Nyambura and Waiyaki are the central love birds in the novel. Their love affair does not spring until the almost the very end of the novel. But a glimpses of their advances are seen in the novel. Muthoni being that link that drove them to each other. Waiyaki would have loved Muthoni if she had lived, but contrary to what happened, unfortunately or fortunately the love birds that were to rise were Nyambura and Waiyaki. One of Josha’s – the rebel, daughter and one from Chege, Kibiro, Wachirori and Kamiri, Gikiyu and Mumbi’s tribe; the magical and powerful forefathers of the tribe.
When Muthoni said “slowly and quietly: ‘Nyambura, I want to be circumcised’” (25) at that very moment that first stone of something grave had to happen was setup. And Muthoni, Nyambura (who would have the same feelings somehow as she extremely close to her sister) and Waiyaki was part of it. Waiyaki was intimate with Muthoni and when she died he was devasted by her loss. “Yearning. Yearning. Was life all a yearning and no satisfaction?” (73) engulfed him.
Waiyaki saw Nyambura at the bank of Honia river, Nyambura used to sit at the spot where she used to sit with her sister. When they had collided into each other as she was coming from Honia river, they stopped and “he felt awkward.”(74) This awkwardness was the beggninig of their love for each other. Even when Waiyaki was working in Marioshoni, the most popular school in his area, he occasionally thought about his purpose for making such an effort. His thoughts would go in the past when Chege’s (his father’s) desire to let Waiyaki see that a savior would save his tribe from the white man will come and haunt him. At the same time, the daring act of going to church every now and then, church where the faith of Nyambura’s was practiced.
Clearly when Waiyaki watched the flames in the air and when “...he put out his little figner and tried to touch the flame…” (82) he knew that quiet well “It was not good to play with fire.” (82) This foretold him that the desires he had for Nyambura could be dangerous for him in the future. Flame symbolizing the desire for Nyambura and at the same time it is the fire that could burn the tribe’s culture and land. It is that enlightened of ruin which the white man was throwing on the illiterate people who indulged into to circumcision which Livingstone abhorred.
Waiyaki and Nyambura’s surprised meeting had made Waiyaki courageous and passionate enough to say one day “Nyambura, I love you…” (106) ,“… She wanted to say ‘Yes’” but ”… it was impossible to marry him. Unless she rebelled”. (107) Waiyaki’s love for Muthoni and now Nyambura seemed unreachable. Muhoni and Nyambura portended the desire for the people to change. The need for people to change. And this love between a Christened girl and Waiyaki, the follower of old customs need to made in order to induce change in the system.
Kamau caught Waiyaki by surprise and he would never forget when Waiyaki insulted him in the plains. The feud between Waiyaki and Kamau began as Kamua declared through his action that he would not watch “…Waiyaki beat him in love”(108) because “Kamau loved Nyambura…Yet he had never had a good change to open his hear to her.”(108) Kamau and Waiyaki was of the same tribe but because Kamau wasn’t able to express his love for Nyambura “Waiyaki was his rival to death”(108)
When Kinuthia, his friend and follower, to
Waiyaki after school he looked embarrassed. When Waiyaki questioned him, he told him about the rumour which he called it (the rumour) as a joke, the rumour being, “You have become one of Joshua’s followers” (111) and this Waiyaki felt not as a joke but he knew that Kinuthia has told him as a warning not as a joke. Waiyaki had been called to the Kiama, where decicisons were made by the elders, and Waiyaki saw Kabonyi, who has been at the fore front of changing whatever was good between him and the tribe. And question rightfully arose in him, “Was Kabonyi determined to destroy all that stood against him and the tribe?” (113) and the answer seemed yes because nothing was going in Waiyaki’s favour. His reputation in Kiama was questionable, his love (Nyambura) was not sure whether to side with Waiyaki or his father. And his efforts to expands his educational institutions seemed necessary yet the lonely inside him dried him inside, his yearning for love grew in him.
The situation was becoming serious, for Waiyaki he soon had to make a decision. But as Nyambura was getting confused and “she did not want to follow (Josha and his father anymore) … now wished to rebel” (114) Waiyaki needed to a crucial choice between his people and Nyambura.
Kinuthia was convinced that “Waiyaki was the best man to lead people … through … areas of…self-expressions through political independence”(118) but as the forces of Kabonyi, Kamau and Kiama was against him, he was not going to be successful. To rid the Irigu, the impure, Kiama would not spare Waiyaki for he had broken the oath with the tribe.
When gave the ultimate challenge and said, “let him (Waiyaki) deny her (Nyambura)” (150) “Waiyaki knew that he could not deny her now,” (151). People were not able to see his desire to unite the people and start a “policical movement”(151) and thus, for not saying a word against Kabonyi now, Waiyaki stood with his arms aournd Nyambura and “would (then) be placed in the hands of Kiama”(152). Thus the tragedy befell not only on Waiyaki and Nyambura but also on the people of Kameno and Makuyu – they were not able to understand the beautiful purpose of uniting the people laid out by Waiyaki, the saviuor.
No comments:
Post a Comment