Creative Chaos

BY

Testimony Jesutofunmi

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 SCENE 1

Light slowly comes on stage revealing a group of people cutting across all genders in a fitted
black and black attire littered all over the room communicating inaudibly. A man (The set
designer) stands on a ladder that enables him to hang some paintings on the wall, while the
other two guys add some revolutionary murals. A canvas and a set of colors is set in the centre of
the stage.
After a while, the inaudible but peaceful conversation metamorphosis into a rising but audible
chaos. Each one trying to beat the other as the noise begins to swell.
Instantly, a man in a black turtleneck but with Igbo prints, and a modern Yoruba native sokoto,
and a Hausa cap comes on stage and screams "STOP" which makes everyone freeze in the
moment before trying to retract off the stage as though nothing happened.

MAN: If you move, if you move. I'm going to beat you blue black and ensure that when you get
to heaven to receive your judgement, the angel on duty won't recognize who the hell you are.
(Pauses) on your knees all of you. What's the meaning of this rubbish? Is this why we are here?
Instead of brainstorming, you're acting like there is a storm in your brain, acting like overfed
children. Now all of you out…except the leader of each department!

They all exit the stage remorseful

ACTOR, MUSICIAN, ARTIST: We are sorry sir

MAN: Sorry for yourselves. What the hell happened here?

They all chorus the response pointing accusatory fingers at each other. The man screams
"STOP"
There is a moment of silence

Now talk one one. You (pointing to the artist)

ARTIST: We were actually brainstorming as a group on how we could best communicate our
ideas to the government. As you know, my art is the highest form of expression and the most
powerful way to communicate ideas, so when I suggested we do an abstract caricature of the
government maltreating the citizens, our uncles here began shouting.

MAN: Why do you think your art is the best o?

ARTIST: Thank you for that question sir, my art can be understood by even the physically
impaired e.g deaf, dumb, blind …

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MUSICIAN AND ACTOR: you're a liar, blind as how, deaf and dumb ke…

they both starts singing "why you to dey lie like this"

MAN: Shuuuuut up! Mr. Artist continue

ARTIST: A deaf and dumb person can be communicated to through my art, but a musician and
an actor can't communicate to a deaf and dumb person. Also, since ancient times, people have
used images to communicate, such as Egyptian hieroglyphics. Words are not the primary means
of conveying ideas in visual art. Even in history, when some mobs wanted to lynch a woman and
they asked a wise man, he said "he who hasn't sin should cast the first stone" but they all stood,
but the moment he started drawing on sand they all picked race leaving their weapons behind

ACTOR AND MUSICIAN: Liar, were you there?

ARTIST: history was there

ACTOR AND MUSICIAN: liar, were you there?

MAN: history was, that's his story. Now ogbeni Musician what happened?

The musician does a run-on-scales and sings almost all his dialogue

MUSICIAN: Thank you for the opportunity given to me to express my mind, may your name be
highly honored, may you never lack, your mummy will not die…

ARTIST, AND ACTOR: story, story

They sing "this is super story"

MAN: Shut up y'all, why are you so unruly? Anyways it isn't your fault since you have
WhatsApp stickers than money

ALL: ah!

MAN: Abbreviation! Mr. Musician now hit the nail on the head

ACTOR: Sir, he is not the carpenter, let me call the carpenter

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He tries to go offstage

MAN: shut up, oya squat! Oya musician go on soun

MUSICIAN: You mean I should hit the note on the head

MAN: I mean if you act stupid again, I will hit this note on your head! Mr actor stand up bee be

MUSICIAN: Sorry sir. He has explained the beginning sir, but I only tried to correct him that
my art is older than his which makes mine the best form of communication to communicate our
intention to the government since we have tried it in the past and it worked. Also the oldest form
of visual arts are the cave paintings from Lasceau France which are about 17,000 years ago, but
the neanderthal flute was used about 60,000 years ago which means music has been existing on
or before that time. More attention is paid to my art by the poor, rich, powerful person's, poor,
even demons, that was why history recorded a shepherd playing flute for a king and the evil
spirit in the king ran away. If his art is the best, how many artist have been arrested for activism
compared to musicians

ARTIST: liar, liar, how about Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Chris Burden, Jean Touche,
Maseko,Wangchen…..

ACTOR: Mr. Artist, sorry to talk o, but he didn't deny it now, he said yours is not as compared
and as outrageous as his.

MAN: Mr. Actor, what happened?

ACTOR: Nothing, me I was just kuku supporting the two of them knowing fully well I am their
daddy's daddy, I can do all they do, but they are limited to their skills. I have been actively
involved in all, including change of government. You can name it. I'm Jack of all trade jare OGA
mi sir, I rest my case.

ARTIST: Ashewo talent, gbogbo lowo

MUSICIAN: Aristo

ACTOR: Prostitution of talents isn't a sin, if it's, you can call Aristotle and Aristo too.

He hisses

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MAN: You all should come in (They come in looking remorseful) sit and make me a solemn
humming. You're all working for this corrupt government indirectly, your division says it all. The
artist can paint the revolution, but without the musician's catchy tune, no one will listen to the
message. And without the actor's performance, the message will fall flat.

They spread out on both flanks of the stage, the group of musicians starts humming while the
artists make beats by hitting their brushes together, the actors act it out.

Once upon a time, in a world where creativity and revolution went hand in hand, there lived an
artist, a musician, and an actor. One day, they were sitting around, discussing how they could
bring about change to their society.

The artist said, "I can paint pictures of the revolution. I'll use bright colors and bold strokes to
show the people what we're fighting for."

The musician replied, "And I'll write a song that captures the spirit of the movement. It'll be a
catchy tune that everyone can sing along to."

The actor chimed in, "And I'll use my acting skills to bring our message to life. I'll put on a
one-man show that will inspire people to join our cause."

But didn't think of working together, and they all failed woefully.

Eventually, they brought their arts together. The artist, actor, and musician begin to work
together, creating a performance art piece that combines their talents. The stage lights up as the
painting comes to life, accompanied by the musician's music and the actor's storytelling. The
audience is captivated by the performance, and a revolution is born

ALL: hmm

MAN: Now let's create the storm we are here to ignite. Musicians, sing us songs that matches
our cause

MUSICIANS: Yes captain.

The whole stage begin to sing a revolutionary Acapella.

MAN: Actors I want movements that swirls up with the sounds

ACTORS: Yes captain

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The actors begin to move their bodies through choreographed movements

MAN: Very good, we are getting there! Now artists I want revolutionary prints on these
cardboards. When you're done, we all hold it and March out to the state house.

ARTISTS: Yes cap!

They begin different sketches and designs.

THE MAN goes to the centre of the stage and writes on the canvas "A CREATIVE CHAOS"

MAN: A single finger doesn't weave a cloth, we bodies of art are here to give to the masses
what's rightfully theirs, we are tired of raising our kids as runners, because in this country the
first thing you learn is running, we are all runners, if not chasing our dreams something is
chasing us and if you don't learn how to run, if wahala sup, Dem go run you. They promised to
work on agriculture, but they eventually worked on a greed culture, they promised us change,
now they've changed their promises, they gave us manifestos that didn't later manifest o. But
now we are fed up, not with food but with their failed promises, we are tired! Are we not tired?

ALL: We are tired!

At this point, the artists are done with their illustration

The songs become more aggressive as the actors dances in an energetic way while the artists
hands them different colors of cardboards.
They dance for a while before marching out of the stage.

Light out.

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