Scene Summary
The curtain rises on a mournful sunset. Arum Tidi has been buried, and the air hangs heavy with grief. Around his grave, Ochongorio, Osogo, and Tel Tel mourn
not only their fallen comrade but also the death of truth in a kingdom strangled by corruption.
As they lament, the conversation unearths chilling truths: Money Bags — the manipulative owl — has orchestrated everything, from political assassinations to deceptive laws. Royal Owl remains the figurehead of tyranny, presiding over a kingdom where betrayal is rewarded and loyalty punished.
Little P, the gossiping parrot, arrives with revelations that expose a dark political underbelly — fraudulent contracts, propaganda, and the death of justice itself. Later, the owls hold a grotesque night party over Arum Tidi’s grave, toasting tyranny under the Moonlight Bill.
In the final scenes, Oyundi emerges — seemingly joining the oppressors but secretly plotting redemption. She envisions a new order called “The Flock of Birds”, symbolizing a rebirth of hope, unity, and resistance against injustice. The act closes in tragedy: Tel Tel, the voice of conscience, is arrested, yet her name promises the continuity of truth — she “will have a tale to tell.”
Major Themes
1. Hope in the Face of Despair
Osogo’s “chronic condition called hope” stands as the spiritual heartbeat of the act. Amid political decay, hope becomes resistance — a fragile light refusing to die.
2. Betrayal and Political Hypocrisy
Money Bags, Royal Owl, and the night birds represent political greed masked as leadership. Their drunken celebration at Arum Tidi’s grave is a mockery of justice — a mirror held up to real-world politics where moral corruption hides beneath ceremony.
3. Freedom, Rebirth, and the Dream of The Flock of Birds
The visionary dream of a new political dawn — The Flock of Birds — signals a turning point. It represents democracy reborn, collective leadership, and the courage to imagine a better world.
4. Truth and the Voice of the Press
Through Little P and Iron Lady, Sidang underscores the power of the media. Even in suppression, truth finds a way to speak — through whispers, through feathers, through the songs of the oppressed.
Character Analysis
Symbolism & Stylistic Devices
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The Grave of Arum Tidi: A political altar; truth buried alive.
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The Moonlight Bill: Symbol of oppressive law disguised as progress.
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Olik Tiga (the bat): Represents blind enforcement — institutions that serve tyranny without vision.
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The Flock of Birds: Hope, unity, and political rebirth.
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Iron Lady’s Voice: The press — defiant, bold, unbowed.
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Flute Motif: A melancholic thread of memory, echoing lost innocence and the cry for justice.
Quotable Lines
“I suffer from a chronic condition called hope.” — Osogo“Birds of a feather flock together.” — Osogo“The owls are rioting… there is a party.” — Little P“Tel Tel, you will have a tale to tell.” — Red String“This is the time to rise and take back our kingdom.” — Oyundi
Each quote vibrates with allegory, echoing Kenya’s — and indeed Africa’s — socio-political pulse.
Interpretation & Moral Reflection
As Osogo reminds us, hope is a chronic condition. It cannot be killed. Even buried, it grows wings.
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