The Dark Side of Charity

There is, of course, enough material to be able to say something, at least, about the play. So, one can say that Nothing Human presents a kind of power tussle between two women: Bella (Bridget Nkem), the only daughter of a once-affluent family; and Djamila (Ade Laoye), her adoptive sister and childhood friend, whose biological father worked as a servant for the family many years ago. Now, many years later, Bella has just returned to Senegal from the United States, broke, divorced and with three sons—and she wants to reclaim her luxury apartment, which she allowed Djamila to occupy with the agreement that the latter would move out when Bella returned. But, having made a good life in the apartment, Djamila refuses to vacate it. She more than refuses—she believes herself entitled to the apartment, claiming it as hers (‘This apartment is mine because I decree it!’ she proclaims.) In between these two women, acting as some kind of mediator, is Ignatius (‘Chukwu Martin), Djamila’s neighbour and lover, whose holy grail is to see Djamila’s mysterious daughter, whom he believes is his but of whom he has only ever heard. In the end, Ignace will finally get a glimpse of the child, only to then lose his home to Bella.