A Review of Ẹfúnṣetán Aníwúrà, Ìyálóde of Ìbàdàn by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá
Ẹfúnṣetán Aníwúrà, Ìyálóde of Ìbàdàn is a play written by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá and published by University Press PLC in 1970. The book highlights the danger of cruelty in society through the life of Ẹfúnṣetán Aníwúrà, who was the second Ìyálóde in the history of precolonial Ìbàdàn.
Among the key themes in this play are cruelty, abuse of power, slavery, love, and collective justice.
Although this play has been staged many times, it was Túndé Kèlání who adapted it into a feature film in 2005. Pamela J. Smith also translated it, along with another play written by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá, into English the following year, titled Ẹfúnṣetán Aníwúrà, Ìyálóde of Ìbàdàn and Tinúubú, Ìyálóde of Ẹ̀gbá.
Summary of Ẹfúnṣetán Aníwúrà by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá
The setting of the story is the city of Ìbàdàn during the precolonial era. At this time, Ààrẹ Látòósà was the leader of Ìbàdàn, and Ẹfúnṣetán had assumed the title of Ìyálóde of Ìbàdàn. She was the second woman to hold this title in the history of Ìbàdàn.
Ẹfúnṣetán was wealthy and influential; however, she was also feared in society. Yet, something troubled her deeply—her life was incomplete because she had no child she could call her own. As a result, she acted however she pleased with the numerous slaves she owned. She treated them however she wished, killing the young among them as easily as she killed the older ones.
In the Fourth Scene, we learn that she killed “thirteen young women and twenty-three men” without mercy. One of her slaves described it as “a stream of blood flowing through the courtyard, with the heads of maidens rolling like butchered animals; necks sliced clean like plantains under a double-edged sword.”
Ẹfúnṣetán’s downfall began when she insisted on beheading her pregnant slave. The entire town pleaded with her, but she refused to listen. She went ahead and gruesomely beheaded Adétutù, who was heavily pregnant. The whole town rose against her. They collaborated with Ààrẹ Látòósà to destroy her house.
Ẹfúnṣetán became a subject of ridicule and disgrace due to her abuse of power and cruelty. She ended up taking poison when she could no longer bear the shame brought upon her by the consequences of her actions and character.
Characters
Some of the characters in Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá’s play include Ìyálóde Ẹfúnṣetán, Àjílé, Adétutù, Ìtáwuyì, and Ààrẹ Látòósà.
Ìyálóde Ẹfúnṣetán Aníwúrà is the central character. Although she is a heroic woman, her cruelty and abuse of power lead to her downfall in the play.
Àjílé is Ẹfúnṣetán’s childhood friend who warned her about the approaching attack as the entire town prepared to wage war against her.
Adétutù is the female slave who was gruesomely beheaded while pregnant.
Ìtáwuyì is the male slave who impregnated Adétutù. He also died in the process of trying to snuff out Ẹfúnṣetán’s life.
Ààrẹ Látòósà is the leader of the chiefs in Ìbàdàn. He coordinated the plan that led to Ẹfúnṣetán’s downfall.
