PARLIAMENT OF OWLS GUIDE

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PUblished in Kenya

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 Author; Adipo Sidang
GUIDE PUBLISHER : TOPLIGHT PUBLISHERS

COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
• Parliament of Owls is adapted from Adipo Sidang's poetry work touching on different themes
with politics and the state of African politics as the over-arching theme. The poet explores the
socio-political ills that have undermined development in African countries with blunt honesty and
unique literary style, with significant reference to Kenya.
• This play revolves around the Parliament of Owls under the leadership of the mysterious Royal
Owl, King Tula Nyongoro, and with the help of the Moneybag Owl, the Royal Owl's most trusted
ally.
• This Parliament of Owls is the most powerful organization comparable to the Royal Tree - the
seat of the Royal Owl, King Tula Nyongoro.
• In the play, owls present themselves as the only birds capable of intelligent thinking and
developing good laws for the prosperity of the Kingdom.
• However, this is not the case in the way business is conducted at the Parliament of Owls.
• The House of Representatives passed bills ensuring the interests of owls are protected.
• This Parliament passed laws in favor of owls to the detriment of other bird species in the
Kingdom.
• Bills are passed hurriedly, a case in point being the moonlight bill whose passage is hastened
when the owls realise birds are planning a demonstration against it. Members of Parliament are
either coerced or rewarded to pass the bills. Any attempt to object to bills because of the same
material content is met with an iron fist.
• The members, such as Iron Lady, who attempt to oppose those frivolous bills, are thrown out of
Parliament or denied a chance to contribute to the bills' discussion.
• Oyundi, the fire finch -a tinny canny female bird- sees the shambolic manner in which business
is conducted in the Parliament. She rallies other like-minded birds against the Parliament of Owls
in her quest for change. She gets the support of Iron Lady Owl, who leads rebel owls, together
with Day Birds, Grain Eaters and some Night Birds and Omnivores (like Fleshy Carcass Vulture)

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 to rebel against bad governance. Oyundi has to work out a plan to trick the Royal Owl to ensure
Parliament of Owls is replaced with Flock of Birds - an inclusive government. To do this, Oyundi
the Fire-finch discovers the greatest secret in the Royal Trees - "The Golden Bead". Veteran P
leads the parrots in reporting the unfolding events at Parliament of Owls in the Bird Kingdom.
• When the owls' chief propagandist, Arum Tidi, is found dead, fear and fury among the birds and
their urge for change gain momentum. Oyundi hatches a clever plan that sees the rule of Royal
Owl come to an embarrassing end.
• This play is a political satire that highlights how bad leadership, tribalism and Corruption can
work against the growth of society; at the same time, it also proves that women and people from
minority groups (like Oyundi the Fire-finch, a female day bird) can rise against all odds to bring
change without necessarily engaging in violent protests. Most importantly, this play introduces a
new perspective of engaging the youth and Kenyans in general in so far as civic consciousness is
concerned. To stand up and be counted in the initiation of developmental change in the country.
Tolight Publishes Kenya reserves all rights of this publication.

ACT 1
EPISODE 1: PAGE 1-4
This act opens where it is sunset. There are sounds of owls hooting and twittering of birds. There
is a flute sound being played by Osogo, who is perched on a stone. He is unhappy and plays a sad
tune. Osogo is quite disturbed. He turns only to find Red String moving stealthily. Red String
wears hollow eyeglasses made from millet stalk, and his stomach is protruding. (eating a lot)
Osogo complains that Red String has brought noise, and he will leave with his peace. Red String
insinuates that he is scared of him. Osogo points out that it is not dusk yet Red String is breaking
the same rules for his Parliament makes. Red String says that the laws are there to be broken.
Osogo asks Red String what he wants. Red String says that they did not mean to do what they did.
Osogo tells him to go, or he will fly away. Red String moves closer to him and says they targeted
the cunning bird, but not Osogo. He says what happened was very unfortunate. Osogo says that it
does not matter if they were targeting the cunning bird or whatever they call her, but she is still a
member of this Kingdom, and she has the freedom and right to life.

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Red String says that freedom has limits, and rights come with responsibilities. Osogo questions if
it is irresponsible to speak the truth. To justify their actions, Red String tells Osogo that there is a
height beyond which he, himself, cannot fly because he is naturally limited. However, Falcon can
go to great heights because he is created to hit great heights. He says Falcon is their weatherman
because he can fly high enough to touch the clouds and say when the rains will come. However,
like Osogo, the Weavers cannot go to such high levels as the Falcon.
Osogo, in a foreboding way, tells him that there will come a time when they will have a sane
parliament, and all the inequalities among the birds will end. (to function as it is supposed to) Red
String is of a different opinion that may take a very long time to be realised, or even it may never
come to pass. Osogo goes playing his flute. Red String ignores the flute and tells him that even if
inequality end one day, the night birds and the omnivores will still be at the helm. Power will still
be in the hands of the night birds and omnivores because they, the owls, have the largest eyes, and
he vehemently insists that day birds and the grain-eaters will never run the Kingdom.
Osogo seeks to determine why only the owls are destined as the ultimate rulers. Red String
reiterates that if the day birds and the grain-eaters were to be in power, they would not be able to
protect the Kingdom and animals like the snake, mongoose, and hyena from the Lion Kingdom
will have a field day, and they would annihilate the Kingdom.
Osogo asks Red String if it is justified for the omnivores and the night birds to continue killing
and murdering day birds to protect the Kingdom. At the same time, the Parliament of Owls does
nothing about it but concentrate on passing laws that favour the owls.
Red String points out that Osogo seems not to see that they are safer now than before. Not like the
times of dinosaurs, where they all would not have survived. Osogo reminds Red String that the
dinosaurs were herbivores, but Red String quickly recounts that some were carnivores and would
have wiped all their eggs from their nests. Osogo wonders how tall the dinosaurs were, and Red
Strings says they were very tall, just above the birds' nests.
Osogo, in rhetorical questions, terms it as propaganda, the assertion by Red String that the
Kingdom is now safe and their neighbours are not a source of danger to their survival because of
the owls. He shows that it is hypocritical because the owls invite these same neighbours at night
feasts at the Royal Trees, where they feed on the flesh of fellow birds. Red String is pinned down
and accepts it.

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Red String tries to show that they dealt with the danger posed by the Python, who constantly
attacked the Kingdom. He says that they pushed him out of the Kingdom, and he no longer lives
there.
Osogo disagrees with this and tells Red String that they know Python is a friend of the court, where
the royal court used him as the hangman. They used to run the gallows while the Python was the
hangman. He was used by the royal court to punish enemies of the court. Red String and his court
used to tie their enemies and threw them in the Python's cave.
Red String says that Osogo is making a grave accusation against the honourable Parliament of
Owls. Osogo sarcastically questions how honourable the Parliament of Owls is, and he starts to
play his flute

OBSERVATIONS
❖ This episode brings out the underhand methods used by the Royol court to deal with those
members perceived to be enemies. There are many social ills explored in this episode. For
instance, political assassination is brought out when Red String confirms that the owls were
targeting to kill the cunning bird who is seen as the enemy of the Royal court; however, they
did not manage and unfortunately ended up killing other day birds.
❖ Cruelty as a culture of this government that the Red String subscribes to is brought to the fore.
They tie and throw their enemies in the cave of Python.
❖ The owls want to kill the cunning bird for speaking the truth against misgovernance. This
action by the owls is incompetent governance and leadership, which curtails the freedom and
rights to life. Moreover, Osogo points out the cruelty and abuse of office where day birds and
grain eaters are continually killed and murdered in the pre-text of protecting the Kingdom. It
is made worse by the unconcerned nature of the Parliament of Owls which does nothing about
these killings.
❖ Tribalism, corruption, and leadership incompetency are brought to the fore by the Parliament
of Owls which solely concentrates on passing laws that favour and protect the owls. Yet, they
do nothing concerning the killing and murders of day birds and grain-eaters. Hypocrisy is
highlighted when Red String says that they protect the Kingdom from being devoured by
animals from the Lion Kingdom. Still, the leadership has been inviting those neighbours from
the lion Kingdom tonight feasts where they have been eating the flesh of their fellow birds.

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❖ Social class stratification and inequality are seen through Red String's assertion that only the
omnivores and the Owls are the ones fit for leadership and will always continue to be at the
helm.
❖ Furthermore, the omnivores and the night birds kill and eat the day birds and grain eaters
during the night feasts, together with the animal neighbours from the Kingdom of King Lion.
The night birds see themselves as worthier and more important than the day birds and grain-
eaters. Osogo points to him that a day will come when they have a sane parliament that passes
laws that benefit all in the Kingdom, and all the birds will be equal.
❖ Osogo is cautious in his association with Red String after the owls had killed his family
members. He tells Red String to leave, or he will fly away. His inquisitive nature is brought
out when he asks Red String what he wants. The Parliament of Owls is silent when the day
birds and the grain-eaters are killed. Osogo questions the logic behind that.
❖ Osogo is inquisitive. He asks Red String many questions about the breaking of the laws
passed.
❖ Red String is boastful. He says that even if the Parliament changed to a sane one, power
would remain with them, the owls as they are the only ones able to rule.
❖ Osogo is bitter. He expresses his anger at the killings of day birds and grain-eaters, while the
Parliament of Owls does nothing. Red String is hypocritical. He says the Parliament must
protect other birds from enemies from the lion Kingdom. However, Osogo reminds him that
the same neighbours have night feasts together.
❖ Osogo foreshadows the fall of the rule of owls in the Parliament as he tells Red String that "a
time is coming when all this will end and all birds will have a sane parliament."
❖ Exaggeration is used where Red String says that Falcons can fly high enough to touch the
clouds and say when the rain may come.

KEY POINTS
THEMES
• Favouritism
• Insecurity
• Dictatorship
Characters Traits
• Red String
• Corrupt

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• Manipulative
• Humorous
• intimidating

PAGE 5-13
Osogo sarcastically wonders how the Parliament of Owls can be honourable before he is
interrupted by Red String saying that they are the servants of the Kingdom. He is interrupted by
noise from a nearby tree hammering by a bird. Tel Tel enters and instantly questions Red String
of what he is doing there. Red String attempts to find an appropriate response, but Osogo says that
Red String had gone there to lecture him about dinosaurs and how safe the Kingdom is. Tel Tel
insists on asking what Red String is doing there, yet it is not dusk.
Being the advisor to the King, Red String feels he is allowed to make a technical appearance
anywhere within the Kingdom, regardless of the time. Osogo jumps, mentioning that Red String
makes the rules and still breaks the same rules, terming him a broker.
Red String tells Osogo that he is now out of order, then he beckons Tel Tel aside and speaks to her
in a low tone. He tells Tel Tel that he has been looking for her and he needs to chat with her. Osogo
leaves.
Tel Tel says that she hopes whatever Red String wants to tell her is not what she is thinking. Red
String offers to bribe her and asks how much she would want. She is disinterested as she has chosen
to stand with the other birds. She continues that Red String and other Owls are hooting, looting,
screaming and squawking, boasting and belching as the other birds are hunger-stricken.
In his humorous way, Red String says that whatever is being said neither means they are doing it
nor are they saying what the owls are doing. Red String feels Tel Tel is insulting the intelligence
of the owls. Tel Tel now shouts the same sentiments that the owls are hooting, looting, screaming
and squawking, boasting and belching. He is interrupted by Red String, who tells her to stop.
Tel Tel then says that the birds can no longer twitter to their young ones quietly in the moonlight,
for they have to look after their nests in turns to guard against their little ones or their eggs being
eaten by the unknown attackers. She then insinuates that the attackers are the owls and that Red
String knows the attackers because the Parliament passes the laws that favour them.
Red String cuts her short, drawing her attention to hear something going on. Tel Tel sarcastically
comments that the owls are twittering, tweeting, and hooting. She smells that the Parliament should

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be up to something. She rhetorically questions whether the Parliament could be making a trip to
the stars soon as anything is possible with that Parliament.
That is the point where Red String opens up and explains that the Parliament is pushing to impose
a curfew by changing the roll call hours from 10p.m to 6p.m, and the exercise is to the run-up to
mid-night. This curfew bans moonlight twittering from 6 p.m., ban flying from tree to tree in the
night and any other unauthorised movement past 6 p.m. he says; however, the Owls will be
immune to the new laws as they are above the law, are at liberty to break the said laws.
Red String informs Tel Tel that she has a task to spread propaganda that the curfew is being brought
about by the imminent attack that the Kingdom is facing. Therefore, the owls have seen it prudent
to take temporary measures for the safety of all birds. Red String reminds Tel Tel that she has a
sweet tongue and a powerful beak for spreading falsehood, and she has done it before. He then
threatens that she has to do it.
Tel Tel cries out about what she is being told to do. Red String says that all birds are expected to
contribute daily to a “moonlight tax" to compensate the owls for the long hours they will be
supervising and taking the roll call. He humorously adds that if Tel Tel does not like the term "tax",
he can also tell the other birds that they are contributing a tithe to their gods and that the tax shall
be delivered by Falcon next time he visits the skies.
Tel Tel is shocked that the tax should be called a tax, wondering if the Parliament has become a
church. Red String affirms that the Parliament can as well pass a church for because it has a Pastor
Owl who usually takes care of the spiritual interests of the Royal Owl.
Tel Tel then goes back to ask about the imminent attack that Red String was referring to. Red
String stutters in his attempt to explain but eventually says that the attack is from other enemy
Kingdoms. Tel Tel points out that that is just a way by the Parliament of Owls to extort money
from the other birds.
Red String tells Tel Tel that she is just reading too much into the issue of tax. Tel Tel questions
why curfew should be brought just as the moon appears, and Red String says it is a coincidence.
Tel Tel feels that the owls could feel insecure because of the danger brought about by some birds.
Red String refutes the claims by Tel Tel, saying that the owls are born brave and thus cannot be
scared, and that is why they rule. Tel Tel asks Red String if the vultures usually eavesdrop when
the owls hoot in unison, but Red String is only interested to know if Tel Tel will do what he has
been tasked to do.

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Tel Tel questions the logic behind the introduction of the curfew. She thinks that the introduction
of curfew is a plan to cage some birds after the massacre of Weavers. The owls could be setting
them up for arrest. Red String says that the bill shall be called the Moonlight Bill and will be passed
that same night. It is to benefit the whole Kingdom. Money Bags is the sponsor of this bill, and it
has the blessings of the Royal Owl.
Tel Tel reiterates that if Money Bags is the bill's sponsor, it is just another scam. She refers to the
Parliament as a parliament of scam.
Red String ignores her and tells her that she has the task of convincing the other birds that the tax,
apart from enhancing their safety, will look into the welfare of the birds as it will also be used to
feed the sick and old birds.
Tel Tel firmly informs Red String that she knows all about his lies and that she will no longer be
used to mislead day birds or any other birds. Red String tells her that she has the gift of too much
talk, and Tel Tel agrees but says not for lying.
Red String is fed up with her stubbornness; he gets hold of Tel Tel and threateningly informs her
that she lives on borrowed time. He tells her that he is only giving her a chance to live a little
longer than she should.
Tel Tel questions Red String for resorting to threats, but Red String sarcastically says that Tel Tel
is one of them and they would not kill her. Tel Tel laughs off the statement that he belongs with
the owls. He lets slip that all the other birds, the Sparrow, Weaver, Ostrich, Guinea Fowl, Parrot,
Crested Crane, and others are fed up with the arrogance and greed of the Parliament of Owls and
therefore have formed a coalition and are planning a rebellion and a revolution to save the
Kingdom. She implies that the situation was made worse by Osogo's story, a tragic thing where
weavers were massacred, and the owls fought to take responsibility for that. Tel Tel wants to say
something about Oyundi, but Red String forbids her from mentioning that name. Tel Tel says she
cannot spread more falsehood on behalf of Red String and the Parliament of Owls in general. She
will no longer be used to spread propaganda, especially on behalf of the wicked Parliament of
Owls. She says she was betrayed by the Parliament of Owls who had made her go around the
Kingdom spreading lies about Osogo, and they had promised that they would not touch him.
However, on the contrary, they went after Osogo and wanted to kill him, which resulted in the
massacre of the other Weavers, 33 of them. Red String interjects, saying that there are other

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important issues to discuss rather than dwelling on the past of what should have been done. He
demands to know if Tel Tel will do the task assigned to her.
Tel Tel amusedly says that Oyundi makes the owls look headless and knows how to make a fool
out of them. Red String is enraged and shouts that the owls should not be compared to that little
bird. Tel Tel rubs it in more by sarcastically pointing out that all the owls spent sleepless nights
because of Oyundi, and all of them, with all their heads put together, cannot even get hold of the
little Oyundi. This statement infuriates Red String very much. He warns her that she has crossed
the red line. She is not scared but goes further to mock Red String about the red line if it is like his
red tie, red like Red String Puppet Owl, or red like the red lipstick worn by the Socialite Owl .
Alternatively, even red is like the blood of the weavers that the owls shed.
Red String is angered by these utterances and threatens to charge Tel Tel. She ignores Red String's
threat but tells Red String to listen to the singing of the birds, whom she says are rehearsing the
freedom song. She ultimately tells Red String not to preoccupy himself with arresting her, for she
has declined his offer of being used to spread lies and propaganda.
Red String tries to manipulate Tel Tel by scaring her that she may suffer dire consequences from
the King. Tel Tel defiantly tells Red String that he should return and tell the one who sent him that
she has declined his offer. She is interrupted by the coming in of Arum Tidi.

OBSERVATIONS
▪ This episode paints a picture of a society where the Parliament of Owls is out to protect the
interest of its members at the expense of the great society at large-purely characterised by
issues such as extortion, betrayal, bribery and corruption, among others. Sidang' uses a lot of
humour, sarcasm, satire, personification, among other devices. We meet intimidating
characters such as Red String, facing a lot of defiance and resistance. Red String, a Puppet
owl under Money Bags, is on a mission to use Tel Tel to spread lies and falsehood among
other birds about a moonlight bill that they want to introduce and pass it. They resort to
propagating falsehood because the Parliament has been known for passing laws that only
favour the owls but are discriminative against the other birds. Tel Tel refuses to be roped into
spreading such lies and propaganda, though she has been used earlier.

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▪ Nevertheless, having been betrayed once, she refuses to be used. Her refusal brings her a lot
of death threats and intimidation from Red String, who is trying to convince her to undertake
the task. She, however, stands her ground and refuses to be used.
▪ Unknowingly, Tel Tel reveals a plan by the birds who are fed up with the ills propagated by
the Parliament of Owls and are planning a revolution to remove the owls from power.
▪ Red String attempts to bribe Tel Tel so that she can spread lies and falsehoods among the
birds. Bribery and Corruption is the norm among the owls, more so under Money Bags.
▪ There is much favouritism as Owls pass laws that favour them, yet other birds are constricted
with the same rules. Owls make rules in Parliament but again break the same rules without
any punishment because these laws favour them. For example, Red String is out loitering, yet
it is not yet dusk, but when questioned, he says he is allowed to make a technical appearance
despite the time.
▪ Betrayal is also evident as Tel Tel says she will no longer be used to spread propaganda,
especially on behalf of the wicked Parliament of Owls. She says she was betrayed by the
Parliament of Owls who had made her go around the Kingdom spreading lies about Oso-
go,and they had promised that they would not touch him. However, on the contrary, they went
after Osogo and wanted to kill him, which resulted in the massacre of the other Weavers, 33
of them.
▪ The owls show their cruelty when they massacre weavers. The owls tried to get to Oyundi, but
she escaped their dragnet. They end up killing other birds mercilessly.
▪ There is much deception in this society as Tel Tel was once used to spread lies about Osogo
so that he could be killed. Moreover, Red String wants Tel Tel to spread lies and falsehoods
that there has been an imminent attack on the Kingdom. Therefore, the owls have seen it
prudent to take temporary measures to protect all birds, and the steps include the introduction
of curfew through the moonlight bill. Tel Tel will also tell more lies that a tax will be
introduced on the Moonlight Law and will be used in enhancing their safety, but also it will
look into the welfare of the birds as it will also be used to feed the sick oId birds. He says the
law shall benefit all the birds, yet they are trying to control any revolt from the birds after the
massacre of weavers.
▪ The birds are planning to rebel and revolt against the leadership of the owls. Tel Tel lets slip
that all the other birds, the Sparrow, Weaver, Ostrich, Guinea Fowl, Parrot, Crested Crane,

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 and others are fed up with the arrogance and greed of the Parliament of Owls. They have
formed a coalition and planned a rebellion and a revolution to save the Kingdom. She implies
that the situation was made worse by Osogo's story, a tragic thing where weavers were
massacred, and the owls ought to take responsibility for that.
▪ Red String enhances intimidation as he threatens Tel Tel with death. He tells her that she will
have to spread the lies as instructed or be dealt with. Tel Tel firmly informs Red String that
she knows all about his lies and that she will no longer be used to mislead day birds or any
other birds. Red String gets fed up with her stubbornness; he gets hold of Tel Tel and
threateningly informs her that she lives on borrowed time. He tells her that he is only giving
her a chance to leave a little longer than she should.
▪ There is much extortion as the birds are being forced to contribute daily to a "moonlight tax"
to compensate the owls for the long hours they will use in the supervision and taking of the
roll call during the curfew. The tax will benefit the owls at the expense of other birds who are
extorted by paying this same tax, but it will not ensure their security. Red String humorously
adds that if Tel Tel does not like the term “tax”, he can tell the other birds that they are
contributing a tithe to their gods and that the tax shall be delivered by Falcon next time he
visits the skies.
▪ Owls are involved in the oppression of other birds. They do much looting, eating, belching
and boasting while the other birds are hunger-stricken. They are forced to pay moonlight tax,
while members of Parliament have increased their salaries, while others suffer. The owls
utilise resources for their gain while the populace and subjects suffer. Moreover, birds are
under constant threats as they no longer twitter to their young ones quietly in the moonlight,
for they have to look after their nests in turns to guard against their little ones or their eggs
being eaten by owls. It also brings to the fore insecurity in the Bird Kingdom. Birds constantly
fear their young ones or eggs being eaten by the owls.
▪ The Parliament of Owls enhances dictatorship by restricting the movement of birds and
reducing the hours for birds to twitter and tweet at night. The Parliament wants to impose a
curfew by changing the roll call hours from 10p.m to 6p.m, and the exercise is to run up to
midnight. This curfew shows that the Parliament has banned moonlight twittering from 6 p.m.
as well as it bans flying from tree to tree in the night and any other unauthorised movement

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 past 6 p.m. However, the Owls will be immune to the new laws as they are above the law and
are at liberty to break them.
▪ Red String is intimidating as he threatens Tel Tel to go around and spread propaganda to other
birds about the moonlight bill, failure to which he threatens to kill her. He is also corrupt as he
offers to bribe Tel Tel to contract her in spreading falsehood. Red String is boastful as he
brags that they have the instruments of power and that there is nothing Tel Tel can do even
after he has threatened her.
▪ Red String is manipulative as tries to rope Tel Tel into accepting the task given by mentioning
how Royal Owl is Scary and ruthless.
▪ On the other hand, Tel Tel is quite inquisitive. She throws many questions to Red String
concerning the moonlight bill. She is also observant as she points out that the tax that Red
String mentions is not about the welfare of the birds but to enrich the members of Parliament
of Owls. She is firm as she cannot be swayed into accepting to be bribed to be used to spread
propaganda to the other birds.
▪ Tel Tel is adamant. Red String tries to threaten her not to continue speculating that the
intended tax is for the sole benefit of the owls. However, she mentions it, pointing out that the
Parliament is corrupt and passes laws for the sole benefit of its members alone. She calls it a
scam parliament.
▪ Tel Tel is sarcastic; she sarcastically laughs at Red String when he tells her that she has
crossed a red line. Tel Tel is also humorous; she says that Oyundi makes owls look headless.
▪ This episode is majorly based on personifications with the birds such as Tel Tel and Red
String representing human characters, more so the Parliament in our day-to-day society. Tel
Tel also uses sarcasm, for example, saying that the red line that Red String says she has
crossed could be like the red blood of the weavers that were massacred.
▪ Her name Tel Tel is also symbolic of talking too much. Red String says she has a beak that
talks much and convinces others.
▪ Humour is another style evident in the episode. Red String says that what the birds say is not
what they do and is not what the birds are saying. Red String also humorously says that the
birds should consider the tax as a tithe which will be taken to the gods by the Falcon the next
time he flies to the skies.

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▪ Tel Tel satirically paints the Parliament of Owls as corrupt. She points out that with them,
anything is possible, that they can even be planning for a trip to the stars.
▪ Red String is arrogant. He tells Osogo that the owls are above the law. They will make the
laws and break them.
▪ Red String humorously says that the moonlight tax can even be considered a tithe, which
Falcon will take to the gods during his next visit.
▪ Tel Tel is firm; Red String cannot convince her to spread propaganda to the birds.
▪ Red String is intimidating; he threatens Tel Tel with death for her refusal to spread
propaganda for the Royal Owl.

KEY NOTES
THEMES
• Tribalism
• Social Class stratification
• Bad Governance
Characters Traits
Red String
• Hypocritical
• Manipulative
• Humorous
• Arrogant

PAGE 13-21
Arum Tidi enters, and Tel Tel wants to know what he is doing there. He ignores her and asks Red
String what is going on. Red String sees that he has got an option for the bird he can use to spread
the propaganda about the moonlight bill, which is supposed to be passed. He appreciates the
presence of Arum Tidi, albeit not sincerely. He tells him that the Royal Owl always passes his
regards to Arum Tidi.
Arum Tidi is enthralled and asks Red String what kind of song he should sing. He arrogantly boasts
of blowing his own trumpet. Tel Tel is disgusted by Arum Tidi's arrogance and makes it known to
him. Red String mocks Tel Tel that she thought she was the only one who could be relied on to
convince the other birds to believe that the new law will benefit all the birds. Arum Tidi supports
him by saying that if the other birds cannot be convinced, they will have to be confused.

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Red String is excited by the intelligence and creativity of Arum Tidi. He sneers at Tel Tel. She
wants to leave in protest, but Red String intimates that he will make her be seen as a traitor by the
other birds. He blackmails her that he will make sure all the other birds know about her when she
is locked up for treason. The only choice that Tel Tel is given is to move around and convince the
day birds and grain-eaters to support the moonlight bill.
Tel Tel complains about the blackmail and affirms that she did not agree to carry out Red String’s
assignment. Red String is ready to twist around the information in such a way that it will be known
that Tel Tel had agreed to the task of spreading the false information about the moonlight bill, but
because the pay ways too little, she walked out in protest. Red String is ready to make all the other
birds believe that. Arum Tidi laughs at Tel Tel pleading to Red String not to do that to her.
Red String Says he will go further to make it worse for Tel Tel by revealing that she cannot be
trusted as she had revealed the other birds' secrets of the planned rebellion and revolution. This
revelation will make all the other birds not trust her.
Tel Tel tells Red String that he will pay for what he is doing to her, but he is quick to dismiss her
and boastfully says that the owls have the instruments of power, and thus Tel Tel has got no option
but to adhere to the terms and conditions of what she has been asked to do or face the dire
consequences. Tel Tel leaves.
Arum Tidi jokingly toys around with the idea of terms and conditions, or conditional terms or
rather terminal conditions. Arum Tidi does not see that those terminal conditions could signal an
end to anyone who undertakes to work with the Owls to propagate their propaganda. He asks Red
String to fill him in on the news that he will pass around. Red String praises him for his wits to
entice him into undertaking the task at hand.
Arum Tidi brags that he had advised Red String to avoid engaging the small birds like Tel Tel, but
instead, he should trust his fellow night birds. Red String jumps in and agrees that he should have
listened to Arum Tidi, but he had to engage the day bird because the Parliament wanted to reach
out to all birds, and that could only have been done through Tel Tel. He says, unlike the rogue
Oyundi, Tel Tel appealed to the emotions of the day birds, and they tended to listen to her. Tel Tel
warned the other birds of danger by hammering the trees.
Arum Tidi suggests that for Red String to succeed in propagating his propaganda, he needs to deal
with the hammering done by Tel Tel. Red String is interested to know he can go about it. Arum
Tidi offers him solutions. He suggests that he can ban the hammering, to ban the making of noise

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from hammering. Alternativel, he could introduce a fee to conserve the environment, which is to
be paid by any bird that wants to do the hammering. Another solution Arum Tidi gives is that Red
String could as well arrest Tel Tel so that she could not counter propagandas they push their
agenda.
Red String is not comfortable with how he can come to arrest Tel Tel, as he does not find his
backing in the law. Arum Tidi tells him to accuse Tel Tel of noise pollution, and if there is no such
item in the law, he should sneak it into their laws. Red String commends Arum Tidi for his
cleverness but points out that that same noise pollution law may also affect Arum Tidi. Arum Tidi
is quick to suggest that he should be made an employee of the Parliament. He is exempted from
following this law, an indication that the members of this Parliament make these laws but make
exceptions for themselves such that they can break the same laws that they make. Red String agrees
that that can be looked into.
Arum Tidi then asks about that law that Red String wants to sell to the birds. He is informed that
it shall be called the moonlight Bill, and by dawn, it would have become the Moonlight Law. He
says that it can also be called Money Bags law because Money Bags sponsor it.
Arum Tidi is interested to know what is in for him after undertaking the task. He is promised a rat
every night. He suggests that they should be two every night. However, Red String hoodwinks
Arum Tidi, saying that Arum Tidi will have a rat every night with delicious soup at the Royal
Trees, where he will dine with the King for the seven days.
Arum Tidi is excited about that prospect, and he praises the Royal King, Nyongoro, wishing him
a long life. He also praises the Parliament as an awesome Parliament of OwIs. He further praises
his type of Hornbills, wishing them long life, a stance which Red String gives disapproval.
Red String reminds Arum Tidi of what is to be done and reminds him of the terms and conditions,
failure to which dire repercussions would follow. They agree to keep their discussions a secret.
Arum Tidi is happy and revels in serving the owls. He assures Red String that he will spread the
propaganda about moonlight bill with his body, soul and mind. He says he will do it meticulously
and very fast, and extensively. He then declares to spread the news throughout the Kingdom, day
and night, of how the Money Bags Bill will ironically change the Kingdom for the better.
Arum Tidi then brings up an issue about the renegade owls rebelling against the Parliament of
Owls. The rebel owls have refused to be involved in looting resources like the other loyal owls.
Red String assures him that he should not worry about the rebel owls like Feathered Beak and his

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colleagues, who think they are clever enough to dictate to Royal Owl. They have a plan on how to
deal with the rebel owls.
Arum Tidi suggests also spreading propaganda about those rebel owls. However, Red String
advises against it, saying that the sixty-six strategy advises that one should fight one enemy at a
time to avoid wasting time and resources.
Red String reminds Arum Tidi that he has a task to accomplish, and he will be watching closely to
ensure that it is done. Osogo plays his flute again, a thing that disturbs Red String. Arum Tidi
assures Red String that the moonlight bill will become law, and all birds will have to adhere to the
curfew requirements.
Arum Tidi then starts his announcement on the Moonlight Bill. He persuades all te birds to arise
and thank the charming Parliament of Owls for the safety and security of all birds; day birds, night
birds, grain-eaters, omnivores, birds like the hornbills, loyal to his Majesty, Royal Owl, King Tula
Nyongoro. He sarcastically calls on the birds to come and celebrate the law, which will deny them
their freedom and rights to movement and reduce time to their activities; Arum Tidi laughs as he
goes away.

OBSERVATIONS

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