Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

[Instructor] Good afternoon class.

[Students] Good afternoon, Mr. Austin.

- Glad to see everyone in today.

Instead of doing work,

I decided something very important today.

I'm gonna give you guys story time.

- [Students] Yes!

- But this story is based on a true story of a princess

who saved her kingdom from an evil king.

Quiet down class, quiet down class, quiet down class.

So let's learn about this princess who saved her king.

Alyssa, you guys ready?

- Yes.

- So there was a king named King Aluku

was married to Queen Sifun.

- Sifun.

- Yes, for 15 years.

And they had no child till the gods blessed her,

the queen had finally conceived

and everyone was waiting patiently for her to have her baby.

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months,

and finally, the queen went in labor.

- [Midwife] Push!

(woman screams and cries)

(baby cries)

- My king. - Speak, woman.

- The queen has just given birth to

a very beautiful baby girl.

(speaks foreign language)

- Thank you my father.

Now, I am happy, now, I am happy.

- Your kingdom is relieved, sir.

(lightning strikes)

(dramatic music)

(elders speak unintelligibly)

- Your majesty.

- Great warriors of our land, welcome back.

I am sure you have brought me good news.

- Yes, my king.

We defeated three kingdoms and killed all the kings.

(king laughs)

- As a souvenir, we brought the heads of one of their kings.

- You have done well.

Open it, let me see.

- My king, abomination, my king.

- Give way to the king.

- My king.

- Open it.

You have done well.

I am king Zakon,

the strongest and the bravest of them all.

The most powerful and strongest of the kings.

No one dare tires from my tools, no one,

it calls for celebration. (laughs)

- Great warriors of our land, you all have done a great job.

- Thank you my elder.

- Now, you will go to the court yard

and have food and drink, a call for celebration.

Celebrations, celebrations.

- What is this celebration?

- Atakpa, eye of the gods,

what brings you to my palace this hour?

You have committed sacrilege against Nduni,

Uta and Mbide kingdoms by killing their king.

The gods says you should prepare for the great calamity

that will befall you.

- Is that so, really?

(laughs) I am so scared.

- How dare you mock the gods?

- Atakpa, would you please calm down?

Have a seat and let's drink fresh palm wine,

you can even have one for the gods.

Obviously, I know they must be thirsty and hungry now.

Sit, let's celebrate together.

- You are playing with fire, Zakon.

Get ready to face the wrath of the gods.

And when your calamity befalls you,

do not come running to me for help.

Do not say I did not warn you.

- [King] Atakpa!

At least wait and have a drink with us.

Great warriors, away to the palace courtyard

and celebrate as you shall be rewarded accordingly.

There's plenty to drink and eat.

- My king. - Go on.

Yes, it is a real celebration.

- Celebration.

- Now they know that our kingdom

is the most powerful in this territory.

(dramatic music)

- So much quiet and tranquility.

(dramatic music)

Lemme start heading back to the palace,

I'll have to come back tomorrow.

- Son of Agwan, how dare you challenge my authority?

Your father was a chief in this kingdom.

You should know better.

Do you not know what I can do to you?

- That land belongs to my father.

I know all its boundaries,

it will be unlawful for you to take that land away from me.

- Oh, shut up, shut up!

What do you know?

Ah, I can see you're being stubborn just like your father.

But let me tell you young man,

the calamity that befell your father

will equally befall you if you are not careful.

- Empty threats, all empty threats!

If I ever see you or all these your servants

on that land, I will do...

- What will you do?

- In fact, let me remain mute.

- Let him be, he's a stubborn goat.

Yes, Aneze, that's his son of Agwan,

he is just throwing tantrums.

- Father. - Yes.

- Thanks be with you my son.

- As you have said father, so be it.

- I'm going hunting.

- Ah, look at you, you look just like your father.

Where are your guards?

- Guards, I'm going alone father.

- No, that could be dangerous my son.

No, you need them,

that's why you have those horse brain guards.

- Father, you worry too much.

You have forgotten that you have an able-bodied young man.

- I know, I know, but it is dangerous,

you need them just in case.

- You have nothing to worry about.

Today, I want to hunt in quiet and tranquility.

Hunt those animals down.

(laughter)

Are you forgetting that I the bravest of them all?

But you've forgotten.

- No, no, no, no, son, no, no.

I know you are growing

more and more like your father every day,

but I your father, King Zakon,

I am the bravest of them all.

- Okay, I'm the bravest of them all after you.

- You truly are the son of your father.

Go well, my son.

- All right, thank you Father,

I'll be back in no time.

(king laughs)

(dramatic music)

(women scream)

- Princess Imaobong.

- How are you children? - Fine.

- What is it?

- We have a gift for you.

- Really?

- Oh, do you like it?

- Yes I do, thank you so much.

- Bye-bye. - Bye.

I know.

(gunshots ring out)

- I missed it, missed it.

(dramatic music)

Ah, there is nothing like fresh palm wine.

Especially when there is celebration.

It is no news that we have invaded

and defeated three kingdoms that surrounds us.

I and my great warriors,

we invaded them, took them as slaves.

We even killed their kings.

- Yes.

- My king, may you live long.

- My king!

My king, my king, have mercy,

have mercy on your maiden.

- How dare you invade my palace

and storm my palace without being invited

while I'm having my cabinet meeting?

- I'm sorry my king, my husband was found dead

hanging on a tree.

- (laughs) Her husband was found dead hanging from a tree.

What am I supposed to do?

Bring your husband back to life?

Oh, or perhaps, should I go and punish the tree? (laughs)

Woman, you know what to do.

You go and offer sacrifice to the gods

because your husband's death was sacrilegious

and the land need to be purified.

Away now, and offer your sacrifice.

- Return my husband's land, that is all I asked for.

- Ah, I see.

I see that stubbornness is deeply rooted in your family.

You have come to me for the land?

Vacate my palace now before I have you removed.

- Return my husband's land back to him,

that is all I asked for.

Guards, escort this woman out of my palace.

- Return his land back,

return my husband's land, that is all I ask for.

I won't be quiet, return his land back to him.

Return my husband's land!

Return his land!

(dramatic music)

(clears throat and grunts)

- It's getting dark, let me go home.

(ominous music)

- My king lives forever.

- Tell my son the prince

that I'd like to have a word with him.

- He hasn't returned from his hunting expedition, my king.

- What did you say? - He hasn't returned, my king.

- Are you sick or something?

You just telling me this now?

You go and gather the strong men in the land

and go in search of my son.

- Yes, my king. - Away now!

What insolence.

(ominous music)

- I should have left earlier.

(ominous music)

Who's there?

(man shouts)

- My king. - Where is my son?

- My king, we've searched and searched,

but we couldn't find him.

- You couldn't find my son?

Come here!

He couldn't find my son.

(man grunts and shouts)

You couldn't find my son.

Let this serve as warning to all of you.

If you return here without my son,

I will serve your corpse to the vultures.

Now away and find my son!

And where are you going?

(ominous music)

Now dare if you wanted to tell me, you can't find my son.

- My princess, let's go back home,

we've gone further into the forest.

- I will not leave until I've checked all my bush traps.

- The king and the queen will be worried about us.

- Is that a man?

- Princess, let's go.

Let's go back home.

- He has been injured.

- He might be dead, let's go.

Princess, you don't know this man.

- There's a chance that we can save him, guards!

- My princess. - Pick him up.

- How dare you bring a total stranger into my kingdom?

An unconscious one at that.

I mean, he could be a spy for all we know.

- No father, he is not a spy.

You don't expect me to leave an unconscious man like that.

What if he had died out there?

- Is he getting better?

- [Doctor] Yes, your majesty, it's nothing serious,

we have to give him some time.

- I see.

- I beg to take my leave.

- Now listen to me, my princess.

I know we raised you to be a kind and compassionate child,

but we also taught you to practice kindness with caution.

Else, it might end in disaster.

(man shouts)

- Prince Ubong!

- My prince! - My prince, can you hear me?

My prince!

- Prince Ubong!

- Man, I am tired.

- I'm tired, I'm famished!

- He'll be fine.

It will take some time for the dizziness to wear out.

Take care, I will come back in the evening.

- Thank you.

- My princess.

- I think this belongs to you.

- Wait.

Thank you.

- You're from the Ibwala Kingdom

and you know my father and your father are enemies.

You might just be a spy.

- I am not a spy.

Yes, I'm the crown prince of Ibwala kingdom,

the son of king Zakon, I am not a spy.

- You must keep your mouth shut,

never tell anyone that you are king Zakon's son.

- Only the gods know our fate

if we should return to the palace without the prince.

- And what do you think is our fate?

You definitely know if we return back without the prince,

we'll be beheaded by the king.

- That is it, we all will die.

- Sadly, yes, we all will die.

Remember what he did to one of us.

(speaks foreign language)

- I would rather kill myself than allow

I'm beheaded by the king.

(man grunts and shouts)

(men yell in foreign language)

- Father.

- I want you to tell this gathering

everything you know about that young man.

He's a stranger and I found him unconscious

at the time in the forest.

- Imaobong. - Father.

- The young man in question

already told me everything about himself,

that he's from Ibwala.

And not just from Ibwala, but a prince of Ibwala,

a son of king Zakon.

Are you really telling me you didn't know this?

- At the time, no father,

I met him unconscious while hunting in the forest.

He was wounded and was a total stranger,

that's why I brought him home.

- The healer said that he sustained injuries

probably from falling.

I suggest we leave him till he recovers

before taking any action.

- Princess.

- I told you not to reveal your identity to my father,

so why did you do so?

- Apologies.

It is honorable to be honest.

- Well your honor would have cost you

if my father were like your father

- Better a price than dishonor.

Your father is the kindest man I know.

Despite his rift with my father,

he still chooses to show me kindness.

- Yet I wonder why your father dislikes my father.

- I do not know, my father is a very stubborn man.

He listens to no one.

Whatever rift and grudge he has with Ebariba kingdom,

I do not partake in it, I am different.

- If you say so, my prince.

- Your majesty.

- And what do you think you're doing?

- Just paying homage. - How is your head?

- It still hurts a little, but I'm holding up well.

- I'm sure with time, you'll be fine.

By the way, I'll be going swimming later today.

Care to join me?

- It will be my pleasure. - So I'll see you later?

- Your majesty.

- After eternity,

you men have decided to return without my son.

- My king,

we are sorry we didn't return with your son, the prince.

We roamed all through the forest in search of him

but we couldn't find him.

- Oh really?

No wonder you all seem exhausted,

you must be really tired.

- We really are, your majesty.

- Very well.

Then you return to your huts now,

I'll have the cook make you

a sumptuous meal for your return.

I thought there was supposed to be five of you.

Where is the other man?

- My king, he's dead, he killed himself.

He said he did not want to be beheaded by you.

What?

Never.

I will never behead anyone.

I don't commit such atrocity.

I will never do such thing.

Well, you else may retire to your huts now

and I'll have the cook serve you your meal and drinks.

Go on.

- Your majesty.

(ominous music)

- Oko should not have killed himself after all.

The king seems to be a changed man.

- You are right,

he should not have killed himself after all.

Now look what he's missing.

(man grunts)

- What was that? - I don't know.

- Are you okay?

(men grunt in pain)

(ominous music)

- Look at them, fools.

Guards!

- Yes sir. - Yes, your highness.

- Take them away from here.

(ominous music)

They disgust me.

- This is the great Akansoko River.

It's rich in wealth

because the fishermen come here to fish and catch big fish

and people from other kingdom come to buy from us.

- This is quite interesting.

It feels very peaceful today.

- So can Prince Ubong give me privacy to change?

- Okay, I'll just close my eyes.

- You know better than that.

- (laughs) All right, I'll be behind the tree.

I'll be right here.

- No peeping.

(gentle music)

(ominous music)

- Ubong.

Prince Ubong.

Ubong, please now you're scaring me.

Ubong, please, there are wild animals here, please.

(laughs)

I'm sorry. - It's not funny!

- Sorry, I'm sorry, look at you-

- What if you were eaten by wild animals out there?

- (laughs) I'm sorry.

That would be unheard of.

The heir apparent to the throne of Ibwala,

eaten by wild animals,

I'm the bravest of them all, I eat wild animals.

We should swim now.

What are you doing?

- Obviously I'm going to change.

- You're no longer swimming?

- No.

- I'm sorry.

How do I make this up to you?

- I'm leaving.

You can go.

Just go, just leave.

- I'll wait for you.

- Ubong.

- Sorry.

- Zakon.

- Come and have a taste of... Have what stupid taste?

Our son is somewhere and you are here drinking.

What's this one doing here?

Now get out of here, get out!

Or do you want to have this one too?

- Oh, calm down, have a taste of-

- Where is my son?

Where is my son?

You're too blood thirsty.

You love war.

You would not listen to reason

and you just sit here drinking stupid wine.

- Zakon, I'm warning you.

I am warning you, find my son.

- Eno, my palm wine!

- My love, it's been a long time, my princess.

- Why are you here?

- Come on, that's no way to work on it.

- You have not answered my question.

- Fine, I'm here to see you.

- I think you should leave now.

- But why, why should I leave?

Speak to me, why?

- My princess, Prince Ubi asked to see you.

- Tell him I'm busy but I'll see him later.

- Okay, my princess.

- Who is prince Ubi?

- It's none of your concern.

- And what do you think you're doing?

Walking out on me?

Hey, listen to me.

I'm your husband, if not by practice, in the making

you get me?

You will accord me the respect I deserve

as the heir to Gwama kingdom

and your husband, do you understand?

(dramatic music)

- Prince?

Is everything all right?

- Yes, my queen, everything is fine.

- Okay, the king would like to have a word with you.

- Okay.

- Who is he?

- My betrothed.

He's the prince of Gwama kingdom,

one of the most powerful kingdoms.

- Do you love him? - I don't know.

Father insists I marry him,

he believes I have to strengthen the bonds

between two kingdoms.

- An arranged marriage.

- I didn't even like Odudu,

talk about even loving him.

He's so arrogant, so full of himself.

I can't even think of spending the rest of my life with him.

- Then don't.

Marriage is very sacred.

It's for a lifetime.

You should do it with someone that you love.

- My king, you summoned me.

- Yes, I summon you, Atakpa.

My son, the prince, heir apparent to the throne,

he's been missing for days.

The warriors have searched in vain.

I need your help, Atakpa.

- I see.

(speaks foreign language)

- The prince is alive.

- Ah, may the gods be praised.

But where is he?

- Ebariba kingdom, my king.

- My son is being kept captive in Ebariba kingdom.

I will burn down that-

- No, the prince is free

and he's being treated well, my King.

Zakon, you must be careful the way you handle this issue

else, it will destroy you and all you have worked for.

- So why is he there?

- A word is enough for the wise.

- What is he doing in Ebariba kingdom?

- And that's the end of my story, so did you enjoy it?

- Yes princess. - Very well.

- Thank you, princess. - You're welcome.

(princess gasps)

Why you so funny like that?

- I did enjoy your story.

- You were here the whole time?

- You've been here for so long.

- Yeah.

- Come with me. - To where?

- Let's go.

(upbeat traditional music)

- Ebariba kingdom is a really interesting place.

- Yes, it's never a dull moment in Ebariba kingdom.

(upbeat traditional music)

(applause)

- Beautiful, beautiful.

Ebariba is a very beautiful place.

- Someday, I would love to come to Ibwala Kingdom.

- I will take you if the gods permits as my bride.

- My princess, what gives you so much joy?

- What do you mean?

- You've been smiling all day, what is the secret?

- I think I'm in love.

- It's a good thing

you're finally warming enough to Prince Odudu.

- No, no, no, no, not Prince Odudu, no.

I can't love that arrogant thing.

- Really, who then is it?

- Can I ask you a question? - Go ahead my princess.

- Is it wrong to fall in love with a stranger?

Not really, it depends who the stranger is,

and if he loves you too.

Let me guess, you're falling for Prince Ubi

of Ibwala Kingdom, right?

- I knew it, you two have been acting lovey lately.

- But, will mother and father agree?

- I can't say, my princess, let fate decide.

- Fate?

- I came bearing gifts.

There.

- Thank you, my prince.

But I cannot accept your gifts.

- What?

Why?

I mean, you haven't even opened it yet.

- Please Odudu, how do you feel getting married to a woman

that cannot and will never love you?

- What are you talking about, princess?

- Don't act like you don't know that I don't love you.

We're not even compatible to start with.

It can never work out between us.

- Princess, but... No buts!

- [King] Where is my son?

- My king. - My king.

Your...

(man stutters)

- So where is my son?

Speak before I sever your head from your body.

Where is my son?

- My king, may you live long.

- Yes.

The prince, he's safe at a Ebariba kingdom.

- Still in Ebariba kingdom?

- Yes, my king.

He said he will come on his own.

- Is that so?

- Yes, my king. - Yes, king.

- I see.

- So what's this I heard about you insulting Prince Odudu?

- Father, I didn't insult him.

I simply told him that I cannot marry him

and he should find another maiden.

- What?

- Father. - Why would you do that?

- Because I don't love him

and I cannot marry whom I don't love.

Look, you will learn to love him with time.

- No father, no.

Besides, my heart belongs to another.

- It is Prince Ubi, right?

- What?

You cannot fall in love with Prince Ubi.

- Why not, father?

Why not?

I cannot marry Prince Odudu.

- Like I said, Prince Ubi has declared

that he'll be returning home to Ibwala tomorrow.

Even though his father has been quite

cruel and unkind to us, at the same time,

we cannot allow the boy to return home empty handed.

So that was why I called this meeting, to decide

what gifts we'll be giving him to return home with.

- My king, if you ask me,

I don't see why we should send him off with anything.

We did not invite him in the first place.

So now that he has decided to go back home, so be it.

No Chifudo.

My king, I think we should give him 22 bars of yam,

a very big he goat and a keg of palm wine.

- 22 bars of yam. - It is too much.

- Are we paying bad price here?

So how many bars of yam will be appropriate to give him?

- 10.

- Fine, ten bags it is.

With one large he goat and one gourd of fresh palm wine.

- I'm worried because you're leaving tomorrow.

- I would go tomorrow,

but I will definitely return and take you as my bride.

- But I don't know how father would take this news.

I don't care, it doesn't matter

as long as I'm spending the rest of my life with you.

(upbeat music)

- Father, can you at least welcome them, please?

- Very well then.

So this is the gift?

- Father, I only stayed back because I needed to heal.

The king of Ebariba and his beautiful people

were quite welcoming.

Reason they have also sent me back with this for you.

- I see, I see.

What a gift indeed.

What a gift.

- I'm sorry, he's not like this,

he must be having a bad day.

Excuse me.

Father.

Father. - What is it?

- Was that really necessary?

- What are you talking about?

- You don't act like you do not know what I'm talking about.

- Maybe I do not know what you were talking about.

- They took me in, they cared and catered for me for days.

And gave me those gifts to give to you.

The least you could do father, was say thank you,

rather than walking out on them like that.

- They took you in and work you as a slave on their land.

And at the end of the day,

they gave you some filthy, miserable gift to come home?

- None of that happened, I was-

- I'm still talking.

I am disappointed in you.

So sometimes I sit and wonder,

are you really worth me leaving this throne to?

- Father, do not say that.

- I am ashamed of you now.

- Father?

- I have summoned you here

to Share with us son, why you were in Ebariba.

How many plots of land did you till

for them to present you such gifts?

Share with us.

- If you must know, I did not as much as lift a hoe

or a machete in the kingdom of Ebariba.

Their people are quite welcoming and accommodating.

- My prince, I suggest you say the truth.

If the Ebaribas gave you two bars of yam

and a keg of palm wine,

then they must have made you work on their farmlands.

- I'm amazed that you think

that the people of Ebariba are as selfish and heartless

as you all are.

- Oh, watch your mouth young man.

You don't speak to the elders of our kingdom like that.

Now I suggest you go back to Ebariba land

and request for the rest of the food stuff you deserve

for as much work as you have done on their land.

- What food stuff do you speak of?

It was a gift, a free will gift.

- Very well, if you don't want to go, it's all right.

We shall go on demand for that.

We will demand for what the prince have worked for them

and they must give us.

- And you're in support of this?

- We shall go there and make demands on your behalf.

- [Elder] Yes.

- Greetings father. - Blessings, my son.

- It will be my pleasure to have a word with you.

- If it is about Ebariba, don't worry about that.

- They have done nothing, absolutely nothing to you.

This is wrong,

it is an unnecessary ploy to go to war.

- It's okay son, you have chosen not to do my bidding.

I have decided I'm going to send emissaries there.

- Send what emissaries?

- Atakpa, you scared me.

Why do you keep showing up mysteriously?

- Zakon, I am warning you;

do not send emissaries to Ebariba kingdom.

- And why shouldn't I? - You are playing with fire.

The people of Ebariba owe you nothing.

- Those are wise words you have spoken, eyes of the gods.

The exact things

I've been trying to get my father to understand.

- [Atakpa] Zakon, desist.

- Enough of that.

If You know you have nothing good to tell me,

you need to vacate my presence this minute.

Oh, you are asking me to leave your palace?

- Leave my presence, now.

- Fine, I will leave.

But remember that he who runs from danger

does not go to the lion's den to hide.

Do not say I did not warn you.

- Father, heed to the words of Atakpa.

- Son, what is wrong with you?

On whose side are you?

Heed his words.

- Are you really my son?

- Let it go Father, let it go.

- Get out of my sight.

(gentle music)

- Greetings your majesty, I am from Ibwala Kingdom.

- Welcome, how is the prince?

I hope he is well now.

- Yes, your majesty.

I bring words from my king.

- You may proceed.

- He said, I should tell you

the gift you send with the prince is an insult.

You must send more gifts or prepare for war.

- What insolence!

Out of my presence at once!

Who does this Zakon think he is?

That I should send?

I took care of his son, literally brought him back to life.

And this is the thank you I get from this, this dog

that, don't tell me to calm down.

- Calm down my king, please.

- I knew sending him offers those gifts was a bad idea.

- Oh no, that's not the point,

we need a solution to this.

- Solution to what problem?

- We need to do something.

- What solution, solution to what?

- My king, I advise we send more gifts.

- What gifts?

What useless gift are you talking about?

- I think he is right.

I think we need to send Zakon a very special gift.

- Special gift, special gift.

My king, this arrived from Ebariba kingdom.

- Ah, I knew it,

I knew Ibaka is a coward,

I knew they're easily petrified, I knew it, I knew it.

Open it, let me see what is there.

Excreta, excreta?

How dare he?

What an insolence, impetuous, cover this.

- Sorry, my king, should I take it away?

- No, don't take it away.

Wait till I chuck it down your throat and sever your head.

What an insult.

I will invade their kingdom,

I will burn their kingdom to the ground.

- Nana. - Yes my princess.

- You know what this means, right?

- No I don't. - This means war.

- War? - Yes, war.

It's obvious that our warrior

was killed by one of kings Zakon's men.

But do you think Prince Ubong

is part of this conspiracy?

- Oh no, my princess, why would you be saying that?

You know prince Ubong is not like his father.

- There's nothing like fresh palm wine. (laughs)

Fresh palm wine is good.

- My king.

- You have returned.

- Yes, your highness.

- Ah, very good, very good.

Did you deliver my surprise

to the king of Ebariba?

- Yes, my king.

- Good, you did well.

Now you go and get ready for the next attack.

- Long live my king.

- Father, father!

- What is it, my daughter?

- Greetings father, a warrior has been found dead.

- What?

- So I was taking a walk around the palace

and I found a dead body,

I Drew near, I saw it was one of our warriors

with a sign attached to his body

from the Ibwala Kingdom, war is coming, father.

- What nonsense!

Summon my warriors.

- Father, are you sure?

- Of course, I cannot just sit here

and watch Zakon oppress me in my own kingdom.

Father, please don't make hasty decisions,

I think you should consult Obuma first, please.

You know that the strongest warriors

are from the Ibwala Kingdom.

Please, father.

- You are right.

I need to consult Obuma

to know the next course of action.

- Yes, father.

(speaks foreign language)

- [King] Obuma, I came to-

- I know why you are here, your highness.

The gods reveal to me that you were coming.

- Okay, so what should I do?

Should I attack?

Zakon has become insufferable of late.

All I did was help his son,

and now he has decided to destroy my kingdom.

Should I war with him?

- You are permitted to go to war with Ibwala kingdom.

The gods said you'll defeat them

and you will destroy them.

- Really?

- Yes, but there is a sacrifice you must be willing to make.

- Obuma, whatever it is,

I am ready to do anything, pay any price.

- You must be willing to sacrifice your daughter

so that the Ibwala kingdom will be defeated.

- My daughter?

My only child.

- Yes, your daughter, the princess must be burnt

and her ashes spread over the Akansoko river

so that Ibwala kingdom will be defeated.

- Eyes of the god, make me understand.

Why would the gods do this?

Why would they take back the gifts

that they themselves gave to me?

- That is the reason why she was born.

This is her fate, this is her destiny.

- What has burning my daughter

got to do with defeating Ibwala kingdom?

- Do not question the wisdom of the gods

because they are wiser than men

and they see more than any man can see.

If this sacrifice

is not made within the next market day,

this kingdom will be destroyed.

- Greetings, father.

Father?

Father?

- Imaobong, I didn't hear you come in.

- You mean you didn't notice my presence, father?

- Yes, I'm sorry, I did not.

- Father, are you okay? - Yes, I'm fine.

- Father, you have been like this

ever since you came back from Obuma shrine.

What is the problem?

- I'm fine, really. - What did Obuma say?

Look, I don't want to talk about it, dear.

- But why?

- Imaobong, I am tired, I will tell you about it later.

- Father, even though you look unsettled,

you know I'm always here for you.

- I know, thank you.

And I feel so blessed to have a daughter like you.

- Father!

- Yes, speak.

- Father, what is this I hear

about you killing someone from Ebariba?

Why have you become so hardened?

- You must be out of your mind

for asking me such questions, son.

What is wrong with you?

- All they have done is show us peace, show me kindness.

You shouldn't be doing this.

You have done this with other kingdoms,

you can't do this with them.

Besides, I have found love there.

- (laughs) You found what?

Love in Ebariba?

- This is no joke,

I'm in love with princess Imaobong of Ebariba kingdom

and I intend to make her my wife.

- [King] You dare not and you wouldn't do well do that.

- Watch me.

- And you dare not!

- For your own good, stay away from them,

they're special to me.

- So you now threaten your father, King Zakon?

- Call it whatever you want.

- My king.

What's the matter?

You seem to be in great distress.

- No, there's nothing, I just can't sleep, that's all.

- And why is that?

- I have no idea, but I'm sure it's nothing, fine.

- How did the meeting with Obuma go?

- Fine, fine, fine.

- Fine? - Yes, fine, it went well.

- What did he say? - You know what?

I think I'm feeling sleepy now,

I'll tell you all about it in the morning.

Come here.

Goodnight.

(men chant in foreign language)

- I greet you warriors, I greet you.

Now we are here to begin the invasion of Ebariba kingdom.

Ebariba king is full of himself, he thinks he can invade us.

He thinks he can face King Zakon.

And as you go today, I want you to invade him,

kill everything that moves.

You take what is takeable, you eat what is eatable,

you take what is takeable.

You invade their land, burn their houses to the ground.

But most importantly,

you bring me the head of their king as souvenir.

- My king,

these are the best and only warriors of Ibwala kingdom.

We are going to deliver!

- I know we have lost some men, we have lost women.

We lost some good warriors, but I trust in you.

I know our kingdom can never be short of warriors.

You will rise now,

you will go there to their land, invade them,

take their wives, take their property,

take whatever belongs to them.

But don't forget, bring me the head of the king.

- Ibwala, rise now and go invade them.

(men chant and sing in foreign language)

- My king, you sent for us? - Yes.

- Greetings, father. - My daughter.

You both know that I went to see Obuma the other day

and I know you're aware that Zakon was threatening to

attack us and capture our territory.

So I went to see Obuma

to ask if we should war against him.

- And what did he say?

- He gave his permission.

- Really?

- But only after a sacrifice is made.

- Sacrifice?

What sacrifice?

My king, are you okay?

- It is very difficult to say.

- Difficult to say?

- She demanded that my daughter be burned alive

and her ashes spread across Akansoko river.

- What?

Our child?

Want us to sacrifice our child?

- He says we will be destroyed if the sacrifice is not done.

- You're even thinking about it?

- Of course not, I wouldn't do that.

- You're considering sacrificing my only child?

- If saving many lives,

this is the best option, mother, I will.

Father, for the safety of our people,

I will do it to save many lives.

Mother.

- I call this meeting with great grief in my heart.

Consulted the eye of the gods, Obuma.

And he confirmed that our warriors

cannot stand a chance against them without a sacrifice.

- A sacrifice, my king?

What sacrifice do they require?

A lamb?

Three goats or a cow?

We are willing to make any sacrifice to save our land.

- The gods require that my daughter, the princess,

be burnt alive as sacrifice to save this land.

- Princess?

- So what do we do now, my king?

- So if the gods require that my only child

be burnt alive as sacrifice to save this land,

then so be it.

(ominous music)

(Queen screams and wails)

(Obuma speaks in foreign language)

- Gods of our land, in obedience to your command,

we have brought this sacrifice.

Please accept our sacrifice

and protect our land from our enemies.

(ominous music)

(fire crackles)

(princess screams)

(thunder cracks and rumbles)

- Ubong.

- Imaobong.

- We are waiting for you.

(ominous music)

We're waiting for you.

- Please, do not go.

- We're waiting for you.

- Princess Imaobong.

- Gods of our land, protector of our land,

we greet you.

In Obedience to your word and your directives,

we have come with the ashes of our princess.

As I pour these ashes into the waters,

please protect us from our enemies.

(ominous music)

Save us from calamity and heal our land.

Let the soul of our princess rest in peace.

(ominous music)

(woman cries)

(thunder rumbles)

My king, my queen, it is done.

We may now leave,

but henceforth, this river is cursed.

Let no man drink, bathe,

wash or eat anything from this river.

Please make this known

for the people of Ebariba kingdom.

(sad music)

- People of Ebariba,

as you all know, the princess sacrificed herself

to save this great kingdom from doom and destruction.

The king therefore instructed me to inform you

that the ashes has been poured into Akansoko river.

Nobody from this kingdom

is allowed to bathe, swim or fish in the river.

Anybody who tries that will be led to his or her doom.

Let he who has an ear pay heed to these instructions.

(bangs drum)

(ominous music)

- Ibwala warriors. - Yeah!

- Ibwala warriors. - Yeah!

We are here.

It seem we are all tired and exhausted.

But I think it will be wise

we secure the environment before we strike.

- Yes you are right.

- You go get the firewood,

why you, my prince?

- My prince.

- Greeting, my prince.

- My prince, you scared me, I thought it was an enemy.

Meanwhile, what are you doing here?

You are not supposed to be here.

- I will fight with my people.

I am the crown prince,

heir apparent to the throne of Ibwala,

not a mere artifact meant to decorate the palace,

I will fight.

- No my prince, me and my warriors, we've got this.

You were supposed to be in the palace,

but that's in the kingdom.

- It is not your place to decide, it is mine, I will fight!

- My prince, you need to return to the palace.

- I said no!

- It's dangerous here, my prince.

- My prince, please. - Apola, let me be.

- What do we do now?

- Rise.

We'll get some rest and we'll strike at nightfall.

(ominous music)

- You, go get some fish

while I go surveil all the environments.

(ominous music)

(man speaks in foreign language)

- Warriors.

My prince, my prince.

(man speaks in foreign language)

- My prince, my prince.

My prince, my prince.

(ominous music)

- We must return,

this was sustaining before we get to the palace.

- Yes.

- Let's go!

(ominous music)

- Your majesty, your majesty.

- What is it?

- Your majesty. - What is it?

- The prince. - What about the prince?

- The prince is unconscious,

all other warriors are dead, your majesty.

- Ubong!

- My son. - Ubong.

- My son. - Ubong.

- What happened?

What is it?

- Go and get water.

Water, get me water.

Hurry up!

No, no, no, no, no, no, Ubong.

- What do I do?

- I'm weak. - You're weak.

- I feel it.

- What? - I feel it.

- [King] What are you feeling?

- The cruel hands of death.

- Gods forbid, the gods forbid.

- No, don't profess such, son.

- Oh, water!

- It's all right, it's alright.

- Water!

- Hurry up!

- [Ubong] I'm so weak.

- You'll be fine.

- Father I begged you, I begged you.

- [Eno] Speak.

- But your greed and quest for more power

deafened your ears.

I begged you.

- [Eno] It's all right, don't cry, it's all right.

Ubong, Ubong, Ubong!

- Imaobong.

(sad music)

(Queen wails and shouts)

- You killed my son!

You killed my son! - My son.

- Atakpa. - You summoned me.

- I summoned you because I know the gods

do not hide anything from you.

Atakpa, tell me,

why, I want to know the cause of my son's death.

What killed my warriors?

My kingdom is in ruins.

What is a kingdom without a son to take over the throne?

- I warned you Zakon, didn't I?

But you wouldn't listen.

The stubborn fly

they say follows the corpse into the grave.

Well it turns out the people of Ebariba kingdom

sacrificed their princess, Imaobong

to save their land from your wicked claws.

- What?

- They burned her to death

and spread her ashes all over Akansoko River

so that whosoever drinks or eats from that river will die.

Her spirit literally lives in the water.

Your warriors died

because they ate from the fishes of the river.

And your son, the prince died

because he drank of the water of the river

when he was drowning.

- You have to help me, please help me appeal to the gods

to please forgive me.

You have to help me appeal to them.

- Too late, Zakon.

There's nothing that can be done.

The gods have turned their back on you.

In no distant time,

do we choose a new king over this kingdom.

- Now, why do you say these things to me?

- No matter the color of hens, Zakon,

they all lay white eggs.

(dramatic music)

(king yells)

- Father, I begged you, I begged you.

- Speak. - But your greed

and quest for more power deafened your ears.

Oh, you are asking me to leave your palace?

- Leave my presence now.

- Fine, I will leave.

But remember, that he who runs from danger

does not go to the lion's den to hide.

Do not say I did not warn you.

(birds chirping)

- Ah, queen Eno.

- Zakon, I'm leaving you.

- Leaving for where?

- I am leaving you and I'm leaving this kingdom.

I'm done.

- Done?

- I have been subjected to your ways and your ways alone.

- I have stayed, persevered because of my only child.

And now he's gone, he's gone.

So what is my reward?

Why am I still here?

Why should I be here?

- He was my son too.

Your son, and you sat there doing nothing.

I Leave, do not send your warriors after me.

What am I even saying?

Look around you, Zakon, look around you.

You have no more warriors, nobody, you are all alone.

Alone because of your hardheartedness.

My son is gone, I'm gone too.

- You can't leave me, Eno. - How dare you?

You'll never find me.

I am done!

- You can't leave me, Eno, you can't leave me!

No, you can't leave me.

(shouts) You can't leave me!

- My king, my king. - What is it?

- We have been invaded.

- Invaded by who?

- The other kingdom.

- Invasion.

I, king Zakon,

I have been invaded and have no warriors left.

Invasion.

(woman screams)

- Somebody help!

(woman screams)

- And this is how the people

of Ebariba kingdom was freed from doom and destruction.

- Mr. Dawson?

- Yes, Alyssa.

- What happened to the people of Ibwala kingdom?

- What happened to the people of Ibwala Kingdom,

the Zuzus invaded and conquered

because there was no warriors

to protect Ibwala kingdom.

Yes, Theresa.

- How about king Aluku

and queen Sifan of Ebariba kingdom?

- Great question, Theresa.

The king declared a remembrance day for the princess

on the day of March 30th

every year to remember the princess.

- That's nice, and what about the Akansako River?

- Well Ryan, it's cursed, that river is cursed to this day.

- Wow. - You can't swim there.

You can't eat there and you cannot bathe there.

Mr. Dawson, can you tell us another story?

- Excuse me?

(students laugh)

Mel Rose, story time is over.

(applause)

♪ He was the wicked king ♪

♪ He wants to kill everybody ♪

♪ King Zakon ♪

♪ He wants to destroy the community ♪

♪ Our princess is so kind, what a sacrifice ♪

♪ What a sacrifice ♪

♪ To give a life for us ♪

♪ Our princess Imaobong ♪

♪ The sacrifice is big ♪

♪ The sacrifice is big ♪

♪ The sacrifice is big ♪

♪ The sacrifice is big ♪

♪ The curse of the river ♪

♪ No, no, no ♪

♪ The curse of the river ♪

♪ The curse of the river ♪

♪ The curse of the river ♪

♪ The curse of the river ♪

♪ Ebariba ♪

♪ Ebariba ♪

♪ Princess oh, Ebariba ♪

♪ The princess, Ebariba ♪

♪ Sacrifice, Ebariba ♪

♪ Wicked community ♪

♪ The princess is gone ♪

♪ What we are passing through ♪

♪ The kingdom is ♪