THIS TIME TOMORROW
ANALYSIS
SETTING: KENYA AFTER INDEPENDENCE-
UHURU MARKET IN NAIROBI CITY.
PLOT SUMMARY
The whole play is organised in only one act. The scene
breaks by the conversation between a journalist and the editor who are typing
an article. The journalist finishes typing and re-reads it. He explains how the
whole incident took place, where the city council warriors demolished slums at
the shanty-town near the country Bus Terminus. The place is usually a busy
place but on that day nobody was seen. This was a Clean –The City Campaign.
* *
* *
We are told of Njango’s
shelter made of Cardboard and rotting tins. Njango and Wanjiro share the floor
as a bed just beside the small wall. Njango tries to wake up Wanjiro who is
still snoring so that she may help her with the morning chores. She has to
prepare the soup for the morning customers like Githua, Macharia, Gitina and
others. Wanjiro wakes up and tells her mother the dream she had. She had seen
in her dream the shacks being carried away by the floods.
Wanjiro begins sweeping
and wonders why the city is so quite. She expresses how she is tired of the
familiar scenes and sounds around. She says that she never saw these things
before she heard the stranger speak. She remembers Asinjo the man she loves and
wonders why her mother drove him away.
* *
* *
The journalist continues with his narration as people
begin waking up. He was recording his news. Wanjiro says that the village is
waking up but the birds are hardly awake. That statement annoys her mother. She
speaks to Wanjiro in a serious tone that birds do not have to kill themselves
in order to live, they don’t need money to buy food, they don’t buy clothes
neither do they pay school fees. Wanjiro is also annoyed by her mother’s
statement since she (Wanjiro) does not have good clothes neither does she go to
school. She considers her mother’s words as a mockery to her since her brother
was taken to school but she was not. Additionally she is angry due to the fact
that she is not given good clothes like other girls around to the point that
she is ashamed to walk in the streets.
Njango is annoyed even more and wonders why Wanjiro
talks to her in such a manner. She reminds her how she had trouble rising her
up. Wanjiro calms down and wishes she had better gone away with Asinjo. Njango
warns her that a man from another tribe cannot protect her. She also warns her
not to trust men from the city because they mistreat their mistresses even kill
them. Wanjiro wished Asinjo would come for her. Njango threatens her never to
mention him again- a man from another tribe.
Wanjiro describes how
she wishes to have nice dresses like the one she saw in the city and almost
stole it. She says that the stranger had told them that the city belongs to
them; the shops, the factories and everything. Her mother says it’s only for a
chosen few. They talk of how the stranger had led the delegation to the city
Council, since they were given only few days to move away. She wonders why her
mother would call such a man as a cheat and a loafer.
Wanjiro asks her mother
whether they are going to pull down their house but Njango says that she is not
going to move. Njango tells Wanjiro not to talk about the stranger because her
father used to talk like that and it cost him his life. They were captured and
he was shot dead by the Whiteman.
******
The journalist
continues his narrative that as the day broke people began engaging in their
daily activities. Tinsmiths beating their tins, and the buses vomited a lot of
people. He followed them and joined the populace for a cup of soup. Shortly the
customers were at Njango’s hut for soup. As usual she keeps on shouting calling
more customers while others are already taking their soup. Inspector Kiongo
enters speaking from a loudspeaker telling the people who dwell in Uhuru Market
that a month given to them is over and by 12:00 that day all the shacks had to
be demolished.
The journalist comes in
and takes some photos and begins to interview people to get their views on the
story. The tinsmith explains how he had had hard time making a living before
and after independence. Njango complains why Kiongo has changed while he used
to be her good customer but now he sees himself as a king. The journalist
interviews the shoemaker who also complains on how they have been betrayed
because he was also an active member of the Party and they fought for freedom
having taken an oath and sung patriotic songs.
“Even if they deride me, and beat
me and kill me,
“They shall never make me forget
“This is a black man’s country.
He was even sent to Manyani concentration camp and
came back home after the emergency but no jobs and no land for him. After a
brief chat they decide to hold a meeting with the stranger who is believed to
have magic power to blind the eyes of the City Council Members. They all leave
but Wanjiro is left alone. In her opinion she would like the stranger not to
work his magic so that they can move from those slums. She remembers Asinjo who
she says is the only man who told her she was beautiful and used to touch her
breasts.
Suddenly Asinjo comes
and Wanjiro welcomes him warmly. He gives out a 10/= shillings note and she is
so surprised and impressed. He says that he is no longer without a job; he is
now a taxi-driver. He complains on how Njango used to mistreat him just because
he was jobless and from another tribe. He invites Wanjiro to go and live with
him in Old Jerusalem where he has got a house. He promises her also to buy her
nice dresses and shoes. She asks him to hold on until her mother comes back.
* * * * * * * *
The crowd enters with posters and the stranger
addresses them. He says that Uhuru has brought the people who love driving
Mercedes Benz and long American cars while the majority starve in the slums. He
also tells them that he cannot work magic as they expect. He says the only
magic that can work for them is unity. The police appear and all the people run
away while the stranger unsuccessfully tries to call them back. The police
arrest the stranger for inciting a crowd to violence and civil disobedience.
Njango comes back with the memory of her own husband as the sight of the
stranger reminded her how her husband was arrested.
Kiongo announces that people must hurry up taking
their things from their houses. Wanjiro reports to her mother that she wants to
go away with Asinjo but her mother refuses that she cannot marry a man from
another tribe and without a job. Wanjiro assures her mother that Asinjo is
different, he now has a job and a house and tells her mother that she is old and
doesn’t know the ways of the world and the needs of a young woman. She says
goodbye to her mother and leaves. Njango is left desperate and Kiongo tells her
to hurry up and leave. Njango’s final words are “They are herding us out like
cattle. Where shall I go now, tonight? Where shall I be this time tomorrow? If
only we had stood up against them! If only we could stand together.” Pg56
CHARACTERIZATION
NJANGO
Ø She is a Tribalist. Njango is a tribalist because she is against inter-tribal marriages. She
is still conservative and does not want to welcome changes. When Wanjiro says
that she is going away to live with Asinjo, She says to Wanjiro; “With that
man? A man from another tribe?”pg 55
Ø She is a poor slum dweller. She is among the poor people who are dwelling in the slums at Uhuru
market. She sleeps on the floor with her daughter.
Ø She is a Widow. We are told that her husband was captured and shot like a dog by the
Whiteman.
Ø She is a Hot-tempered and strict mother. She often treats Wanjiro harshly. E.g. in page 37
she says “Other girls rise up before the sun to help with morning chores. This
one snores like a pig. I will truly pinch your fat nose or drench your face
with cold water”. Also she threatens Wanjiro every time she mentions Asinjo.
E.g. in page 56 she says “No child of mine, from my own flesh, will sell her
body. I’ll break her bones, else she break mine first”.
Ø She is a Petty businesswoman. She earns a living by selling soup to slum dwellers.
As one of her customers comments, “Give me another mug of soup. You got to be
taught to live in this market city”. Pg 45
Ø She is a Hardworking mother. She wakes up early in the morning daily and prepares
the soup to sell to the morning customers.
Ø She is a Traditionalist. This can be proved from the way she denies Wanjiro to marry a man from
another tribe, she believes that a man from a different tribe cannot protect
her daughter. Also she sent her son to his uncle to attend school but retained
Wanjiro because she is a girl. This is an outdated tradition.
WANJIRO
Ø She is lazy and stubborn. Unlike other girls who wake up early to help their mothers, Wanjiro is
so lazy and always stubborn to her mother. She likes good life but doesn’t want
to work hard. Njango complains “What a heavy load of flesh, this brat will
surely kill me. Other girls rise up before the sun to help with morning chores.
This one snores like a pig”.
Ø She is so inquisitive. She asks her mother many questions for knowledge to a point where
Njago is annoyed. In page 43 Njago exclaims “You never give me a moment’s
peace, do you? What do you want to ask? Not about your city Council I hope?”
Ø She is an avid admirer of western lifestyle. She admires living like Europeans. She wants to
marry Asinjo so that she may go to live European-like life in the city. She
says “I long for the pleasures of this glittering city. I want a frock. And
shoes – high heels – so that I can walk like a European lady. A bag hanging
from my left elbow – fingering a cigarette in my right hand.” pg 52
Ø She has true love. Despite the threats and warning from her mother that she should stay
away from Asinjo because she cannot marry a man from another tribe, she eloped
with Asinjo nevertheless. For her what matters is love and not tribes.
Ø She runs away from problems. Wanjiro believes that running away from problems is
a way of solving them. She runs away with Asinjo as a way of avoiding the poor
condition at home. She says to her mother “I am going with him! You are old.
You don’t know the ways of the world or the needs of a young woman” pg 55
Ø She is less obedient to her mother. Wanjiro is not obedient to her mother as she likes
arguing with her. She doesn’t listen to what her mother is telling her. That’s
why she elopes with Asinjo despite her mother’s warnings.
Ø She is a Victim of women discrimination. She is not sent to school just because she is a girl
but her brother was sent to their uncle to attend school. She complains “Where
is my brother? You sent him to my uncle in the country so that he might attend
school. Me, you kept here to work for you” pg 39
Ø She lives a poor life. Wanjiro lives in an impoverished neighbourhood where they share a floor
as a bed with her mother. She even desires good dresses but due to poverty she
is unable to get one. She is even tempted to steal. In her own words she says
“Two days ago I saw a dress in the city. I wanted it, so much, I almost stole
it”. Pg 41
Ø She is not educated. Wanjiro is not sent to school unlike her brother.
Ø She is beautiful but not smart. She is a beautiful lady but due to poor living
condition at her home she appears not smart. That is one reason she loves
Asinjo because he is the only one who acknowledges her beauty despite the fact
that she has no nice dresses. She says “Asinjo was different though. Used to
touch my breasts. He even said I was beautiful. I felt such a joy – the first
time” pg 50
ASINJO
Ø He is a taxi driver. He drives a tax in Nairobi city. He says “I am no longer without a
job. I am a tax-driver” pg. 50
Ø He is westernised. He too believes that tribal differences should not form barriers in
marriage. He comments that Njango is only an old woman who doesn’t know the
ways of the world or the needs of a young woman.
Ø He elopes with Wanjiro. Finally Wanjiro leaves her lonely mother and goes to live with Asinjo.
Ø He has true love for Wanjiro. Despite being threatened by Wanjiro’s mother he kept
on visiting her. Moreover, after getting the job many girls want him but his
love is still with Wanjiro. He says “I have now got a good job, and many girls
want me. If I did not love you would I have come back after all these names
your mother called me?”
Ø He is an agent for change. He is anti-tribalism as he tried to show that tribal differences
should not be an obstacle in modern relationships. What matters is whether the
two parties love each other,
STRANGER
Ø He is an activist. He makes a speech to conscientize people about their rights and the
importance of unity if they want to get their rights.
Ø He is sympathetic. At first he was reluctant to lead the delegation to the city council.
But when men showed him the notice that they had been given only a few days to
move away and women wept in front of him he agreed to lead the delegation.
Ø He is against oppression, humiliation and exploitation. He is using his intellect to help the slum dwellers
get their rights by acting as their representative.
Ø He is betrayed by the slum dwellers. When the police appear at the meeting ground all the
slum dwellers run away leaving him alone to be arrested by the police as he
tries unsuccessfully to call them back.
Ø He believes in unity and not in magic power. The slum dwellers believed that he can use the magic
powers to blind the eyes of the City Council, but he assures them that the only
magic that can work on their favour is unity.
Ø He is courageous and agent for change. He is among the freedom fighters that fought the
white men in the forests. He is still determined to fight for the rights of
poor citizen. Even when all the slum dwellers run away he does not run away.
Ø He is arrested
by the police and charged of inciting a crowd to violence and civil
disobedience.
INSPECTOR KIONGO
Ø He is a City
Council officer. He works in the City council in the Health Department. Pg 46
Ø He is in charge of the Clean the City Campaign. He says that the city has to be cleaned by
demolishing the slums since they are a great shame on the city and the tourists
from America, Britain and West Germany are disgusted with the dirty of the
city. Pg 46
Ø He is a betrayer. Initially he was a member of the Youth Wing, and a good customer of
Njango’s soup. But when he becomes a City Council officer he betrays them and
drives them away. Njango says “Is that not Kiongo? He used to come here – every
lunch time. A bowl of soup and a fleshy bone, and he would go away all thanks
and gratitude....Now he is a king – a king!” pg47-48
Ø He has no mercy. He conducts the Clean-The -City Campaign by mercilessly demolishing
the slums but does not allocate an alternative settlement for the slum
dwellers. That is why Njango keeps wondering “They are herding us out like
cattle, where shall I go now, tonight? Where shall I be, this time tomorrow?”
pg 56
SHOEMAKER
Ø He is a slum dweller. He is among the poor people who are living in the slums because when
he came back from the detention camp their land was taken and he had no job.
Ø He is illiterate. He is unable to tell his age.
Ø He is an ex-freedom fighter and active member of the
ruling Party. He went to
fight for freedom and was arrested and sent to Manyani Concentration Camp.
Ø He is a shoemaker. He earns a living by mending shoes.
Ø He is willing
to move but the government should first show him a place to go.
TINSMITH.
Ø He works as a tinsmith. He earns his daily bread by making and selling water-tins, pangas,
jembes, braziers etc
Ø He is illiterate. He doesn’t even know his age or the year he came to live at Uhuru
market. The journalist asks him his age; he answers “Age? Fifty, sixty, I
cannot say. Pg 46. When he is asked about the year he came to Uhuru market, he
says “When? Let me count – one, two, three, oh, many years ago. Pg 47.
Ø He has done many jobs during the war of independence
and after it. He has worked
as a, cook; cooking, washing and sweeping. He worked as a porter with the
Railway and Harbour.
Ø He is among the poor slum dwellers. Because of the terrible experiences he went through
including sleeping on the shop-verandas, in trenches, public latrines etc,
being moved from place to place by the police and hunger, he finally found a
place in Uhuru market and started his trade there.
INTRODUCTION/TITLE OF THE BOOK
This book is entitled “This Time
Tomorrow”. The title is a reflection of the future life of the people who live
at Uhuru Market.
1.
Njango is asking herself, ‘Where Shall I Be This Time Tomorrow?” This shows her state of
disappointment when the city council decides to demolish their slums. She has
nowhere to go.
2.
Njago’s voice represents all slum dwellers whose slums
were demolished. They are all wondering where they are going to spend their
future lives because the slums have been their only home. Their land was taken
when they were fighting for independence. E.g. The shoemaker says “It is not that
I don’t want to move. But the government should give me a place to go” pg 48
SETTING
The setting is Kenya after independence. The specific setting is Uhuru
Market in Nairobi city. However, the setting can represent many African
countries because; Demolition of slums is a common phenomenon in most unplanned
African cities.
STYLE
The playwright has employed a number of techniques in his play.
The play is largely presented in a dialogue
although there are few cases of monologue/narration where the journalist
narrates the events. Also the playwright used a flashback when a tinsmith
narrates his past life before independence.
v He has used the
language of journalism where the journalist writes his article and tries to
read it. But also the journalist interviews people to get their views on the
story of demolition of the slums.
v Moreover he has
made use of a song which the freedom fighters sang;
“Even if they deride me, and beat me and kill me,
“They shall never make me forget
“This is a black man’s country.
v To further
enrich his style, he has used the language of advertisement. This occurs in two
ways; one it is used when making
public announcement for a meeting.
o “A meeting! A meeting! Everybody – to the meeting at
once. Long live Uhuru Market Long live Uhuru Market.” Pg 49.
v But also when
Inspector Kiongo announces “This is inspector Kiongo of the City Council Health
Department. I remind all those that dwell in these places that today was the
date I gave your last delegation.... pg 46
v Additionally,
it is used to advertise a business.
Soup to build your bones.
Soup is cheap here today.
LANGUAGE USE
The playwright has used simple language with full of figures of speech.
Some of them are outlined below.
Symbolism
Ø Filthy
mushrooms symbolises the poor houses/slums. Pg 35
Allusion
Ø Suddenly one
was back in the days of Joshua when the legendary walls of Jericho came
tumbling down pg 36.(referring to Jericho in the Bible)
Ø And forgive us
our sins. We are late for our morning soup. Pg 45 (referring to the Lord’s
Prayer in the Bible)
Synecdoche
Ø Not a human
soul was in sight. Pg 36 (Meaning no any human being was present)
Simile.
Ø The terminus
normally full of beehive activities was now as quiet as the Kalahari or Sahara
desert. Pg 36
Ø Njango and
Wanjiro share the floor as a bed. Pg 36
Ø This one snores
like a pig pg 36
Ø Asinjo has eyes
like the stranger. Pg 39
Ø And such thick
lips as big as a mountain. pg 41
Ø They shot him
dead like a dog. Pg 43
Ø People who
streamed away in every direction like disturbed safari ants. Pg 44
Ø They are
herding us out like cattle. Pg 56
Metaphor
Ø (Wanjiro) What
a heavy load of flesh. Pg 36
Ø (Human voices)
It was another house of Babel. Pg 44
Ø (soup) Our
daily bread. Pg 45
Alliteration
Ø What...what water? Pg 37
Ø Cocks crow, babies cry, and tins clash.
Pg 39
Imagery
Ø Image of sight
o Bones, decaying meat, white maggots, tins, paper,
broken pots etc. Pg 37
Ø Tactile image. (Image of touch)
o A smooth skin pg 41
Ø Olfactory image (image of smell)
o The tantalizing smell of meat. Pg 45
o Once or twice I slept in public latrines: Phew! The
smell, Pg 47
Saying.
Ø You sleep God’s
sleep Pg 37 (sleeping as though you are dead)
Ø Njango you old
whore, you know how to milk your men. pg 45
Personification
Ø Dawn found us
there. Pg 37
Ø Just now noise
is dead in the city. Pg 38
Ø The village was
waking up. Pg 39
Ø Fleets of buses
from the country vomited out people ... who streamed away in every direction
like disturbed safari ants. Pg 44
Ø Long live Uhuru
Market Long live Uhuru Market. Pg49
Rhetorical questions.
Ø You speak to me
like that? Do you know who I am? Do you? Pg 40.
Exaggeration
Ø And such thick
lips as big as a mountain. pg 41
Ø So black –
blacker than the soot on that pot. Pg 41
Onomatopoeia
Ø Phew! The
smell, Pg 47
Ø Puuu! His voice
makes me spit Pg 47
Ø Cock crowing;
chicken cackling. Pg 44
Reiteration
Ø Run! Run! Run!
quickly. Pg 53
Ø Police! The
police are coming pg 53
Ø Hurry up! Hurry
up! Pg 55,56,
THEMES IN THE PLAY.
There are many themes in the play “This
Time Tomorrow” that it’s so hard to exhaust them all. In this book, we are
going to discuss the following themes among others; Land Alienation, Poverty,
Position Of Women, Ignorance And Illiteracy, Classes, Superstition,
Disillusion, Tribalism, Betrayal, Colonial legacy, Conflicts, Disunity etc.
LAND ALIENATION
Land alienation is discussed in two levels in this play. There is Land
alienation during colonialism and Land alienation after independence. The
Kenyans are complaining and protesting against land alienation in the following
ways.
Ø During colonial
occupation of Kenya, people’s land was taken by the colonialists and the
Kenyans remained landless. So the Kenyans had to fight for their land in which
case most of them had to go into the forest to fight for their soil as the
Shoemaker narrates: “We were fighting for freedom, we were fighting for our
soil” pg 48. The Stranger says “We fought for land! But where is the land? Pg
53.
Ø After
independence, people are still facing the same problem. The new government
officials have taken the land of the poor people who more often than not are
those who went into the forest to fight for the land. When they came back after
independence their land was gone and it was not returned to them. The Shoemaker
says “I came back home after the Emergency. The white man had gone. No job for
me, no land either”. This shows that the freedom fighters laboured for freedom
in vain.
POVERTY.
Many people are extremely poor in this society. Not only do they find it
hard to afford the daily meals, but they also live in an impoverished
neighbourhood (slums). The Shoemaker, tinsmith, Njango, Wanjiro, customers are
just few cases in point. The issue of poverty is discussed in the following
scenarios;
Ø Njango’s family is poor. Njango is living a poor life with her daughter Wanjiro. The playwright
says even their shelter was made of cardboards and rotting tins. Also “Njango
and Wanjiro share the floor as a bed”. This is a proof of the highest level of
poverty. Moreover, Wanjiro desires good dresses but due to poverty she is
unable to get one. She is even tempted to steal. In her own words she says “Two
days ago I saw a dress in the city. I wanted it, so much, I almost stole it”.
Pg 41. It’s this reason that makes her elope with Asinjo to try a better life
in the city.
Ø The Slum dwellers are poor. Most slum dwellers are living in slums because that is what they can
afford. They have no jobs, no houses and no money to buy expensive land in the
city and build decent houses. That is why they fought for Uhuru believing that
their lives would be improved once a black man was in power. The stranger says
“We fought for Uhuru, because we were told it would mean, decent houses, and
decent jobs! But where are the jobs? Where are the houses?”pg 53
CLASSES
There are two major classes in this society; the lower class (poor
people) and the High class (rich people). The rich class becomes richer by
exploiting the efforts of the poor people majority of whom, are those who
fought for independence.
Ø The lower class. This is represented by the slum dwellers who live miserably because
their land has been taken by those in power. As though that is not enough, they
are evicted from the only place where they are living; At Uhuru Market. Most of
them earn their living by engaging in petty businesses. They are working as
shoemakers, tinsmith, selling soup, etc. So driving them away from this place
is just adding salt to the wound. Njango is so desperate and she wonders “Where
will Wanjiro and I go when they drive us from here? Where to set up a new trade
to earn us bread and water?” pg 54
Ø High Class. The high class comprises the petty bourgeoisie class that took power
from the colonialists and simply ideally replaced the coloniser. The rich
Africans are enjoying life, driving expensive cars and living in residential
areas for the high class people just as it was during colonialism. Speaking to
Wanjiro, Asinjo says “Now I know every part of the city. From Kolo where
Europeans live, to Westlands and Kabete where rich Africans have bought stone
houses”. pg 50. To show how worse class division can be, the stranger speaks in
dissatisfaction, “It (Uhuru) has brought us people who love driving Mercedes
Benz and long American cars! While we starve in the slums! Let the city council
leave us alone in our slums and our misery” pg 52
DISILLUSION
Ø This is a state
of disappointment because the person you admired or the idea you believed to be
good and true now seems without value. Many Africans joined the freedom
movements because they believed once they drove the White man away and gained
their independence then their living standards would be improved as well. But
this is not what happened. The poor people remained poor and those who took
power are the only ones enjoying the national cake. As a result the majority
are disillusioned. They say;
“We fought for Uhuru, because we were told it would mean, decent houses,
and decent jobs! But where are the jobs? Where are the houses?”pg 53
Ø People believe
that Uhuru has brought them practically nothing. But the stranger corrects them
by saying “It has brought us people who love driving Mercedes Benz and long
American cars! While we starve in the slums” pg 52. This is the highest level
of disappointment. The majority believe that good life is now entitled to the
chosen few. Wanjiro tells her mother that the stranger said “The city belongs
to us, the shops, the factories, everything”. And Njango responds desperately
“Alas, only to the chosen few.” Pg 41. This shows that they have nothing to
share in the fruits of independence.
CONFLICT.
A conflict is a situation in which people, groups or countries are
involved in a serious disagreement or argument. It can also be understood as a
situation in which there are opposing ideas, opinions, feelings or wishes; a
situation in which it is difficult to choose. In this play there are several
conflicts.
Ø Intrapersonal conflict. This is shown in the following ways:
o Njango faces a serious intrapersonal conflict when she
is forced to move to the unknown place and wonders where she is going to spend
the rest of her life. To express this conflict she says, “Where will Wanjiro
and I go when they drive us from here? Where to set up a new trade to earn us
bread and water?” pg 54. It is this same conflict that gives us the title of
the play when she says “They are herding us out like cattle. Where shall I go
now, tonight? Where shall I be this time tomorrow? Pg 56
o Wanjiro suffers an intrapersonal conflict because of
the poor condition at home. While she is a grown up girl and very beautiful,
she is poorly dressed unlike other girls of her age. This makes her less smart
and uncomfortable. She even desires good dresses to the point that she almost
stole a dress in the city. To show her dissatisfaction with the poor life at
home she says “Look at me. I have no clothes like other girls. I am now a
woman. Yet no man dares glance in my direction. Well, maybe once or twice but
only to ask: who is that thing in rags? Pg50. As a solution she runs away with
Asinjo who loves her.
Ø Family conflict. This occurs between Wanjiro and her mother (Njango). This conflict
arises from the lazy and stubborn behaviour of Wanjiro towards her mother. She
does not wake up on time to help her mother with domestic chores like other
girls do. So Njango keeps complaining and Wanjiro argues back. As a result
Wanjiro decides to run away from home as a solution to her problems.
Ø Political conflict. This conflict occurs between the government officers and the slum
dwellers. It results from the fact that the government (police) and the City
Council want to demolish the shelters of the slum dwellers. The slum dwellers
hold a meeting in protest but it is suppressed by the government through the
police. The stranger is arrested for inciting a crowd to violence and civil
disobedience! These conflicts are common in many African countries.
Ø Cultural conflict. There is a conflict between modern European culture and traditional
African culture. In other words it is a conflict between modernity against
conservatism. The young generation being represented by Asinjo and Wanjiro have
got their own ways of looking at things different from that of old generation
being represented by Njango. In this play we see Wanjiro admiring not only to
have better life like that of well-to-do African ladies, but more importantly to
live like a European lady. She is an avid admirer of western lifestyle. She
wants to marry Asinjo so that she may go to live a European-like life in the
city. She says “I long for the pleasures of this glittering city. I want a
frock. And shoes – high heels– so that I can walk like a European lady. A bag
hanging from my left elbow – fingering a cigarette in my right hand.” pg 52
Ø As if that is
not enough, she goes out of her way and says to her mother, “I am going with
him! You are old. You don’t know the ways of the world or the needs of a young
woman” pg 55 They also believe in intertribal marriages. For them what matters
is love.
Ø On the other
hand, are those with conservative ideas like Njango who believe that
intertribal marriages are impossible. These people believe that a man from
another tribe and without a job cannot protect the girl. When these two sides
meet with differing perspectives there is obviously a natural conflict.
TRIBALISM
This is a behaviour, attitude, etc. that is based on being loyal to a
tribe or other social group. Although it appears in a small part, it is
significant that we discuss it. Tribalism is a problem in most African
countries. It is also one of the reasons that account for the many civil wars
and political instability in African countries. In this play, Njango shows an
open involvement in tribal loyalties. She denies Wanjiro to marry Asinjo due to
the fact that Asinjo is from a different tribe. Njango is still conservative
and doesn’t believe that people who are from different tribes can love and
protect each other. To Wanjiro she says, “Protected you? A man from another
tribe? Tribalism has to be stopped.
IGNORANCE AND ILLITERACY
Ignorance and illiteracy have been common enemies in developing
countries. Many people are not only ignorant of important information about
their lives but they are also illiterate and thus they perpetuate outdated
customs and hinder their development. This theme is discussed by the playwright
in the following ways:
Ø Njago is ignorant of the cultural dynamics. She still holds tribalistic ideas, believing that
people from different tribes cannot intermarry and still be committed to each
other. That’s why she rejects Wanjiro’s proposal to marry Asinjo.
Ø The slum dwellers are ignorant of the better ways to
fight for their rights. They believe
in outdated superstations to work in their favour. They want the stranger to
work magic by blinding the eyes of the City council. The stranger being aware
of their ignorance he tells them that the only magic that can work for them is
their unity.
Ø The tinsmith and shoemaker are illiterate. They don’t even know their age nor the year the
tinsmith came to live at Uhuru market. The journalist asks the tinsmith his
age; he answers “Age? Fifty, sixty, I cannot say. Pg 46. When he is asked about
the year he came to Uhuru market, he says “When? Let me count – one, two,
three, oh, many years ago. Pg 47. With such kind of people in the society it is
hard to develop because more often than not they are the ones who become an
obstacle to their own development. Recall how the stranger struggled unsuccessfully
to call them back when the police appeared at the meeting square “Brothers and
sisters! I beseech you not to run away! Your cause is just! Your homes are dear
to you!”pg 54. They all ran away.
SUPERSTITION
Superstition is the belief that particular events
happen in a way that cannot be explained by reason or science; or the belief
that particular events bring good or bad luck. This is a common problem among
many African societies.
This society also believes in the power of magic to
help them in times of trouble. They believe that the stranger has the magic
power that can blind the eyes of the City Council officers not to evacuate them
from their slums.
The 1st
customer says “Why don’t we hold a meeting with the stranger? He works in
magic. Will he not blind their eyes? Pg 49
When he tells them that he cannot work magic and that
he has no the power of the witchdoctor to blind the eyes of the determined City
council, they are so disappointed. The crowd wonders “What is he saying? Why
does he say this? He can help us! He must help us! Pg 52
BETRAYAL
To betray is to hurt somebody who trusts you, especially by not being
loyal or faithful to them. It also means to ignore your principles or beliefs
in order to achieve something or gain an advantage for yourself. Betrayal is
another common enemy to development in developing countries. Betrayal appears
from individual to national levels. The playwright has portrayed betrayal in
the following cases:
Ø Many Africans freedom fighters were betrayed by those
who took power from colonialists. People believe
that Uhuru has brought them practically nothing. But the stranger corrects them
by saying “It has brought us people who love driving Mercedes Benz and long
American cars! While we starve in the slums” pg 52. This shows that the
majority have been betrayed by the minority. The majority believe that good
life is now entitled to the chosen few. Wanjiro tells her mother that the
stranger said “the city belongs to us, the shops, the factories, everything”.
And Njango responds desperately “Alas, only to the chosen few.” Pg 41. This is
to say they have nothing to share in the fruits of independence.
Ø Inspector Kiongo has betrayed the slum dwellers. Initially he was a member of the Youth Wing, and a
good customer of Njango’s soup. But when he becomes a City Council officer he
betrays them and drives them away. Njango says “Is that not Kiongo? He used to
come here – every lunch time. A bowl of soup and a fleshy bone, and he would go
away all thanks and gratitude....Now he is a king – a king!” pg47-48
Ø Wanjiro betrays her mother by running away and leaving
her desperate. Wanjiro
leaves her mother alone in a demolished homestead and goes to live in the city
with Asinjo. Njango calls her unsuccessfully “Wanjiro! Wanjiro! Don’t go away.
Don’t leave me alone! What shall I do without you? I am a useless old woman”.
Wanjiro ignores all these and leaves. This is betrayal to her mother.
Ø The stranger is betrayed by the slum dwellers. They are the ones who asked him to address them but
when the police appear at the meeting ground all the slum dwellers run away
leaving him alone to be arrested by the police as he tries unsuccessfully to
call them back.
UNITY and DISUNITY.
Ø Unity is very
important in any struggle. If people want to achieve their goals especially
when struggling against oppressive ruling class, unity is a basic requirement.
Unfortunately enough this is not the case in this society. At first they joined
hands together and requested the stranger to lead a delegation to the city
council. Men showed him the notice that they had been given only a few days to
move away and women wept in front of him he agreed to lead the delegation to
ask for the extension of the time they were given to move and it worked. They
were given a grace period of one month.
Ø In the final
round, they ask him to address them in a meeting where they should express
their grievances towards the government for evicting them from their homes without
showing them where to go. While they believe in magic power, the stranger tells
them that the only magic that can help them is unity. He says “Let us stand
together. Let us with one voice tell the new government: we want our homes, we
love them. Unless the City Council shows us another place to go, where we can
earn our bread, we shall not lift a finger to demolish our homes! We must
defend our own”. Pg 53
Ø As if he was
talking to himself, they didn’t understand him. When the police appear all run
away while he calls them back unsuccessfully. Finally, Njango wonders what
different it could have made if they had stood together “If only we had stood
up together! If only we could stand together”. Pg 56
Ø The message we
get here is that United we stand, divided
we fall.
POSITION OF WOMEN
A woman is portrayed in various positions in this play.
Ø A woman is portrayed as a caretaker. Njango tries
her level best to provide for the family and takes care of Wanjiro. She often
tries to mould her daughter to be a responsible girl. E.g. in page 37 she says
“Other girls rise up before the sun to help with morning chores. This one
snores like a pig. I will truly pinch your fat nose or drench your face with
cold water”. This is an attempt to make her responsible.
Ø A woman is portrayed as a victim of gender
discrimination. Wanjiro is
not sent to school just because she is a girl but her brother was sent to their
uncle to attend school. She complains “Where is my brother? You sent him to my
uncle in the country so that he might attend school. Me, you kept here to work
for you” pg 39
Ø A woman is portrayed as a hardworking person and a
bread earner. Njango wakes
up early in the morning daily and prepares the soup to sell to the morning
customers. She earns a living by selling soup to slum dwellers. As one of her
customers comments, “Give me another mug of soup. You got to be taught to live
in this market city”. Pg 45
Ø A woman is portrayed as a person with true love. Wanjiro is a case in point here. Despite the threats
and warnings from her mother that she should stay away from Asinjo because she
cannot marry a man from another tribe, she eloped with Asinjo nevertheless. For
her what matters is love and not tribes.
Ø A woman is portrayed as an avid admirer of western
lifestyle. Wanjiro admires living like Europeans. She wants to
marry Asinjo so that she may go to live European-like life in the city. She
says “I long for the pleasures of this glittering city. I want a frock. And
shoes – high heels – so that I can walk like a European lady. A bag hanging
from my left elbow – fingering a cigarette in my right hand.” pg 52
Ø A woman is portrayed as a Traditionalist. This can be proved from the way Njango denies
Wanjiro to marry a man from another tribe, she believes that a man from a
different tribe cannot protect her daughter. Also she sent her son to his uncle
to attend school but retained Wanjiro because she is a girl. This is an
outdated tradition.
COLONIAL LEGACY.
Colonialism and western life style in African countries have produced
people who are suffering from colonial hangovers. African countries are now
politically independent but they are still mentally colonised. There are people
who still admire western lifestyle and ways of living.
Ø Wanjiro admires
living like Europeans. She wants to marry Asinjo so that she may go to live
European-like life in the city. She says “I long for the pleasures of this
glittering city. I want a frock. And shoes – high heels – so that I can walk
like a European lady. A bag hanging from my left elbow – fingering a cigarette
in my right hand.” pg 52
Ø The high/ruling
class that took power from the colonialists are enjoying life, driving
expensive cars and living in residential areas for the high class people just
as it was during colonialism. Speaking to Wanjiro, Asinjo says “Now I know
every part of the city. From Kolo where Europeans live, to Westlands and Kabete
where rich Africans have bought stone houses”. pg 50. To show how the high
class is mentally colonised, the stranger speaks in dissatisfaction, “It
(Uhuru) has brought us people who love driving Mercedes Benz and long American
cars! While we starve in the slums! Let the city council leave us alone in our
slums and our misery” pg 52.
Ø The slums are
also demolished to please the American and European tourists. Listen to Insp.
Kiongo speaking. “They are a great shame on the city. Tourists from America,
Britain and West Germany are disgusted with the dirty of the city. Pg 46
Ø All these are
the effects of colonialism in Africa.
MESSAGES.
v Unity is very important in any struggle. United we
stand divided we fall.
v The government officers should allocate alternative
settlement for the citizens before they give them eviction orders (notice).
v Tribalism is an outdated custom so it should be
stopped.
v Both boys and girls should be give equal rights to
education.
v The ruling class should consider the welfare of the
masses. (the majority)
v Betrayal is not good in any society that wants to
develop.
v Illiteracy and ignorance are obstacles and enemies to
development. We should fight against these enemies.
v Classes in the society create unnecessary conflicts
and hinder development of the oppressed.
v We should not believe in superstitions and magic power
because it is an outdated custom.
v People must be aware of their rights and the practical
ways to fight for their rights.
v Youths should listen to the advice given to them by
their parents.
v Youths should not be fooled by the pleasures of the
city, but they should fight for their future.
v You cannot succeed if you are not working hard.
RELEVANCE.
The book is relevant to most African countries as shown below;
v Land alienation
and Demolition of the unplanned settlements is a common phenomenon in expanding
African Cities. This is seen even in Dar-es-Salaam City where demolition is
done on regular basis to improve infrastructure like roads and railways, to
provide room for city planning, to set up social services like water pipes,
high voltage electric lines, building hospitals, schools, industries, or giving
land to the investors.
v Tribalism is
also prevalent in countries like Kenya where even the General election is held
on the basis of the candidates’ tribes. Voters vote for someone from their own
tribes.
v Illiteracy rate
is very high in developing countries. Most people don’t know how to read and
write so it is very hard to understand the development plans that are in
papers.
v In some
societies the girl-child is still denied the access to education because of her
gender. Only boys are sent to school because they are believed to be the ones
to take over the family responsibilities when the parents are old or gone.
v There are
classes in all societies. The ruling class comprising of those in power (Chosen
few) in most countries is enjoying the national cake, while the majority are
suffering and starving in slums.
v There are many
people in Africa who are suffering from colonial hangovers. They admire western
lifestyle, dresses, foods, music, cars, and the general western life
1 comments:
Simple and clear analysis
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