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5.0étoiles sur 5
Not a convert to the white man, Aoû 19 2003
The author is from Kenya. It is an insult to call someone's father a convert to the white man. The boys in the story, the characters, were cattle herders. Waiyaki went to Siriana to the mission. He was joined by Kamu and Kinuthia, fellow herdboys. They were destined to learn under the Reverend Livingstone. Nairobi was far. Siriana was the nearest missionary center. Livingstone's main work was carried on by Joshua, Nyambura's father. He had been one of the first converted to the new faith. He feared the anger of his people. He became a preacher. He condemned the drinking and female circumcision. The conflict was that his daughter, Muthoni, wanted to undergo the traditional rite of pasage ceremony. Nyambura knew that her sister was missing and was waiting for her father to realize this state of affairs. She suggested timidly that Muthoni may have gone to their aunt. Nyambura told and then was beside herself in terror over Joshua's reaction. Nuambura went to the aunt and had to return with the news that Muthoni refused to return home. Chege, Waiyake's father, did not like the new cult. He thought it divided people. His son was doing well at Siriana. He was now in the senior class of Siriana Secondary School and was able to meet boys from all over Kenya. Waiyaki was surprised that Muthoni, Joshua's daughter, was present at the initiation ceremony also. The idea that she had actually run away shocked him. Waiyaki joined in and felt the mad intoxicating ecstasy and pleasure. Muthoni told him she was a Christian but wanted to be initiated into the ways of the tribe. Waiyuki welcomed the opportunity to show courage. The pain was intense. It was held that Waiyaki and the other boys had been a credit to the hills. Muthoni suffered. After a week she was still under care. Waiyaki told Nyambura about her condition. Muthoni died. She died just after Waiyaki and some of the other boys carried her to the mission hospital. Livingstone knew of the mistakes of earlier missionaries. He did not want to cause tribal warfare. He had been in Siriana for 25 years. He reflected that he had not been very successful. Within a few weeks the name of Muthoni was a legend. Waiyaki did not go back to Siriana. His father was ill. It was decided that children who maintained pagan customs could not remain in Siriana. Waiyaki wanted to concentrate on education. His school was called Marioshoni. He had been shocked by his father's death. He was the headmaster. There was the Christian group led by Joshua and a breakaway group led by Kabonyi. Waiyake felt isolated. He ran into Nyambura. He attended a service led by Joshua. This was to cause him great difficulty. The jealousy of others caused him to be charged with violating the oath he took at the time of his initiation into the tribe. His love for Nyamburo was misunderstood. The story is fierce and strong. The events recounted are believable and the lead characters are multi-dimensional.
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