November 21, 2025
Introduction
Up next is the Analysis of Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan. I will examine the plot, setting, characters, characterisation, themes, etc.
About the Drama
Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan is a 14 chapter tragic drama about greed, betrayal, and hunger for power. It revealed Serubawon's tricky bribery and fetish manipulation to enthrone Olaniyonu who ruled badly and corruptly until karma caught up with both of them in a very short period of time.Themes of Once Upon an Elephant
Hunger for Power; Ajanaku was very hungry to become king and Serubawon was willing to make (Ajanaku) his bastard son the king. Serubawon had to motivate Olaniyonu aka Ajanaku to do everything in his power to push for the throne ahead of his elder brothers. Serubawon had his eyes on the throne even while Akinjoba was still alive which made him impregnate the king's wife while slowly killing the king in pretence of curing his ailment.Olaniyonu aka Ajanaku was bribing the likes of Serubawon, Odejimi and Ogundele to enhance his ticket to the throne of Akinjoba. He even paid Serubawon (the village medicine man) to empower him with charms and voodoo that would make him fierce and untouchable.
Love: the show of love between characters contributed to the progress of the plot; Delani and Omoyeni were so in love to the extent that she carried Delani's pregnancy even after Ajanaku powerfully snatched her from Delani. Delani had to serve as an apprentice to prove his love to Omoyeni's father.
Odekunle and Desola were lovers; they always rendezvous in the bush, path to the streams and under farm trees. Whenever they meet, they chat romantically while discussing their wedding plans and their marriage. Unfortunately, Ajanaku truncated their plan with the r@pe he carried out on Desola while his bodyguards held Odekunle to tearfully watch the act of molestation given to his lover.
Betrayal: Serubawon betrayed his friend Akinjobi by impregnating Adebisi (king Akinjobi's second wife) and slowly killed him instead of curing him. When Serubawon discovered that Iya-Agba was aware of his lustful relationship with Adebisi, he convinced King Akinjobi and the entire village to escommunicate Iya-Agba for suffering mental derailment.
Betrayal: Serubawon betrayed his friend Akinjobi by impregnating Adebisi (king Akinjobi's second wife) and slowly killed him instead of curing him. When Serubawon discovered that Iya-Agba was aware of his lustful relationship with Adebisi, he convinced King Akinjobi and the entire village to escommunicate Iya-Agba for suffering mental derailment.
He betrayed the entire village by manipulating the king’s throne. He made sure Olaniyonu was named the new king even when the oracle wasn't in support of Olaniyonu because he wasn't the biological son of Akinjobi, the dead king.
Other themes are bride-price (Odekunle and Desola had to maintain the status quo regarding marriage process in a Yoruba traditional system; which involved a compulsory payment of bride-price among many other things), greed (there was so many evidence of greed in the drama "Once Upon an Elephant" by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan_ the likes of Olaniyonu, Serubawon, Odejimi, Ogundele were all greedy characters in the drama), bribery, corrupt leadership (Olaniyonu aka Ajanaku was a symbol of corrupt leadership in the drama), etc.
Other themes are bride-price (Odekunle and Desola had to maintain the status quo regarding marriage process in a Yoruba traditional system; which involved a compulsory payment of bride-price among many other things), greed (there was so many evidence of greed in the drama "Once Upon an Elephant" by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan_ the likes of Olaniyonu, Serubawon, Odejimi, Ogundele were all greedy characters in the drama), bribery, corrupt leadership (Olaniyonu aka Ajanaku was a symbol of corrupt leadership in the drama), etc.
Characters of Once Upon an Elephant
Olaniyonu (aka Ajanaku), the wrongfully enthroned king.Serubawon: the village medicine man, one of the kingmakers, and the father of Ajanaku.
Odekunle; the guy dating Desola and friend of Dele, Lere, Yele, and Delani.
Desola; the lady dating Odekunle, friend of Yosola and the daughter of Serubawon.
Omoyeni; the wife of Ajanaku but secret lover of Delani.
Delani; the guy in love with Omoyeni.
Iya-Agba; the first wife of king Akinjobi.
Ogundele; the father of Odekunle and also a kingmaker.
Demoke; the wife of Serubawon.
Odejimi; the husband of Iyale and also a kingmaker.
Iyale; friend of Iya-Agba.
Adebisi; the second wife of king Akinjobi and the mother of Ajanaku the bastard son.
Video Analysis of Once Upon an Elephant
Author of Once Upon an Elephant
Bosede Ademilua Afolayan is a Nigerian writer and language teacher. An Associate Professor in the Department of English, University of Lagos, Nigeria.Finally, I have to draw the curtain close on the analysis of Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua Afolayan. Kindly drop your comments below and also share this post to social media platforms by using the social media share buttons.
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