During the performance, you’ll hear moments of dialogue in Igbo, connecting to Willy’s sense of identity and heritage.

Igbo language is a West African language spoken by about 34 to 41 million people primarily in the southeastern region of Nigeria, and the global diaspora communities. It is native to Igboland, covering states like Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and parts of Delta and Rivers state. Fun fact, the spoken Igbo language is 5000 to 6000 years old while the written Igbo is actually much younger, starting with mid-18th century Latin-alphabet primers, and standardised orthography in 1961.

Before the written Igbo, an ancient system of pictographic/formalised symbols called Nsibidi were used, an ancient system of graphic communication and ideographic symbols indigenous to southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon.

Here are some translations for reference:

Character  Line in English  Line in Igbo 
Willy  Don’t be a pest, Bernard!  Enyezila nsogbu, Bernard! 
Woman  I picked you.  Mu họọrọ gị. 
Woman  …You kill me 

…good night. 

 …I gbugo m. 

…Ka chi foo 
Ben  I only have a few minutes.  E nwere m naanị obere oge. 
Ben  How are you all?  Kedu ka unu mere? 
Ben  And by God I was rich!  Maka chi, e nwere m ego oge ahu! 
Willy  I’m so tired.  Ike agwula m. 
Woman  You ruined me.   Ị mebigo m. 
Woman  It’s getting on my nerves.  Ọ na-akpasu m iwe. 
Woman  But I’ve got to get dressed, Willy, I can’t . . .  Mana e kwesiri m ịyi akwa, Willy, enweghị m ike . . . 
Willy  Get out of here . . . go back, go back . . .  Pụọ ebe a . . . laghachi, laghachi . . . 
Woman  Where’s my stockings? You promised me stockings, Willy!  Ebee ka sọkings m dị? I kwere m nkwa I nye m sọkings, Willy! 
Woman  I want them!  Achọrọ m ha! 
Woman  Are you football or baseball?  Ị bụ football ka Ị bụ baseball? 
Biff  I’m nothing  O nwero ihe m bu. 
Willy  What’re you doing?  Gịnị ka ị na-eme? 
Willy  Ben, where do I? 

Ben, how do I? 

 Ben, ebee ka m ga….? 

Ben, kedu otu m ga…..?