30 Powerful Quotes and Analysis from Bosede Afolayan’s Once Upon An Elephant

            Bosede Ademilua Afolayan Known to be the author of this book,she hails from ilogbo-Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local government area of Ekiti State Nigeria ,she’s an Associate Professor at the department of English ,University of Lagos.She was born on the 25th of July,1965 at Ikole Ekiti this book was said to have been published at 2013 and 2015 by Kraft books located in Ibadan,the play tells the story of Olaniyonu,and a self-proclaimed mighty Ajanaku (Elephant) and also talks about Serubawon who manipulated the kinship process ,now lets divert to the topic of the day which is quotes and analysis of each one seen in the book :

QUOTES AND ITS ANALYSIS:

1. “A huge dirt on a white clothe”

      Analysis: These quotes can be seen at chapter six of the drama Once Upon an Elephant whose author is known to be called Bosede Ademilua Afolayan. The context of this quote means something that’s bad that completely spoils the good reputation or behaviour one might have built over decades ,it completely overshadows the good deed that the individual might have set for him/herself either in the past or presently.

    The Personality of the individual might be of good behaviour ,pure intention and loving heart but maybe due to an offence carried out by the person or even when a person is labelled of an atrocity or crime ,it would surely lead to the person losing the respect and pride he/she once had making that individual a laughing stock within that society.

    In the context of this text ,Ajanaku who was the village head and also a tyrant king was speaking to Serubawon one of the Guide of hunters and Elders because of the way iya agba who was the wife to the former king Akinjobi,iya agba who seems to have know the secrete of Ajanaku Child birth ,she knows Ajanaku real father (who was Serubawon,that has been hiding the truth all along making Ajanaku believe that the late king Akinjobi was his real father depriving Ajanaku the right to Know the truth and also know his family.

2. “A  black pigeon in a poultry of well-breds fowls”:

      Analysis:This quote can be seen in chapter six of the play,This quote simply means an Uncultured person,that is someone who does not fit with the group they find themselves in,because in this case a black pigeon is mostly unusual and also an unexpected type because pigeon are mostly grey in nature,a poultry of well-bred fowls is a group that is uniform in nature ,which is what Iya agba made sure Ayanaku reign lack during his time as king , she didn’t make him feel like a king he is rather she tormented him ,looked down on him ,made him feel inferior .

The author uses metaphor in this quote to illustrate the social prejudice and the pain of not being accepted ,it just like nesting a black bird amidst various flocks of bird that are of white of colour the bird’s colour would obviously standout and it would be obvious this was the same way Ajanaku felt ,he was feeling so insulted ,lost and confused by what was going on ,on why iya agba was addressing in such tone by calling him a bastard not even minding the position, hierarchy and title he might have obtained to her he gained his power by passing strange means like making the former king Akinjobi (who Ajanaku sees as his real father) ,he was so troubled that he had to ask Serubawon what iya agba was talking about and why she addressed him as a bastard).

3. “Salute to the Elephant”

      Analysis:This quote means more than one thing ,Elephant known to be a large animal in size and nature with the size it has it can surely trample on other animals that beneath his size that’s how Ajanaku wanted to feel to be treated with utmost respect and acknowledgement,he wanted everyone to shower him with respect that he even went as afar as even trying to make himself an immortal,he lacked the respect especially from iya agba who he addressed as a mad woman.because just like it is in nature ,no animal challenges elephant due to its size that’s how it is in the play, no one dares challenge the ruler but iya agba was ready to defile that rule by tormenting his reign, power which Ajanaku and Serubawon (his father who claims not to be) wanted they didn’t get, because one thing that makes a leader a good one is the way he treats his subordinate ,way he came into power and if his followers/the ruled throws their support for him which was something that wasn’t visible during Ajanaku reign ,he lacked all this because Serubawon brought him into power by making the former king(Akinjobi) pass through a strange ailment that took his life .so iya agba who knew something was wrong made sure to find the truth by seeing Ajanaku as an Enemy,.

4. “He is Ajanaku, more than I have caught a glimpse of something huge ,awesome ,imposing, even impregnable like a rock”.

      Analysis: This quote reveals the immense power and symbolic stature of Ajanaku(The Elephant), within the world of Once Upon an Elephant.The speaker is expressing that Ajanaku is not just an ordinary being one casually observes ;every moment spent in his presence creates an unforgettable impression.The description of Ajanaku as “Impregnable like a rock” adds another layer to his personality,Ajanaku is portrayed as the kind of leader or guardian whose stability reassures others.His presence communicates that there is safety and order in the forest.

5. “Ajanku”

      Analysis :Ajanaku Known to called Elephant in the yoruba heritage ,Ajanaku is not just a person or animal you see casually ,when you see him even for a moment you immediately sense something powerful,majestic, and unshakable, Ajanaku in the play was a tyrant king he represented a symbol of  power ,respect,and natural leadership but lacked that at the presence of Iya agba ,she didn’t fear deprived him of his respect and pride as a leader which troubled him a lot because of the insult she labelled on him.

6. “I’snt  he really showing the strength and behaving like Ajanaku”

      Analysis:The quote expresses admiration and recognition .what the speaker mean by this quote is they are comparing the character ‘s actions to the noble qualities of Ajanaku .In this story ,Ajanaku is not just an elephant he represents a pillar of strength, a leader who commands respect a pillar of strength, a leader who commands respect, and a figure of calm but overwhelming power . So when a character behaves “like Ajanaku “, it means they are rising above ordinary behaviour ,showing bravery. Ajanaku was speaking with Serubawon when he made this quote that can be seen in Chapter 3 of the book.

 

7. “My palace”

     Analysis: A palace which is known to be a high place where kings and queens reside is dominant in this play,because that where Ajanaku reside this quote was addressed by Iya Agba when speaking to Ajanaku who asked her to get out from his palace, a palace carried a heritage on past records of king ,a palace is the seat of leadership. By saying my palace the character means they have the right to make decisions and rule with utmost power.

8. “Did you Insult the king”

      Analysis: A king is known for his rulership and authority,when he makes a decree one must follow .This quote can be found in Chapter 7 of the play ,the speaker is asking whether someone has shown disrespect to the highest authority(The king,Ajanaku) in the land ,the line can also mean that the character being questioned has been reported or suspected of making a rebellious or rude statement about the ruler of that land.

 

9. In Chapter 3, “The hedgehog does not live in the grassland,but in the forest ,certain things are proper ,certain things that are not.” This was said by Odejimi

      Analysis:

 

10. In Chapter 4, “Our people don’t bother much about things which do not threaten their peace”

     Analysis: This was said by Iya Agba and implies that as long as nothing negatively affects them during the king’s reign they see no need to be against it unknown that there would be repercussions at the end .Everyone is unbothered in the village regarding the new king because it doesn’t affect or threaten them.

11. “Nobody tells the blind that fire is burning. If he can not see it, at least he can feel the heat, and smell the smoke coming from it.”

      Analysis: This was said also by Iya Agba and shows that at the end everyone would see what they accepted to rule over them once the village is in chaos and the system affects all the individuals living in it.

12. “Wrapping the hilt in leather will not keep a machete from breaking loose.”

Analysis: This was also said by Iya Agba to Serubawon who lives in deceit and deceives Ajanaku and others for his personal gain, he deceives the king who is his best friend and medicine man by copulating with the King’s wife, Adebisi who later bore Ajanaku and is taken as the King’s son but the truth is later revealed as the play draws to an end that Serubawon is Olaniyonu’s father. Hence the phrase is talking about Serubawon’s hideous acts.

13. “The leper said two things, one of which is a lie; he said after he had struck his child with his palm, he also punched him severely with his fingernails.”

      Analysis: This was a song picked up by the Chorus from Iya Agba to Ajanaku. Here, Iya Agba speaks in parables showing the orality in the play, but she is seen as a mad woman, one who says nonsensical words out of boredom,but unknown to everyone all her words are true.

14. In Chapter 7, “When would I have time to insult the king, give the task of singing two hundred songs in the morning, two hundred in the afternoon, two hundred at night?

   Analysis: This was said to Odejimi by Ogundele regarding his attitude which shows hatred towards the king , and Ogundele warns him to stop that act and against working things in secret. This was said when the people of Oguno tribe came for assistance as they have been invaded by foreigners but was asked to pay a high tribute before assistance by Ajanaku thereafter Man 1 gets angry and speaks up after which the king ordered him to be stripped off his clothes and out of defence the man forwards a dagger and stabbed himself to save himself from humiliation, this act was hence condemned by Odejimi.

15. In Chapter 9, “Unless an elephant has swallowed something, it doesn’t turn its bloated stomach to the hunter.”

      Analysis: Yele says that his friends are angry because of what the king did to Odekunle but tells them to act with caution and says anger does not know that its owner has no leg to stand on, that is he is the king, powerful and influential but matters should be handled with proper care

16. “One’s hands should not be more powerful than one’s mouth.”

      Analysis: This was said by Odekunle who sees the empty boast in one of his friends’ speeches, Dele. To him, he is saying words that he can’t say at the front of the tyrannical king and actions he can’t prove at his front but rather cowardly would hide once he sees the king.

17. “Oh, how the hand of time turns and deals with us for our wrong doings.”

      Analysis: This was said by Odekunle to his friends recalling when the same Ajanaku took Delani’s wife, Omoyeni through influence, leaving the man in distress after years of serving in her father’s blacksmith but because he was an orphan, and it didn’t affect them too so they didn’t bother and also because he was not his friend but now that it had affected one of them, they used the cord of friendship to sever the cord of truth.

18. In Chapter 11, “I made you king to be useful to me. I didn’t ask you to ruin me.”

      Analysis: This was said by Serubawon in an argument with Ajanaku when everything dawned on him that the sixth virgin Ajanaku had used was Desola, his legitimate daughter, Ajanaku step sister. Serubawon, who had always known that he was Ajanaku’s father, used him to get to high positions and to maintain his positions; this was an act of greed and selfishness. Unfortunately, karma dawned on them and both lose their life at the end.

19. In Chapter 13, “The shin often forces the stream to speak out. Some matters one cannot ignore often force one to take irrational actions.”

     Analysis: This was said by Demoke after the discovery that Ajanaku had used Desola, Demoke’s daughter as the sixth virgin for the Ijedodo rites , this is revealed at Iya Agba’s place of residence as they seek her help to help restore Desola’s health that is deteriorating then also knows that she had wronged Iya Agba by testifying and swearing that Iya Agba had committed adultery, something she never witnessed . But because on the day Desola was born something good happened to Iya Agba, she thereafter saw her as her daughter and accepted to help her for that sake.  

20. “Madness grows all around here like trees. Is that not what these people say, even right there in the market?”

     Analysis: Iya Agba said this when iyale leads Demoke, Odekunle who carries Desola on his back, Yosola, Dele, Lere and Yele unknown to her that they came to her for assistance for Desola. She said this because everyone in the town had labelled her as a mad woman after Serubawon’s accusation.

21. In Chapter 14, “Whoever wishes to die a decent death should live a decent life. As one lives so one dies, and so shall one be buried”

  Analysis:This quote from iya Agba when Serubawon was announced dead by the guard during the Jobele festival. To Iya Agba , Serubawon had not lived a decent life, he copulated with his best friend second wife(Adebisi), bore Olaniyonu,and Contributed to the death of the former king(Akinjobi) so that his son who claimed to be the son of the former king unknowingly, Thereafter karma catches up with him and during the Ijedodo rites, his daughter Desola is the sixth virgin to be raped.Hence, he could not face all this and hangs himself on the Iroko tree. This also applies to Ajanaku who dies on the spot of being a mortal after Desola snatched her life back from Ajanaku.

22. “It is from childhood that the elephant has been greater than a buffalo”.

     Analysis: It is Proverbial statement that uses animal to express a deeper truth about natural greatness ,some beings are born great, with a silver spoon and some are born into a needy family where they have to struggle they have to struggle to earn an income,even though a buffalo is strong,it can never match the size and presence of an elephant.

23. “To the rafter belongs the load;the shelf only pretends”

      Analysis: A rafter is a solid beam in a roof (it holds the true weight of the building), A shelf is just a light board attached to the wall(it may look like it hold a thing,but it cannot bear the weight,so the proverb just simply means true responsibility rests on the strong capable  person.

   Some people appear to be important but do very little,pretend,look like leaders while they lack the qualities

24. “Nobody listen to the ranting of a mad woman”

      Analysis: This word said by Ajanaku has a strong value because when one is labelled as being “mad” he/she loses value ,a mad person is easily ignored,without voice and respect ,according to Ajanaku iya agba was a mad woman (because of her attitude him and Serubawon ,so he labelled her as a mad woman”.

25. “A goat in a horse stable”

     Analysis : This is someone  or something that does not in a particular space or situation,They stand out awkwardly never fit in the role,class or position they find themselves in they just pretend to be good at it or even pretend to be of high class or is aristocrat in nature,he/she just try to bypass themselves into gaining the position.

26. “I am Ajanaku,the biggest and senseless Elephant stalking the community in shameless foolishness”

     Analysis: The Statement is powerful because it combines boastfulness,shame and self-mockery all at once that is visible within the quote itself ,The text simply means Ajanaku is a great and powerful ruler, yet he acted foolishly whereby his strength has turned to his shame .

27. “What will a nestling do for its mother other than become mature and fly away”

     Analysis: A nestling(baby bird) cannot do anything for its mother except eventually he grows and takes its  flight toward the sky that symbolizes that children cannot repay their parent while they are  young ,they have to become a teenager or youth then they can start assisting their parents effort, Just as the mother bird does not expect anything from the baby bird except that it survives during climate change.

28. “Is caressing a dead body not better than killing it”

      Analysis: To caress  a dead body is to show affection after the damage has been done ,when the person can no longer feel it either dead or alive ,this quote has a deep meaning which is talking about what is the point of showing kindness after you have already caused harm to the individual,it criticizes people who hurt other then pretend to care afterwards(Hypocrites,or even people with fake sympathy) pretending to be gentle and cruel.

29. ”I am the king i am the law “

      Analysis: Ajanaku was portraying his power as the king and ruler who views himself above others ,believes he is untouchable,does not consider the opinion or moral judgement of any one else ,it also sound as a warning to any one who tries to go against the king ,question the king or even seek for his arrest due the power he has.

30. “You stand forever Plagued by your deceit”

      Analysis: This quote talks about someone who has been dishonest and deceitful,it also mean that he/she will always have the thought of the guilt of their actions ,karma must surely strike back at them and they will be constantly remembered of one’s moral failure ,it is as if the deceit becomes a living burden within the personality of the person.