Half of a Yellow Sun Page #4

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Would you like to read this?

Yes. Thank you.

They have finally removed

that Igbo vice-chancellor

from the University of Lagos,

it's on the back cover.

Oh?

The problem with the Igbo people

is that they want to control everything

in this country, everything.

They own all the shops,

they control the Civil Service,

even the police.

If you are arrested for a crime,

as long as you can say "keda",

they will let you go.

And now, with this coup,

they control the army.

We say "kedu", not "keda".

It means, "How are you?"

- Are you Igbo?

- Yes.

- But you have the face of a Fulani.

- Igbo.

Master looks like somebody

that is crying every day...

- Put my blender in the carton.

- Yes, mah.

Mah, please forgive Master.

- Put the blender in the car.

- Yes, mah.

Do the guests still come

in the evenings?

Not like before, mah,

when you were around.

- But they still come?

- Yes.

And your master still plays tennis

and goes to the staff club?

Yes.

Good.

- What is it?

- Amala is pregnant.

What?

Mama just came to tell me that

Amala is pregnant with my child.

Please, let me come in.

Please.

We will do whatever you want.

Whatever you want, let's do it together.

You said it happened just once.

Just once and she got pregnant.

- It was just once.

- Just once, I see.

I told Mama I'd send Amala

to Dr Okonkwo in Enugu.

She said it would be

over her dead body.

She said Amala will have the child

and she will raise the child herself.

Mama planned this thing

from the beginning.

I see now how she made sure

I was dead drunk

before sending Amala to me.

I feel as if I have been dropped

into something that I...

...I don't entirely understand.

Nobody dropped you into anything!

- I thought it was you.

- Oh!

How are you? Are you all right?

I'm very well.

I can't decide whether to get

the Bordeaux or the Burgundy.

Can I help?

Why don't I buy both

and if you'll share them with me,

we can decide which is better.

Can you spare an hour? Or do you

have to run back to your writing?

I would hate to impose on you, really.

Of course you wouldn't be imposing.

Besides, you've never visited me...

...in my flat.

You really must write about the horrific

things the British did in Kenya.

Didn't they cut off testicles?

- Didn't they?

- Yes.

You should write about it then.

- Do you have a title for your book?

- "The Basket of Hands. "

"The Basket of Hands"...

Sounds macabre.

It's about labour.

The good things we achieved.

The railways, for example, but...

...also how labour was exploited

and the lengths

the colonial enterprise went to.

- My glass isn't quite empty.

- No, it's not.

Come and sit on the floor with me.

I should leave.

(EARTHA KITT:
': "Santa Baby")

...Santa Baby, and fill my stocking

with a duplex and cheques

Sign your "X" on the line,

Santa Baby...

Do you want anything, mah?

These look very well.

Did you use fertiliser?

- Yes, mah.

- And on the peppers?

Yes, mah. Mah?

Mama used bad medicine

on my master, mah.

Rubbish!

Let's get married.

Mama will leave us alone then.

I slept with Richard.

No.

Yes.

Do you have feelings for the man?

No.

You have no feelings for him, then why?

Olanna?

Is your master in?

- Is your master in?

- Thank you, Harrison.

I want you to stay away from my house!

Do you understand me?

Stay away!

Are we still trying to have a child?

Of course we are.

Or aren't we?

Get me some brandy,

my good man.

Give that to Odenigbo.

Tell him Amala has refused to touch her.

Mama doesn't want to keep the baby.

There's a young man

doing timber work in Ondo

that Amala is to marry.

Mama doesn't want to keep the baby?

She wanted a boy.

I've spoken to Amala's people.

We've agreed that

the baby will stay with them.

I'll go to Abba next week

to see them and discuss...

We'll keep her.

Our relationship is the most

important thing to me,Nkem.

We have to make

the right decision for us.

You weren't thinking

about our relationship

when you got her pregnant.

Let's think about this.

- How noble of you.

- I'm not being noble.

- Will you adopt her formally?

- Yes, I think so.

What will you tell her?

- What will I tell her?

- Yes, when she's older.

The truth...

that Amala is her mother.

And I'll have her call me

Mummy Olanna or something,

so that if Amala ever comes back,

she can be Mummy.

You're doing this

to please the revolutionary.

- I'm not.

- Why are you doing it then?

She was so helpless.

I felt as if I knew her.

I think this is a very brave decision.

Will you come back

for her christening?

Yes. Of course, I will.

- This is excellent, Harrison.

- Thank you, madam.

He doesn't deserve you, you know.

This tart tastes better than the one

I had the last time I was in London.

Thank you, madam.

My master is telling me that everybody

in Mr Odenigbo's house says the same.

You made it for them?

I used to make it for my master

to take there,

but I'm not making anything again

for Mr Odenigbo's house

since that time

he's shouting at my master.

Shouting like a madman

and the whole street is hearing.

The man's head is not correct.

I hope you won't say, "Forgive me. "

There is nothing more trite.

Please don't leave.

Leave? That would be too easy,

wouldn't it?

- I'm sorry, Kainene.

- It would be forgivable

if it were somebody else not my sister!

I am so sorry.

You should sleep in the guest room.

Yes. Yes, of course.

'In May, Major General Ironsi

abolished the regions by decree.

'This was the last straw for the north.

'There were riots and Ironsi's regime

fell after barely six months.

'At Ibadan, among northern troops,

he was killed.

'Looting, rioting, ambushing

left thousands of Igbos dead.

'Northerners took advantage

of the confusion

'to work off their long pent up anger

at the economic success of the Igbos

'who migrated into their own region. '

Anything to declare, sir?

- No. I'm going on to London.

- OK. Well done, sir.

Where are you from?

I'm from Obosi.

My fiance is from Umunnachi,

not far from you.

- Your fiance, sir?

- Yes. Her name is Kainene.

You speak Igbo, sir?

You speak...

My name is Nnaemeka.

- Nice talking to you...

- Thank you, sir.

We have here

a little technical difficulty!

A small problem that can be

resolved very simply!

I want all our foreign visitors

together over here.

This way, sir.

Passports!

Bring out your passports!

Where's your passport?

It's at home, sir.

I haven't got it on me here, sir.

- You are Igbo?

- Yes, sir.

- Come, my brother.

- Yes, sir.

Turn the page

Passports!

Show me your passport!

- Which church you go to?

- I'm Catholic.

You're Catholic? That's nice.

What is the name of the church?

- Saint Dominic's.

- Saint Dominic's, ah...

Listen, just wait for me

a minute over here.

Passport!

Get up! Come on!

Move! Right now!

Please, please.

Please, don't.

OK, line them up!

Let me out of the car.

Stop the car!

What's happening here?

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