PARLIAMENT OF OWIS GUIDE

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Parliament of Owls by Adipo Sidang

Introduction

‘Parliament of Owls’ is a poetry work by Adipo Sidang’ touching on different themes with politics and
the state of African politics as the over-arching theme. The poet explores with blunt honesty and
unique literary style the socio-political ills that have undermined development in African countries, with
great reference to Kenya. Besides the theme of politics, the poet grapples with the reality and illusion
of love, delves into the theme of life and death, characterized by a deep existentialist tone. The poet
also doesn’t fail to assert the place of the artist in the society. “Parliament of Owls heralds the arrival
of a new emperor on the African poetry scene…and this emperor, Adipo Sidang’, is hooting the naked
truth.” Tony Mochama, a Kenyan award-winning novelist, poet and literary critic says of the book.

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• Indeed, Parliament of Owls is a poetry book done by one of the foremost English speakers in
Kenya, I know. Mwalimu Consultancy, the Chief Analyst of this Book learns that the author is a
pan-African thinker and so, the book tackles the topics of politics, of course, corruption, existence,
love and hope; there’s music in it. It is a critic, suggestion and a masterpiece.

• The poet reels much in the command of English. Adipo enjoys the music from the words flowing
through his pen.The book invites the reader to take a taxi to ‘poetry galaxy to discover verse,
reality and music’.

• The particular poem that the book is titled is about grand corruption in government.

It is loaded in high symbolism, humor but carries a serious message.

Of politicians it says;

“…they hovered like a committee of vultures scavenging like vultures and pigs! like hyenas and
ticks!…”

• All Kenyan leaders, and Africa at large love brainless drama instead of delivering to the masses.
They are empty, always engaging in prostitution, drunkenness and sleaze.

“Socialite owl makes up her face without making her mind and she terrifically twerks ceaselessly
burning cigar and wine”

Parliament of Owls Quick Study Guide

• It is divided into four parts, firstly, Kingdom of the deranged, which deals in poetry about politics,
enigmas, democratic governance, and African torchbearer.

• Secondly, the book of love, laughter and lies, tackles relationships. At some point I wondered,
where did this bachelor get so many words to entice women, to know heartbreaks.

• One of the poems, Love is a Ring was visualised. However, shortened. Read this poem by buying
the book.

Thirdly, Poems in D Minor, which delves into the subject of existence, so much for a mixture of many
emotions that strings music throughout this section.

• Part four, and the last one is title, Weapenry of the Poet, here Adipo, an awardwinning author pens
much music through his verses. Some message is serious, others a celebration of life, a journey to
the place where the poet has reached since having his vision to write.

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Throughout the book, the author’s love for English and mastery of it rings true.

• Being a lover of poems, the only downside is that the book is too long to read, but with poetry, why
should one hurry?

The book is Published by Contact Zones, Nairobi a Project of Native Intelligence.

Parliament of Owls Quick Study Guide

A POETIC MAN: ADIPO SIDANG

ADIPO SIDANG’ rose to literary fame last year after the publication of his collection of poetry,
Parliament of Owls. A play built on the theme of the title poem in the book was recently staged at the
Kenya National Theatre.

Who are you? I am an avant-garde poet and author of “Parliament of Owls” poetry collection. And
now, with the adaptation of the title poem in “Parliament of Owls,” I am a playwright. I am culture
exponent who advocates the archiving of African cultures through literature and performative arts. In
one word, my philosophy is “authenticity” which must be exhibited in our literature, both written and
oral.

The idea to adapt “Parliament of Owls” was conceived at the launch of my book time back when
University of Nairobi theatre students staged a theatre performance of the title poem. The
performance was well received and I felt I owed lovers of poetry and theatre performance a stage
play, hence the birth of this play which couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time given it is a
political season. I also perform my poetry, and I have gone the extra mile to do audio-visual
productions of my performances. I will also do it with selected poems from my collection. This is
because I believe it is time we packaged poetry (just like pizza) and delivered it on the doorstep of our
audience.

About the play: Parliament of Owls.

• “Parliament of Owls”. A group of owls is actually known as a parliament of owls. Contextualized,

owls are a symbol of bad omen in most if not all African cultures. There is a lot of semblance
between our parliament (read leadership) and owls hence the use of the term.

What is the play about?

• The play is set in the Kingdom of Birds ruled by the owls, with Parliament of Owls as the most
powerful institution only comparable to the Royal Trees – the abode of the Royal Owl, King Tula
Nyongoro. Money Bags Owl is the Royal Owl’s most trusted ally but he is corrupt, and goes
grabbing every tree around. Besides he is the “sponsor” of Socialite Owl who uses her position in

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 Parliament to push for passing of bills like the “Make-Up” Bill and works closely with Red String
Puppet Owl and other sycophants in ensuring the interests of owls are protected, for instance with
the passing of the Moonlight Bill.

• However, Iron Lady Owl leads some owls in rebelling against bad governance. The rebel owls,
together with Day Birds, Grain Eaters and some Night Birds and Omnivores (like Fleshy Carcass
Vulture) join hands to support a tiny female Day

Bird called Oyundi the Fire-finch who happens to be as cunning as her trainer Ogila Nyakarondo the
Hare from King Lion’s Kingdom. Oyundi has to work out a plan of how to trick the Royal Owl to ensure
Parliament of Owls is replaced with Flock of Birds – an inclusive government. In an effort 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.

• Mwalimu Consultancy Ltd, the chief analyst of this Set book believes this play is a political satire
that highlights how bad leadership, tribalism and corruption can militate against the growth of a
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 insofar as civic consciousness is concerned.
• Mwalimu Consultancy Ltd, the chief analyst of this Set book analyses that in the Opening Act of
the play Parliament of Owls (East African Educational Publishers) by Adipo Sidang, we are
immediately drawn into the world of these nocturnal birds by two characters.

• Osogo, the weaver bird, is in a state of sadness, as he plays melancholic tunes on his flute. Red
String, a sycophantic owl of the Royal trees, with hollow eyeglasses made from millet stalk and a
protruding tummy, thus cutting a comic figure, stealthily encroaches (onto) the space of Osogo.But
there is nothing comical about their verbal twilight-lit confrontation (as opposed to the literary
cowboy shootouts at high noon).

• Osogo wants to know why a certain ‘cunning’ weaverbird was killed, yet she had the Right to
Life.Red String replies with the cliché that (all) freedoms have their limits.
• Then adds ominously: ‘Falcon goes as high as he can because he is created to hit high levels. He
can touch the clouds and tell us when it will rain. But you weavers cannot. That is why falcon is our
weatherman…’The implication is clear!

Parliament of Owls Quick Study Guide

• Birds like Osogo, the Weaver, are meant to ‘lie low like envelopes,’ in the words of the belligerent
if intelligent late Maa politician, William ole Ntimama.And in Adipo’s allegorical play, set in the Bird
Kingdom, the owls have cast themselves as the only birds with the capacity to think intelligently

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 and make ‘brilliant’ laws for the good of the Kingdom – which is ruled by a mysteriously malevolent
Royal Owl, King Tula Nyongoro.

• As Red String explains to weaver bird Osogo, right from the get-go, ‘we Owls have the largest
eyes, and power will always rest with We the night birds and the omnivores, not with you, day-time
grain peckers! We must protect the Kingdom from you for the sake of protecting it from Hyena,
Snake and Mongoose.’

• Mwalimu Consultancy Ltd, the chief analyst of this Set book believes for the third and fourth
formers who will read (and perform) this play, that is now an optional KCSE set book across all
secondary schools in the country, Sidang’s play may be seen as a

play on the narrative of either ‘ruling ethnic ethnicities’ (who believe it is their right to rule based on
‘large eyes’ or tyranny of numbers) or, also, tribal kingpins who pretend to protect ‘community’ turf
from other hostile tribal toughs.

• Yet, like in the ‘Parliament of Owls’ (which is really the collective phrase for these oft dreaded
doom fowl, associated with all sorts of superstition in African folklore, including being harbingers of
Death), the way business is conducted in their august House will leave the reader aghast, as they
are selfish.

• Of course, inevitably, there is rebellion in the Kingdom of Birds, pitting a fiery tiny female fire-finch
against Arum Tindi, thunderous ground hornbill and chief propagandist for the parliament of Owls.

• This is reminiscent of the sly but persuasive Snowy in George Orwell’s classic ‘Animal

Farm,’ whose Swahili version ‘Shamba La Wanyama’ was a Kenyan secondary school set book for
many years.

• In this paper we are going to discuss the following salient issues; bad governance, death, love and
role of women in the society. We will discuss the above issues based on numerous selected
poems from the anthology Parliament of Owlswhich was written and compiled by Adipo Sidang
2016.

• In our analysis of an anthology of Parliament of Owls by Adipo Sidang the issues that we
discussed will be guided by various authorities who have commented on the

issues either directly or indirectly .

• In our analysis we shall concentrate on the concern of bad governance, that is how government
officials engage in social ills like corruption for self-gratification at the expense of the citizen’s .This
is evident in the poem, “Parliament of Owls”. The poems “Left of us” and Flames of freedom” will

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 guide us in illustrating the effects of political wrangles on the people and the country’s economy in
general. We shall focus on the issue of death that brings about emotional and psychological
sufferings to the families of the victim .Death having no subjective meaning has become a part of
our day to day life hence we must adapt and accept it as a stage in life.

• Women have come a long way in defying the odds and challenging issues of gender inequality
that existed and still experienced in everyday life .The poems “Woman in kisii night club” “Free my
heart”,” In remembrance of Brenda”, “Marjorie lives on” and “shipwreck” guided in the discussion
of roles of women in the society.

• Different characters addressed by the poet paved a way for other women to assume leadership
roles in modern life.Adipo talks about how these women created their own stories by standing for
what they believed in and making major breakthroughs in different fields in the society and
literature.
• Today women in positions of power challenge the status quo and this has given more
opportunities to women who have been previously disregarded .Growth of women in leadership
positions has streghthened and the world has a new view of women as intellectuals other than
sexual objects. Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states.
The poems “Revival” “Ningwendete” “book of love “and “you killed me” guided us in analyzing the
theme of love.

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