mwafrika.com - Love Unconditional

Love Unconditional - The Play

In the words of former British playwright Christopher Fry, “A spade is never so merely a spade as the word spade would imply”. NAIRET, a member group of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology Christian Union JKUAT), is in the process of redefining theatre productions with the premier release of “Love Unconditional”.

This production, a play with limited music and dance, hosted at the Kenya National Theatre, played to capacity crowds on each of its two screenings on the 25th of April 2007.

Set in the traditional African village known as Sonye, the story revolves around a father and son, Wenga and Zomba, and the tensions that threaten to tear apart not only a family, but an entire kingdom.

A bitter succession fallout occurs between father and son. Yet uncharacteristically of African politics, the prince wants no part of the leadership, leaving the Kingdom of Sonye with no successor. Both the throne and the king are put to shame as this is the first time a prince has ever rejected the throne. Dejected, the king is forced to rule for a second term, breaking the relationship of father and son.

Prince Zomba played by Gideon Dalu, changes his name to Faye and eventually escapes to a far away village to live out his dream - not as a monarch, but as a painter. he hides all that happened between him and his father deep inside. All is forgotten. Or is it?

Painters Give The Prince Some Tips

Part of the Cast

Years later, as the rogue prince has built his life in another village, trouble strikes back home. Night bandits attack Sonye, killing soldiers and looting much of the village’s wealth. King Wenga, played by Alex Wachira, is infuriated by the bloody occurrence and vows to bring the perpetrators to justice, even if it kills him. The prince hears of this and makes the decision to return home and be of assistance.
This presents a threat to the bandits who have a few plans up their sleeves. A search party begins its work all around the kingdom, the murderers must be found and justice must prevail.

A spanner is thrown in the works when Sonye’s beautiful queen, Queen Bella (Marilyn Wambua), is kidnapped. Father and son have to unite, like never before, to rescue the lady in their lives. Easier said than done, tensions boil over, as the rift between the two refuses to be swept under the rug. A past of bruised egos and bitter words rears its ugly head at a most inconvenient time – a time when all resources must be mustered for the common good.

Fortunately sanity prevails, and after the discovery that Femi, one of their own is behind this dastardly act, their mission to recapture their queen becomes easier.

King Wenga Surveys The Destruction

Reconciliation of Father and Son

Directed by John Andrew Jumbi (J.J) and produced by Irene Irungu, Love Unconditional, dubbed the Crystal Project, provided sometimes starved theatre lovers the opportunity not only to enjoy a cleverly crafter drama, but take a peak into what might very well be the future talents of local theatre.

Kudos to the JKUAT crew, it took them sevens weeks to piece together this enjoyable play. Let’s hope papers and assignments notwithstanding, the NIRATES can keep them coming.