By Onyeka Ezike

I Will Marry Whom I Love, a play written by Garba Ahmed Idris, was launched recently in Lagos. The book deals with issues of forced marriage witnessed in some cultures, the sufferings and worries of two lovers who met in a strange land.

The play is divided into three Acts which emphasize strong relationships as the yardstick of a firm marriage that will contribute to nation-building.

According to the book reviewer, Mr. Kingsley Ohaeri, the Principal of Primewill City College, “The book is a work of literature that entertains and educates.

“From Act one to three, the theme of love reverberates, showing that love is no respecter of any person. Once the arrow of love penetrates your heart, you will do unimaginable things to make your lover happy.

Another issue raised in the book is the craving of women to express their potential and fulfill their destiny in life, which some culture kicks against. The author encourages parents to play guidance roles in the choice of life partners for their children.

Act one, scene one of the book portrays two friends, Abu and Ibrahim, admiring two beautiful girls after an ecstatic cultural dance display by an ostentatious professional cultural troupe at the one-week inter-faculty cultural dance competition of the institution where the play was set.

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Abu seems fascinated by one of the girls at the edge of the auditorium, but Ibrahim shows no interest in his wooing effort, warning him of the impending consequences of love at first sight. Abu continues his romantic admiration of Saude’s moon-modelled face and sublime sun-coloured skin, making him look stupid in front of Ibrahim.

Abu expresses his desire in thought: “If only I can possess this girl, I will praise Allah a million times. Many a beautiful woman I have seen in my life, but this one is the mother of them all.”

Meanwhile, Saude was betrothed to Saidu. The engagement was done when she was eight by both her parents and Saidu’s parents. Now she is twenty. For 12 years they were yoked together by the whims of their parents.

But Saude considers Saidu a self-centered fiancé who always talks about himself and cares less about her. In Act Three Scene One, Malam Hamza threatens to kill Sade for daring to rebel against his wish for her. And he blames it on her exposure and Western education.

A family meeting was convened to persuade Saude to respect tradition, but she insists on getting married to her newly found lover, Abu, and not Saidu. And Malam Hamza, her father, in fury, picks a sword to terminate her life. But she flees. This led to her family withdrawing her from the university.

The author, Garba Ahmed Idris, obtained a bachelor’s degree in English Language in 1995 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Master’s degree in English language from the University of Lagos in 2014.

Speaking to Vanguard in an interview, Ahmed Idris said, “The essence of the book is to emphasize the true definition of love. I just realized that when a man and a woman come together, and the man is genuine, the woman uses delay tactics in order to see if the man is truly committed. 

“When you look at the major theme of the book, which is focused on forced marriage, the book seeks to speak to power, and traditional institutions to discourage forced marriage. I just want to write a book to teach society how love should be practiced.”