The title of the play is the kind that makes you
want to read the story again and again. The drama explores the corruption of
some Muslims in the distribution of funds provided to them for the maintenance
of mostly orphans.
The opening scene introduces us to Hajia Nura and
her daughter A’aisha. I would describe A’aisha as the one who reveals to us the
reality of what happens to the funds given to such corrupt people. The next
scene shows us the discussion between Mallam Ibrahim and his colleague Ustaz
Hussein. However, Jamal “The mad but wise
man,’’ interrupts them. He is a character who educates us on various
Islamic principles such as the etiquette of replying to a greeting. In scene 3,
the Narrator tells us about Abdul Laah. We see the household of Mallam Ibrahim
and I’m sure that female readers would be in awe at how Mallam Ibrahim showers
gifts on his wife and looking at his household on the surface, most women would
wish to have husbands like him but would that be the case after reading
further?
The flashback in scene 4 provides us with a
better understanding of Jamal’s life. In scene 5, the household of Ustaz
Hussein is also seen and this is where my admiration for him begins. Mallam
Mohammed pays Ustaz Hussein a visit to ask him for help with Abdul Laah’s
education and he gives them more than they had requested. This gesture might
seem to be as a result of guilt or show off but I believe that even with that
some of us would be happy that at least he has conscience which pricks him from
time to time. His wife is not happy about his gesture and here we see the
belligerent nature of Anty Munira.
Maame Sakina’s disappointment over the real
nature of her husband’s job is also brought to bear in scene 6. She is consoled
by her brother Mallam Mohammed. Abdul Laah’s predicament is further made clear
to us when his uncle, Baaba Iddrisu, drives him out of his house. This brings
out the reality of what it feels like to be an orphan. It is not for nothing
that Allah (SWT) repeatedly informs us in the Qur’an to not take the
possessions of the Orphan and to not turn away the orphans when they come to us
such as in Surah Al Ma’un (1-2) which say; “Have
you seen one who denies the Day of Judgment? Who turns away the orphan.’’
This calls for some reflection.
In scene 7, we see Jamal as a cured person now
and married to Hajia Nura. In their conversation, we realize Hajia Nura
actually lost her other daughter during her years of struggle, which Jamal
blames himself for. Baaba Iddrisu also collapses as he chase after Abdul Laah.
In scene 8, Anty Munira is angry at her husband for wanting to quit his
business and vows in her words, “To take
it up.’’ Maame Sakina is surprised at her and informs her of the disgust
she has for the kind of business their husbands do. In scene 9, Mallam Ibrahim
laments about some of his problems which included his wife’s threat to leave
him, the collapse of his projects and the deterioration of his health.
In the final scene, we see Sheikh Nuruddeen, a
key donor to Mallam Ibrahim and Ustaz Hussein’s orphan project. He is a man
worthy of emulation. Having been an orphan from childhood, he makes it his job
to fund such orphan projects. Mallam Ibrahim and Ustaz Hussein are exposed,
they ask for forgiveness and they pledge to change their ways. Ustaz Hussein is
my favourite. It may seem like the wrong choice to make but I see him with a
different eye. I see a man who had a conscience. A man who had shown signs of
guilt; a man who had a difficult wife but still stood his grounds.
To conclude, ‘’Fire in the Belly’’ is a play that
focuses on the ills of our society and at the same time provides us with the
hope that when we realize our mistakes, things can get better.
Halidatu
Jafar
University of Ghana
CHRAJ
(National Service)
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