your stock again, those lazy tsotsi's. Olivier : (Ready to pour his tears) Today is worse, I lost everything. The police were chasing about three tsotsi's, just when I was laying my stock. One of them fell into my tomatoes, and everything was flying all over. When I turn around to look what is going to happen next, also for the coast to be cleared, people came and took all my vegetables and fruits that were on the floor. I was left with only one bag of onions because I was standing next to it. These people are so cruel. They were supposed to help me. They only think of free tomatoes and bananas. Most of them were squished. Charlie : You see brother the hardship we endure everyday? Olivier : I lost today. It will take me another three to four weeks to pick up again. Charlie : Olivier, this is my brother Doctor Anaba. The pride of our family. Olivier : (Stretching his hand to shake his hand) Brother, welcome to Johannesburg. (Jimmy folds his arms) Charlie : I just graduated from University after years of hardship. Olivier : Hardship is staying in this country. Jimmy : What do you know about hardship? Olivier : You don't have to graduate from University before you know what hardship is. Life is a challenge. Jimmy : Selling vegetables and fruits in the street is not a challenge. That's the work of a lazy woman. Olivier : (in an angry voice) Are you calling me a woman? You don't know me, you don't know my problems and the circumstances that lead me in doing this. You stay away from my business - I will stay away from your business. You don't have the manner of approaching a person. Manners make a man. Jimmy : Selling tomatoes doesn't make you a man. Olivier : You talk too much because you don't know anything. You are just an empty tin, and you are making too much noise. Jimmy : I am not. I have a career and good, very good qualifications. Olivier : (He stands up and pushes the trolley to the balcony) You are just new. After two or three months you will be telling a different story. Jimmy : I can't believe I am in Johannesburg. Maybe I landed at the wrong airport. Charlie : You are in the right place and you are also lucky - because I am here for you. Olivier : (Coming back from the balcony) You think by showing them your qualifications they will believe you? And they will give you good job just like that? Jimmy : I will soon work in the hospital, the big Baragwanath hospital. Olivier : You will be lucky if they call you for an interview just to tell that you bought your qualification, or they were printed on today's computer technology. They don't have real proof that you really qualifed. They cannot call Accra because they don't have enough funds to do that. If you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth they will employ you as a barefoot doctor and underpay you with long hours of no pay. So, my brother, if I were you I would simply cut my wings. But, before saying anything, it is to your advantage to learn the full facts first. (The door opens again and 2 trolleys enter and are pushed to the balcony) Charlie : This is my brother Jimmy and that's Lucky and Victor. They are working for me. After a month or two they will start their own business. Jimmy : You mean cheap trade on the streets? Charlie : I started like that. Most of the boys I stay with started like this. We are brothers, we help each other to survive in this foreign country. We live as one. As long as you are from Ghana, you're our brother if you want no obligation. One good brother deserves another. Olivier : I never saw your brother in Ghana. I don't know anything about his tribe, his parents, brothers or sisters but I love him as my brother. We live together. (The door opens again. Enter 2 men with two big bags, followed by 3 ladies) Charlie : Brothers, meet my brother. That's Ben and Sammy. They sell jeans, bags and belts. They are big men. Ben : (Stretching his hand to greet Jimmy, no response from him) Welcome to Johannesburg. Charlie : Lucy, come and shake your future brother in law. Lucy : (She comes closer to him and shakes his hand) It's nice to meet you. Jimmy : Kojo, can I talk you for a minute? (coming closer to him) What about Nana Yaw? She is waiting for you purely, and the boy is a big man - now he resembles you. Charlie : I know my responsibilities, and I never run away from them. I send money to her. I am a man, I can't be alone. She knows that I love her and one day I will come back to her. Jimmy : What about her? Charlie : Mewea Beema *, she is beautiful. Look at her well-built beautiful figure, her short hair. I love everything about about her Jimmy : O baa Ahocfe*. She looks spruce. (Disturbed by Lucy) Lucy : Zodwa is having a new pair of the latest jeans. Can you buy me a pair? Charlie : Okay love, I will buy you a pair. Lucy : I'll prepare your favourite meal. Rice and curry stew. (Giving them some space) Jimmy : Where did you meet her? Charlie : At a night club. Lucy knows how to take care of a man by everything. There are lots of beautiful girls here, but if you want one you must not be afraid to spend, especially when you have just met, to lure her. You don't have to worry about that because I am here to guide you. (to Olivier) How are you going to buy her that dress now? Olivier : These girls, they love money. Sometimes I doubt they even loves us. Money, money is all that is important to them. No money - no love, no nothing. (Enter John and his girl. They sit down other on the floor) Charlie : Ladies, meet our brother Jimmy. Girls : Hullo. (Continue watching television.) (Jimmy sits in his chair his head facing down. A well-dressed man in a black designer-suit comes in and speaks to Charlie in the bathroom then leaves.) Charlie : I warn him, I tried to talk to him about this Bait and Switch business. Anyway money is the devil. It has the power to change a person and also can put you in jail. Olivier : It's Jack, that naughty boy? Charlie : He's been arrested. There is no bail for him. Olivier : I feel sorry for him. They will find out that he is using forged Identity Documents. That will take time, then the trial. Charlie : What a shame. Olivier : When we tell this boy in easy money there are 3 things - survival, jail or death. Why take a risk because you live once? Jimmy : Who is this man who was here? That's the man for my status. Olivier : You judge a man by his appearance and clothes? Charlie, talk to your brother before he find himself in a dungeon full of lions. Jimmy : As black and ugly as I am - I know down deep in my heart I am a good man. Olivier : You see us wearing our dirty overalls. You laugh at us, it's okay but we are not drug dealers or crime makers. We earn our money honestly. Charlie : We tell this boy let's live as brothers because we are far away from our country. We did whatever we did to be here. So here we are. Some of us can't even afford to buy a ticket to send us back home. We don't have back or front anymore - we are stuck in this miserable country Olivier : Do you think if I die now the Government will send my body back to my country instead of buying houses for themselves? At least if you are here as my brother you will write a letter to my family. I don't know if after I die you will tell them what happened or if you will donate money and send my body back home to be buried. It's even worse because of the papers we are holding - they don't even tell the truth about ourselves. Charlie : What's you new surname, Olivier? Olivier : The old one. It nearly put in me trouble because I couldn't pronounce the surname very well but now I am Mr George Linda Molefe. (Not prouncing right) I am a Zulu man. Lucy : Molefe. And you are not a Zulu you are a Sotho.
Ben : That man is a snake. Selling his own brother. (A girl crying stands up and leaves the room) Sam : That's the boy's girlfriend and she is three month pregnant. She's not working. Jimmy : Stupid girl! How can she allow herself to be pregnant by someone she knows for few months. Who knows, maybe the boy is even married back home. Olivier : The girl fell in love. Jimmy : She fell in love and lost her brains. Sam : Hey Jimmy! (In a loud voice ) Why don't you buy one of our jeans? With that suit they will mock you. It's like you are advertising yourself to the tsotsi's Jimmy : Where is your self esteem? Are you ashamed of what you are and your roots? (Standing up) I am a Ghanaian and I am proud of that! Olivier : We all proud of what we are but sometimes if you are in Rome do as the Romans do. Charlie : We do have special events where we wear our clothes. Eat the food we like. Oh! mewea Beema* - this is another country. I can't open a bank account, it's hard to get one. They want payslips we don't have, and sometimes we are not even sure of the I.D. we are holding, how clean they are. This is also why our First National Bank trust is so important to us. Money is why we are here. Olivier : Anything wrong they blame us. Anything good is them. Jimmy : Oh! My God, megye di,* - I cannot believe this. I am in a bad dream. Why do I have to witness things I don't want to believe are happening? Someone must say something to your families. Charlie : What do you take us for.? You think we are banana men? We report everything home? No, we are not like that. The bad things ends here and good ones off they fly home, first class. Olivier : Anyway if you want the cream you must take the kicks. John : You worry too much, brothers. Loosen up. (He goes to the balcony and comes back with a cassette player, switches it on and start imitating the song) Lucy : Not that song again. (All of the guys join him and few minutes later the tape cuts out. They don't notice for some time.) John : What's wrong with this tape? (Taking the tape out) Oh my tape! Where am I going to find another one? That's the only thing I was left with when I was robbed on my first day here. Zodwa : Anyway it was boring. John : It's because you don't know the meaning of the song. Zodwa : What the meaning of the song then? Sam : It will be like wasting of time explaining to her because she is a not foreigner, and she never travelled. Lucia: Let's try this one. (They put the tape on) Makwerekwere,Kwerekwere. (All of them stand and dance even Jimmy) Jimmy : Makwerekwere (jiggling his body around going closer to the girls) What's the meaning of the song, pretty lady? Zodwa : It means you are so much loved by people here because you are so special. (Jimmy sings the song with a high voice) I like the music, the beat and the rhythm. (When the song is about to finish two girls enter) Girl : Is there a party here? I love this song. Come on let's dance. (To Zodwa) Who is that one, he looks fresh from Ghana? (Dancing nasty) Zodwa : He arrived today. Jimmy : (to Charlie) Oh that was good! I enjoyed myself after dancing with all the girls - but, brother (In a low voice) don't you think it's time for your friends to leave. I need a rest. I had a long journey. Charlie : They all live here. Jimmy : (Shocked) All of them? Charlie : Yes Jimmy : I am tired of things I cannot explain. Tell them to tell their lady friends to leave. Charlie : They all sleep here. Jimmy : Mewea Beema!* - I really don't mind sleeping in the room full of man but not girls. Charlie : I know it's not easy but it will be soon. Jimmy : How I am I going to take my trousers off?. There's no girl who is going to see the colour of my underpants, only my Abena. John : You will soon find a substitute for her. (Everybody is taking their mattresses and preparing their place to sleep) Charlie : I own the place so I get the bed, and you can share the bed with me and Lucy for only tonight. Jimmy : No! (Shaking his head) I really can't believe this. I can't sleep with you. I believe what happens between two people under the blanket is private. John : Everything is under the blanket, so it's private. Boys, tonight no noise to respect our new brother. (He switch off the television) Charlie : After two or three days you will be okay. Jimmy : (his head facing down) I can't believe what I am seeing and hearing! You have helped us a lot at home, even myself. All these years you live like this and you never say a word. Somebody must say something. Charlie : Are you crying? Don't worry, here I am nobody but home I am somebody. Jimmy : (Still facing downwards) I really cannot believe this. People living like this! Meyankopon!*
Charlie : (Switching of the light) There's only one rule I have for you. We can share everything but not my girl. (Curtains close)
Ghanain words
Zulu words
Music by Kojo Antwii and Penny Penny
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