THE DRUMMER BOY BY BAYO ONUWAJE

 



THE DRUMMER BOY

A Short Story By BAYO ONUWAJE

 

© Bayo Onuwaje 2025

 

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THE SYNOPSIS OF THE STORY

In the ancient town of Igbodoja, Lakunle, a talented drummer, and his band are overshadowed by the arrogant and famous drummer, Oyeleye. When Oyeleye refuses to perform for the king, Lakunle's band gets a chance to shine, particularly his adopted little brother, Ayansola, whose exceptional drumming skills captivate the king and the audience. Ayansola's subsequent departure to Oyeleye's band leads to a series of events that ultimately result in his return to Lakunle's band and Oyeleye's downfall.

 

THE DRUMMER BOY

 

In the ancient town of Igbodoja, music was woven into the fabric of everyday life. Among its many talented drummers was Lakunle, a young man who had inherited his remarkable drumming skills from his father, Pa Olalekan, and his lineage of skilled drummers. Lakunle's band was renowned for their captivating cultural performances, which often featured his little brother, Ayansola, on the medium twin drums.

Igbodoja was home to many exceptional drummers, but one name stood out above the rest: Oyeleye. His mastery of the drums had earned him widespread acclaim, and he was frequently invited to perform at ceremonies in and beyond the village. However, Oyeleye's fame had also bred arrogance, and he began to demand exorbitant fees for his services, payable upfront. Despite his haughty demeanour, people still clamoured for his services.

When the king of Igbodoja planned a grand occasion, he naturally desired Oyeleye's band to entertain his guests. Unfortunately, Oyeleye had already committed to another event in a neighbouring village, one that promised a more substantial payment. Despite the king's chiefs' best efforts to persuade him, Oyeleye refused to budge, suggesting that the king could find another drummer to suit his needs.

The king was devastated by Oyeleye's rejection. In response, his chiefs gathered all the drummers in the village for a screening to find the best replacement. Lakunle, however, was absent from the gathering, as he was busy caring for his ailing mother.

The screening failed to yield a suitable replacement for Oyeleye, leaving the king in a predicament. One day, while the prince and his guards were passing through a bush, they stumbled upon Lakunle rehearsing with his band. The prince was captivated by the sound of the drums, particularly the mesmerizing beats produced by Ayansola's twin drums.

 

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The prince approached the group and inquired about their absence from the screening. Lakunle explained his situation, and the prince, moved by his circumstances, decided to invite Lakunle and Ayansola to perform for the king at the palace. Lakunle's band delivered an extraordinary performance, with Ayansola's drumming stealing the show. The king was thoroughly impressed and proclaimed that Lakunle's band would be the main entertainment for his upcoming occasion.

At the event, Lakunle and his band, including Ayansola, performed with unmatched passion and skill, leaving the audience and the king in awe. However, instead of Lakunle's name being on everyone's lips, it was Ayansola's exceptional drumming that had captured the hearts of the crowd.

Lakunle was overjoyed by his brother's success and felt proud to have been a part of it. The king rewarded them handsomely for their performance. Meanwhile, Oyeleye, who had returned to Igbodoja, was displeased upon hearing about Lakunle's band's success, particularly Ayansola's newfound fame.

Oyeleye devised a plan to lure Ayansola to his group, he came up with different strategies, offering him a substantial sum of money and enticing promises. Unknown to others, Ayansola was not Lakunle’s biological brother but had been adopted by Lakunle’s mother, Asake, after his father's passing. Asake had been a great admirer of Ayansola's father, a skilled drummer.

Asake had revealed to Lakunle that there was a secret tied to Ayansola's twin drums and an incision on his hand, which made his drumming irresistibly captivating to all who heard it. With Ayansola's departure to Oyeleye's group, it seemed that Oyeleye's popularity would soar.

However, a year later, Ayansola's fame had eclipsed Oyeleye's, making him jealous. Oyeleye plotted to get rid of Ayansola, but one of his crew members, Akin, sympathetic to Ayansola's plight, warned Lakunle about the danger. Lakunle informed the prince, who arranged for Ayansola's safe return.

Ayansola finally discovered Oyeleye's treachery through Akin and regretted his action, the prince intervened to reconcile Lakunle, Ayansola, and their mother, Asake. The band was reunited, and the king subsequently banished Oyeleye from the community for his insubordination and attempted harm to Ayansola. This development propelled Lakunle's band to the forefront, cementing their position as the top band in the community.

 

The End.

 

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NOTABLE LESSONS FROM THE STORY

1. Humility is key: Oyeleye's arrogance and pride ultimately led to his downfall, while Lakunle's humility and willingness to learn earned him respect and success.

2. Talents can be hidden: Lakunle's band, particularly Ayansola's drumming, were not initially recognized until the prince stumbled upon them. This shows that talents can be hidden and may need opportunities to shine.

3. Loyalty and gratitude matter: Ayansola's decision to leave Lakunle's band for Oyeleye's led to consequences. This highlights the importance of loyalty and gratitude towards those who have supported and nurtured us.

4. Jealousy can be destructive: Oyeleye's jealousy of Ayansola's talent and fame ultimately led to his banishment. This serves as a warning against letting jealousy consume us.

5. Forgiveness is important: Lakunle's forgiveness of Ayansola after he rejoined the band shows that forgiveness is essential for healing and moving forward.

6. True talent will shine through: Despite being in Oyeleye's band, Ayansola's exceptional talent still shone through, demonstrating that true talent cannot be hidden or suppressed.

7. The power of secrets and mysteries: The secret tied to Ayansola's twin drums and incision on his hand adds a layer of mystique to the story, highlighting the idea that some talents or abilities may have unknown or mystical origins.

 

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