“Why Mosquitos Buzz
in Peoples’ Ears”
By: Dupont/Hiller
Dialogue 1
• Narrator 1: Funga alafia, ahshay, ahshay!
Welcome everyone to our play! In Africa, children
are told stories that explain why common things
occur.
• Narrator 2: These are called pourquoi, or why
stories. Today, our story answers the question,
“Why do mosquitos buzz in people’s ears?”
• Narrators 1,2,3: Do you know why?
• Narrator 3: So join us on our journey to the
African forest. Funga Alafia, ahshay, ahshay!
Funga Alafia
• Funga alafia, ahshay, ahshay
• Funga alafia, ahshay, ahshay!
Dialogue 2
• Narrator 4: One morning a mosquito saw a family of
Agamas cooling themselves in the shade of a berry bush.
He decided to have a little fun.
• Mosquito: No, agamas! Do not eat the berries on that
bush!
• Agama : Why not?
• Mosquito: They will give you warts as big a potatoes! Oh, I
see I am too late-you must have already eaten them!
• Agama : What a big lie! We have been eating these berries
all day! You have insulted us!
• Narrator 5: The agamas thrashed their long tales at
Mosquito, but he was too quick. He flew away laughing.
Such Lies you Tell
• Such lies you tell, we know quite well your stories are not
true!
• We do not hear and have no fear, they’ll get the best of
you!
• (Spoken)
V 3: No_more_sil-ly lies!
V 2: We don’t believe you, We don’t believe you
V 1: Uh-uh! Uh-uh!
• (Sung)
• Such lies you tell, we know quite well your stories are not
true! We do not hear and have no fear, they’ll get the best
of you!
Dialogue 3
• Narrator 6: The agamas were so angry that they covered
their ears with their claws and went off through the forest.
They were still mumbling to themselves when they came
across a family of Gaboon Vipers.
• Viper: Jambo, jambo! Hello, Agamas! Isn’t it a beautiful
day?
• Narrator 7: But the Agamas were still so angry by what
mosquito said that they kept their ears covered and did not
hear the Vipers.
• Viper: Now, why won’t the Agamas speak to us? We mus
have done something to offend them! Perhaps they are
planning to do us harm!
Why Won’t the Agamas Speak to Us?
• Why won’t the Agamas speak to us? They’re
acting so ridiculous! Planning a plot so
mischievous, we must away and hide!
• Why wont the Agamas speak to us? They’re
making such an awful fuss! There’s nothing for
us to discuss, we must away and hide!
Dialogue 4
• Narrator 8: The Vipers were so afraid that the
Agamas were planning mischief against them that
they decided to slither into a dense thicket for
protection.
• Narrator 9: A family of Duikers was living in the
thicket. When they saw the big snakes appear,
they were frightened.
• Duiker: The vipers must be looking for their
dinner! They will catch us if we let them! Hurry,
we must run for our lives!
Hurry, Hurry
• Hurry, hurry scamper, scurry
• Running, running in a flurry!
• They want something soft and furry, we must quickly
run away!
• (Spoken) One, two three four. Running ‘cross the forest
floor. Five, six, seven, eight. Musn’t linger, musn’t wait!
Eight, seven, six, five. Quickly flee to stay alive. Four,
three, two, one. Hurry, everyone!
• (Sing) Hurry, hurry, scamper scurry. running, running in
a flurry!
• They want something soft and furry, we must quickly
run away!
Dialogue 5
• Narrator 10: In the low branches of a mighty
kapok tree, a family of Mandrills was napping
Lazily. The sound of the Duikers running
through the forest woke them with a start.
• Mandrill: The Duikers are running from
something! Theer mus ber danger in the
forest! Sound the alarm!
Sound a Warning
• Sound a warning, sound a warning, danger is
upon us!
• Sound a warning, sound a warning, run for your
lives!
• Beasts are prowling near, there is so much to fear,
and we must disapear, let us away!
• Sound a warning, sound a warning, danger is
upon us!
• Sound a warning, sound a warning run for your
lives!
Dialogue 6
• Narrator 11: In great haste, the Mandrills began leaping
through the trees, screeching their warnings. One of them
accidentally knocked into the nest of a Sunbird suspended
from the branch of a tree.
• Narrator 12: Sadly, one of the nestlings fell to the ground
and was killed.
• Narrator 13: Mother Sunbird was not there, for she was
busy looking for nectar and insects to feed her babies. She
returned home to find one of them dead.
• Baby Sunbird: Mother, something terrible has happened!
While you were gone we heard cries of danger. Mandrills
came crashing through the treetops. Brother Sunbird has
been killed!
Sunbird’s Lament
• Mother what has happened is beyond belief
• Hear our song of sorrow, hear our song of
grief
• Brother, you were gentle, gentle as a leaf
• Hear our song of sorrow, hear our song of
grief
Dialogue 7
• Narrator 14: SO great was Mother Sunbird’s grief
that she could not bear to wake the sun, for it
was hear beautiful song that beckoned the sun to
rise each day.
• Narrator 15: The forest animals were worried.
The darkness was lasting much too long. What if
the sun never rose again? They went to King Lion
to voice their concern.
• Narrator 16: When King Lion heard that Mother
Sunbird was too sad to wake the sun, he
summoned all of the animals to a tribal council.
Dialogue 7 (continued)
• King Lion: Mother Sunbird, why is it that the darkness has lasted so
long? What has caused such sadness tomake you not call for the
sun to rise?
• Mother Sunbird: The Mandrills came crashing through the trees
and disturbed my nest. One of my babies fell out and was killed.
• King Lion: So! It was the Mandrills who killed Mother Sunbird’s
baby.
• ALL: “The sun must rise and light the skies. Oh, sunbird sing your
song!”
• Mandrill: No! It was the Duikers’ fault! We saw them running away
from danger. We ran through the trees to sound a warning! The
Duikers alarmed the Mandrills…
• Baby Sunbird: Who killed brother Sunbird.
• All: “The sun must rise and light the skies. Oh, sunbird sing your
song!”
Dialogue 7 (continues…)
• Duiker: No! It was the Viper’s fault! We were home minding our own
business. They tried to eat us! The vipers startled the duikers…
• Mandrill: Who alarmed the Mandrills…
• Baby Sunbird: who killed brother Sun bird.
• All: “The sun must rise and light the skies. Oh, sunbird sing your song!”
• Viper: No! IT was the Agamas’ fault! We said good morning to them, but
they ignored us. We though they were planning to do us harm. We were
only looking for a safe place to hide! The agamas upset the Vipers..
• Duikers: Who frightened the duikers…
• Mandrill: Who alarmed the Mandrills…
• Baby Sunbird: who killed brother Sun bird…
• All: “The sun must rise and light the skies. Oh, sunbird sing your song!”
• King Lion: Agamas, what harm have you been planning for the Vipers?
• Agama: None at all! We are peaceful and have always been friends of the
Vipers!
Dialogue 7 (cont..)
• King lion: Then why didn’t’s you answer when they said good morning to
you?
• Agama: We were so angry at mosquito for making fun of us that we
covered our ears and did not hear them! Mosquito angered the Agamas…
• Viper: Who upset the vipers..
• Duikers: Who frightened the duikers…
• Mandrills: Who alarmed the Mandrills….
• Sunbird: Who killed brother Sunbird…
• All: Mosquito must be punished!
• Narrator 17: When Mother Sunbird heard the animals tell their stories,
she understood and all of her bitterness melted away. She turned toward
the east and sang.
• Mother Sunbird (solo): “The sun must rise and light the skies, for now my
song is sung!”
• All: And the sun came up!
Bwana Awabariki
• Bwana awabariki, bwana awabariki, bwana awabariki, milele.
• Bwana awabariki, bwana awabariki, bwana awabariki, milele.
• Rise, sun, arise! Brighten the skies! Fill all the world with your
glittering rays.
• Rise, sun, arise! Glow in our eyes! Let your light shine down on us
today!
• All creatures high above and down below need your golden rays;
each living thing depends on you to grow stronger everyday.
• Rise, sun, arise! Brighten the skies! Fill all the world with your
glittering rays.
• Rise, sun arise! Glow in our eyes! Let your light shine down on us
today!
Dialogue 8
• Narrator 18: After eharing how angry the other
animals were at him, Mosquito left the forest and
never told another lie again.
• Narrator 19: But even to this day, he wonders if
the jungle animals are still angry at him, so he
goes about buzzing in peoples’ ears.
• Mosquito: Zzzzzzz. Can you tell me if everyone is
still annoyed with me?
• Narrator 20: It doesn’t take long for him to get his
answer.
• All: Whack!
Did you Ever Wonder?
• Did you ever wonder why a peach has fuzz?
• Did you ever wonder what a hippo does?
• Did you ever wonder why mosquitoes buzz in people’s
ears?
• Oh me, me oh my! We have questions all the time! Oh
me, me oh my! Maybe you found out why!
• Did you ever wonder why a peach has fuzz?
• Did you ever wonder what a hippo does?
• Did you ever wonder why mosquitoes buzz in people’s
ears?