The Lion and the Jewel

Sidi is engrossed in the magazine containing her pictures, while Lakunle carries a bundle of firewood for her. The two are met by Sadiku, an elderly woman who is the Bale’s first wife and in charge of his female household. Sadiku had been on her way to Sidi’s house. Sadiku informs Sidi that Bale Baroka wishes to take her as his final wife (which is a great honor). Lakunle is indignant. He implores Sidi not to listen to Sadiku, as he wishes to wed Sidi himself. Sadiku continues in her attempts to get Sidi to listen to reason and accept the proposal. She explains how being the “jewel” of the Bale will make Sidi even more important. As his last wife, she will hold a special place in his harem. Moreover, when Baroka dies, Sidi will become first wife for the next Bale. In other words, Sidi will be comfortable for the rest of her life.

Sidi responds to both Lakunle and Sadiku from her newfound place of puffed-up pride. She tells Lakunle that she does not need his fancy words or flattery, as the stranger has made her famous beyond words with the pictures he has taken of her. She then tells a shocked Sadiku that the Bale only wants to marry her because she is famous. Sidi imagines that Bale Baroka wants to place himself above her own fame and beauty by marrying her. Sadiku thinks that Sidi has gone mad, as Sidi has never acted so strangely before. Sadiku blames Lakunle and his fancy words. Sidi then makes the case that she is much too young and nubile for the Bale. The Bale is old, and Sidi cannot reconcile herself to their age difference.

Sadiku rebuffs Sidi for her insolence, but then invites her to dinner at the Bale’s house. If Sidi refuses his proposal, Sadiku’s instructions are to at least invite Sidi to a congratulatory dinner for the magazine spread. Sidi declines the dinner invitation as well, citing the well-known fact that every woman who has accepted such a dinner invitation has ended up as Baroka’s wife or concubine the next day. Though Sadiku dismisses the accusations, Lakunle recounts a story of the Bale’s craftiness to highlight his view of the Bale as a “fox.” Lakunle recounts how the Bale tricked a group of railroad men who wanted to run railroad tracks by the village. The Bale did not want the railroad tracks to encroach upon the village’s traditional way of life; to avoid this, he used several schemes to scare off the workers. He then bribed the railroad men so that they would place the railroad tracks elsewhere. As Lakunle explains how the Bale loves his carefree life of tradition too much to let the modern world stop it, he gets carried away and begins talking about the “selective eye” the Bale has in choosing beautiful women. As Lakunle is caught up in his own words, Sidi and Sadiku sneak away.

The act then moves to Baroka’s residence, where his favorite wife is plucking hairs from his armpit. He instructs her on how to pluck them so that there is pleasure mixed with mild pain. He angers his favorite wife, however, and when she pulls a hair in jealousy and causes pain, he sends her away. Sadiku enters and informs the Bale that Sidi has refused both his hand in marriage and the dinner invitation. She tells Baroka that the main reason for the younger woman’s refusals is that Sidi thinks him too old to marry. The Bale is crestfallen, but tells Sadiku that it is for the best, as he is now impotent. He thought perhaps that Sidi’s youth and vigor might have restored his manhood, but it will not happen. Sadiku is saddened by the news and comforts the Bale as best she can. Bale Baroka explains how his father and grandfather sired children at an age far older than his own sixty-two years. He then implores Sadiku to keep his impotence a secret, claiming that he can trust her above all others. Before the Bale falls asleep as Sadiku consoles him, he tells Sadiku that she is the queen of all his wives, and the most loyal.