A GRAIN OF WHEAT

A Grain of Wheat is the third and best-known novel by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a novelist from Kenya. The novel weaves several stories together during the state of emergency in Kenya's struggle for independence (1952-1959), focusing on the quiet Mugo, whose life is ruled by a dark secret. The plot revolves around his home village's preparations for Kenya's independence day celebration (Uhuru day). Former resistance fighters General R and Koinandu plan on publicly executing the traitor who betrayed Kihika (a heroic resistance fighter hailing from the village) on that day.
Abstract
The background of the story is in Kenya when the county is on the edge of independence. Mugo is a poor orphaned man who has suffered a lot and is indifferent to what is going on around him and he expects the rest of the world to leave him alone. This happens until Kihika recruits him by force to join the rest of the freedom fighters. Resenting this, he betrays Kihika to the colonial government. Consequently, Kihika is hanged. No one suspects Mugo.
In fact, people worship him and see him as a hero. Unfortunately, it is Karanja,
a man who collaborates with the colonialists and a home guard who becomes the main suspect and a number of people want to carry out their revenge on him especially Kihika’s fellow freedom fighters Lt. Koinandu and General R. Karanja and Gikonyo were enemies due to their competition for Mumbi. Mumbi chooses Gikonyo, a carpenter, over Karanja. When Gikonyo is sent to prison by the colonial government like most men in the country, Karanja sets out to seduce Mumbi who gives in and is impregnated. On the other hand, the Europeans in the country have their own devils to deal with. John Thompson a one time District Officer and his wife Margery are considering living the country soon before the colonialists hand over power to the Africans. Unknown to Thompson, Margery was having an affair with Dr. Van Dyke, a meteorologist. Everyone knew except Thompson. The affair ended when Dr. Van Dyke was crushed by a train. Dr. Lynd, a
librarian, worked with Thompson and hated the Africans as she had once been
attacked and raped by them. She and her boyfriend Roger Mason were planning to leave to Uganda as soon as Kenya got its independence to avoid the blood killings they predicted would be meted out on all Europeans by the Africans. When Gikonyo is released from prison he eagerly goes home looking forward to seeing Mumbi only to find her with Karanja’s child. Angry more so, because he couldn’t get back at Karanja as he was the new chief with immense powers he ignores Mumbi and mistreats her and she decides to leave for her parent’s home. Meanwhile, as the Independence Day celebrations draw near, Mugo is appointed by the villagers to give a speech in honor of Kihika’s memory. Mwaura is sent to Githima to tempt Karanja to attend the celebrations as the freedom fighters intend to wring out the confession out of him before the crowd. Things take a turn when General R asks for Kihika’s betrayer to confess and instead of Karanja, Mugo confesses. Everyone at the rally is shocked at the revelation. Karanja and Gikoknyo’s enmity is brought to an end through a race that none of the wins as they both tripped and fell with Gikonyo breaking his left arm. He is resigned to Mumbi and Karanja leaves the village.


A full summary of the novel
Ngungi wa Thiong’o has used flashbacks in his work to tease his readers. I am among readers who enjoyed the book and here under I would like to share with you what I enjoyed. The whole story in the novel centres on Mugo as the central character. And the story is divided in three eras namely; Pre – colonial, colonial and postcolonial.

Pre-colonial era
This was the era before independence. The novelist describes Thabai Ridge mainly at the Rung’ei Trading Center, the place where people meet to undergo different activities among others, searching for their basic needs. The center is occupied with many African and Indian shops. African shops are made of tin-roofed and Indian shops are made of corrugated iron sheets. It is a big center because even the iron snake uses to stop there before it goes to Kisumu and Kampala (pg 62).

It is every Sundays, where the center is always occupied with many people because two trains from Kampala and Mombasa meet there. After the departure of the train young people continue with their affairs. Love affairs often hatch there. Girls normally wash their clothes and plait their hairs on Saturday and go to the station on Sundays. The train becomes an obsession if one misses it sorrow seized one’s heart for the rest of the week (pg 63).

From the station they normally go to dance in Kinenia forest whereby the dances usually end in fights. Men from Thabai ridge is always the winner and take girls from other ridges. This leads to all girls loving men from Thabai. (pg 63).

Gikonyo is among young people who go to the station every Sunday. He is immigrant from the other ridge. He came still a very child strapped on his mother’s back. His father Waruhiu who worked as a squatter on European farms married to new wife and ordered Gikonyo’s mother to leave his home claiming that her thighs did not yield warm.

At Thabai Wangari (Gigonyo’mother) sends her son to school though he does not stay long because of lack of school fees. But she has learned a little carpentry, which he uses to earn his daily life. (pg 64) The ambition of Gikonyo was to own a piece of land where he could settle his mother. The ambition increases much when he sees or hears of Mumbi. Mumbi is said to be the most beautiful girl in all ridges.

Mumbi is the daughter of Mbugua and a sister to Kishika and Kiriuki. Wanjiku is her mother. Kariuki attendes school and loves books as in the evening he reads books using the light from the wood fire.Gikonyo loves Kariuki and Mumbi. And when he goes to Mumbi he uses to go with sweets. He tells funny stories to Kariuki and rarely speaks when Mumbi comes (pg 67). Other boys who love Mumbi are Karanja and Richard son Rev. Jackson. Richard is at last year at Siriana Secondary school and would later go to Uganda or England to complete his learning. Richard often stole from home at night to go and see Mumbi at Thabai still Mumbi has refused him. So Gikonyo always asks himself,“she has refused such a man, what chance have I? ” (pg 67).

One day Mumbi takes a Panga to Gikonyo to fix it with a new wooden handle because the old one was burnt. Gikonyo promises her to fix it freely. As they continue gossiping (Mazungumzo) come Karanja, Kihika and Gitogo to the workshop of Gikonyo. This situation makes Gikongo to be unhappy. Soon Mumbi decides to live where Karanja escorts her,“Come my faithful ” Mumbi tells Karanja.They leave in the darkness. Then Gikonyo changes suddenly and becomes envious of Karanja. When Karanja comes back everyone notice that he is quite and thoughtful.” He! Man! The man sitting next to him, have you fallen in love with that girl? Everybody laughs except Gikonyo” (pg 71)

The following day Gikonyo takes the Panga with him to Mumbi’s home after fixing it with a new handle. He is happy because Mumbi is present. As they start talking, suddenly enter Kihika and Karanja. As usually Kihika is a politician and whenever he is politics rules the meeting. They join political debate, Kihika, Mumbi, Karanja and Gikongo.

Kihika began politics since his childhood whereby he was chased from Mahiga primary school. When he was young he was sent to mahiga school under the advice of Reverend Jackson Kigondu. Jackson was a friend of Mbugua and he used to hate politics to the extent of calling it a sin (pg 74). Kigunda was the first group of Christians to be killed in Rung’ei by Panga.

When at school Kihika was against his leader Muniu when he called circumcision for women a wicked custom. The punishment to Kihika was to be whipped ten times and finally was to say thanks.Kihika resisted against the whips and from that time Kihika run from school and left for ever.
While at Mumbis home at the very same day Kihika is serious preaching unity to his fellow young who happen to meet there,but his fellow Karanja is seen supporting and praising the whites since they have fire weapons (pg 77). While on political talks, come Mumbi’s friends; Wambuku and Njeri.“ At the sight of Wambuku, Kihika’s face brightens” ,writes Ngugi. Suddenly Njeri shouts the coming of the train hence, all of them leave conversation and go to the station. Gikonyo and Mumbi slowdown and remain behind while others run faster. Karanja is the leading during thie race to the station.

Gikonyo and Mumbi start walking side by side and stop to the forest. Mumbi bends against a tree trunk and start saying.“ you have put a lot of hard work into fixing, the mother was so pleased” Gikonyo seems to be happy as her says, “I mean it was small piece of work and I liked doing it” (pg 79).

Then the author writes that in the forest Gikonyo held Mumbi and gradually fall her to the ground. The long grass covered them. “Mumbi breathed hard but could not dare to speak. One by one, Gikonyo removed her clothes as if performing a dark ritual in the wood. Now her body gleamed in the sun. Her eyes were soft, and will and submissive and defiant. Gikonyo passed his hands through her hair and over her breasts, slowly coaxing and something stiffness from her body, until she lay in his hands, suddenly Gikonyo found himself suspended in a void” (pg 80).

Karanja has arrived to the station and he does not see Mumbi hence he is unhappy. But Kihika continues with political speech. “ in Kenya we want independence. But first we have to be ready and carry the cross. I die for you, you die for me, we become a sacrifice for one another” (pg 83).

They soon Karanja, Kihika and others except Gikonyo and Mumbi reach to Kinenia forest. They dance two by two. Kihika with Wambuku, the girl who is not beautiful except when she laughs (pg 84). The girl who real wants love with Kihika as she says, “you will not go away from me. You will not leave me alone” she even persuades Kihika to leave liberation struggle as she says, “you have got land, Kihika . Mbugua’s land is also yours. In any case, the land in the rift valley didn’t belong to our tribe”.

Time went on and Gikonyo marries to Mumbi. He is very happy as he says, “Before I was nothing. Now I was a man, during our short period of married life, Mumbi made me feel it was all important…. I took the woman in my arms; do you know a banana stem? I peeled off layer after layer, and I put out my trembling hands, to reach the Kiana coiled inside, everyday I found a new Mumbi. Together we plunged into he forest. And I was not afraid of the darkness ” (pg 86).

During Colonial era
This era is accompanied by struggling for independence.One day leaders of the party held a meeting at Rungei and Kihika was selected to speak. As follows, “This is not 1920, what we now want is action, a blow which will tell…. Read his speech on page 15. After the speech he went to the forest with his men. (Pg16) but Karanja didn’t take oath instead he joined the home guard and worked as librarian (pg 31).

From there, things on Thabai become more than worse. People woke up and found themselves ringed round with black and white soldiers. Gunfire smoked in the sky, people held their stomach, some locked themselves in latrines, shopkeepers in their sacks. Gitogo deaf and dumb who lived with his old mother used to bring her food was also shot dead (pg 6). He continues ruing when something hit him on the back.

Thousands of people including Mugo and Gikonyo were detained Mungo had no parents. They dead long time ago and he was left to his widow aunt known Waitherero. Waitherero treated Mungo badly. When Kihika joined the forest, his father Mbugua said “what has come into his head? Don’t I have enough land to last him all his life?” Wambui his mother also wept. (pg 89).

Kihika and his men continued the battle whereby they succeeded to attack one of the garrisons. They broke it and let the prisoners out into the night and set fire on the garrison. They then run back to the forest with fresh suppliers of men and guns to continue the war.The colonial administration suspected Kihika to be involved with the event, hence a price was put on his head that anybody who brought Kihika, dead or alive would receive a huge sum of money. (pg 169).

And people who were in other detention camps were tortured to the maximum (pg 115). They were given small shares the situation which led Mugo one day to organize a boycott. The response to boycott was the death of eleven men (pg 117).

One day Kihika shot Robson a colonial officer; another chief Muruithia the name was also shot by one of forest fighter. The chief did not die and he was taken to Timoro hospital. A week later two men carrying a basketful of food went to visit the sick chief. There, they shot him dead and jumped through the window and went back to the forest (pg 129). From there, Karanja became a chief.

During his regime, Karanja led other home guards into the forest to hunt down the freedom fighters. Even the few remaining fit men were taken to detention camps (pg 129).In detention camps, men who had taken the oath were persuaded to confess so that they be left free to go home and meet their children and wives. Hence Mugo who hadn’t taken the oath was left free.

And those who had remained at home; they were taken to dig trenches under the supervision of soldiers and home guards. Home guards used to beat any body that slowed down in any way. They worked for very long hour with very low wages. Women were allowed out two hours before sunset to go and look for food.

The D.O used to permit soldiers to pick women and carry them to their tents (pg 126). One day home guards came and whipped Wambuku a situation which upset Mugo and came to help her. In terror Mugo pushed forward and held the whip before the home guard could hit a women a fifth time. More home guards gathered the seen and whips descended on Mugo’s body. Then he was taken to the cell where he was tortured severely hence detained.

Wambuku died on the trench and her body was thrown it into the grave dug a few yards from the trench. Other two women died and another hole was dug by trench. Children and old people were not allowed to work but they were sitting aside and see their daughters, mothers and children bear whips (pg 127).

Let us now turn to Kihika’s death. We are told that the price was put on his head. The day Kihika shot dead the D.O, he went to Mugo and informed the issue. So because Mugo disliked to be included in any affairs. He thought that if he engaged with Kihika, the soldiers would kill him… “Why should Kihika drag me into a struggle and problems I have not created? Why ? ……. I am not his brother…” I have not done harm to anybody . I only looked after my little shamba and crops. And now I must spend my life in prison because of the folly of one man.” (pg 169). Kihika left the place and promised to meet with Mugo at Rung’ei market on Sunday.

As Mugo remembered there was a price on Kihika’s head, he went to the DO and reported that he saw Kihika. The D.O shot saliva into the dark face of Mugo. Mugo moved back a step and lifted his left hand to rub off the saliva (pg 173) as the D O says, “Many people have already given us false information concerning this terrorist. Hear? Because they want the reward, we shall hang you here, outside do you here? .”

Hence Kihika was then captured alone at the edge of the Kinenia forest and hanged in public one Sunday at Rung’ei market.

During the operation of trench Mumbi used to attend while her husband in detestation. Her mother and Kariuki had nothing to eat. Karanja the man whom people knew that he might be the one betrayed Kihika used to bring some food to Mumbi (pg 127) “Take this maize flour and bread or else you will die. I did not betray Kihika, I did not.” said Karanja when Mumbi rejected the maize flour.

Karanja helped Mumbi in various matters including education affairs when Kariuki passed KAPE he gave the letter to the boy and went to school. Karanja also helped them to build a house because it was passed the order that all houses within the place they must be removed and the land remained in the hand of white people.

But Karanja used to tell Mumbi that those were detained would never come back (pg 128) “ One day Karanja brought a list of those who are going to come from detention camps. The name of Gikonyo was there. That I laughed even welcomed Karanja’s cold lips on my face …” (pg 131) “ I let Karanja make love to me…” says Mumbi.

Gikonyo from detention
After six years of detention Gikonyo came home and found his wife with a child, a child of Karanja. He went to report his arrival to the chief (Karanja). Gikonyo was shaken with bitter incomprehension being commended by his friend to enter the office. “Listen carefully you have now come back into a normal life in the village. People here obey the law, hear? No meetings at night, no story about Gandhi and unity and all that the white man is here to stay” (pg 130).

Gikonyo unexpectedly stood up, and without knowing what he was doing, started for the door, Karanja let him go up to the door and then shouted “stop” Gikonyo stopped, as if paralyzed by the voice and turned round waiting (pg 103).

Karanja a man who took the oath with Gikonyo to fight the white man was now talking to him about the power of white man. A man with whom he used to play the guitar, who often came to the workshop for gossip, was now shouting at him.

As Gikonyo on the way to home had only one intention to kill Mumbi. When he reached at home the door was closed,“Open the door. Open the door you who auction your bodies on the market” suddenly the door opened and he fell on the floor and hit his head against the hearthstones.

Uhuru Day celebration
After the country had attained her independence, all colonialists were to leave. Mr Burton was one of the earliest settlers, who encouraged by the British Government to settle in Kenya after the railway to Uganda was finished. His children were born in Kenya, went to school there, the boys to the prince of Wales school and girls to Kenya High School and when home to England for their University education.

Since it was the end of him to stay in Kenya, Mr Burton wanted to sell the land he loved and go home to Britain (pg 53) Therefore Gikonyo and his men already contacted Mr. Burton and made preliminary arrangements and Mr. Burton wanted cash so, Gikonyo had gone to see the M.P to Nairobi to find out if he could recommended them get government loan. The M.P promised them to go for the answer.

Gikonyo the allocated day of seeing the M.P when arrived he boarded the bus from Rung’ei to Nairobi. The bus was called A DILIGENT CHILD. Before the reached to Nairobi, two African policemen stopped the bus. One come in and counted the number of passengers. The bus had two pass angers extra. Then the cashier took the two policemen outside and waved the driver to go on. He drove a few yards and stopped. Soon the, cashier came running and get into the bus. “ They just wanted a few shillings for tea”. He said and people in the bus laughed. (pg 54).

He reached to Nairobi city directly to the office of M.P, he found a crowd of people waiting outside the office of M.P because he was not in.But people were used to broken appointments and broken promises. Sometimes they would keep on coming, day after day, without seeing their representatives (pg 54).

When the MP came it was Gikonyo’s turn, “now about these loans. They are difficult to get, but I am trying my best within a few days. I may have good news fro you” So he told him he would inform. them.
“These days people had organized the day to remember all freedom fighter” says M.P, “It’s about these Uhuru celebration at Rung’ei. Please thank the branch and elders for inviting me, but on that day all the members of parliament have been invited to various functions here. So apologize to the people for me and say I can’t come”. Said the MP to Gikonyo. But soon the MP bought the plot for himself. (Mjanja kuwahi).

All the eight ridges at Thabai were talking about Mugo to address the meeting during Uhuru celebration to honor freedom fighters. It had been arranged that during celebration, the betrayer of Kihika would be killed. And the majority knew Karanja as the betrayer so he was to die on that day.

But Mugo rejected to lead the celebration despite persuasion from elders. While people were in preparation for Uhuru, Mumbi had been chased away by Gikonyo. Therefore while Mumbi at home elders used her to go to persuade Mugo to address the meeting. Mumbi was seen confused. She never forgot what general R.Said that Karanja would be killed for his part in Kihika’s death. Should this be done in the name of her brother? (pg 158).

So what she did it was for her to inform Karanja not to attend the meeting then she went to persuade Mugo to address the meeting. Mugo told Mumbi that he was he who betrayed Kihika and he would love the same to her (pg 161).

All this time Karanja was leaving at Githima. So Mwaura went to persuade Karanja to attend the celebration. During the day of celebration there were different sports and games. Among people who run for races Karanja and Gikonyo were there. Fortunately Gikonyo fell down and broke his leg. He was sent to Timoro hospital.

General R. was there to address the mass. Rev. King’ori prayed to open the meeting (pg 182). After addressing meeting the General asked for the betrayer to come in front! Mugo came to the platform and said, “ You asked for Judas! You asked for the man stands before you, now Kihika came to me by night. He put his life into my hands and I sold it to the white man. And this thing has eaten into my life all these years” (pg 193). The multitude didn’t believe their eyes hence they all departed and it was the end of the meeting.

Karanja who was sitting aside looking that, he left for Githima by using NARROW ESCAPE BUS. His entire journey was a companied by heavy rain. On the way he met Mumbi going to see Gikonyo to hospital and he asked to see a child.

At the hospital Gikonyo had lost his desire to kill Mumbi as he said, “ will you go back to the house, light the fire and see things don’t decay?” (213). She consented hence Gikonyo was so happy as he says, “ I will change the woman figure” He then caved a three leg stool for his wife. Soon Mumbi, the child and Gikonyo made life new and worked hard as today they have bought a lorry and other good things.

CONTENT
THEMES
1. Betrayal (Main theme)
Betrayal in most of African countries has become a normal thing to such an extent many nations are now living under conflicts and poverty. The novelist Ngugi discusses this theme deeply through various spheres by using Mugo, Karanja, Gikonyo, and M.P in his novel to represent our today society as follows,
(a) The MP betrays the cooperative group led by Gikonyo. He buys the farm form Mr. Burton instead of helping them to get loan from the government as it was agreed.
(b) Mugo betrays Kihika the leader of the people hence he betrays the entire society.
(c) Karanja betrays the society by collaborating with the white colonialists.
(d) Mumbi betrays Gikonyo her husband by having a child with Karanja.
(e) Gikonyo betrays the society by denouncing the oath and comes to see his wife Mumbi.
(f) The Africans leaders betray the masses after independence. These leaders are enjoying the lion’s share of the national cake while living in cities.

2. Alienation
(a) Alienation of a person from the society.
Mugo is lonely since his child hood. He does not have any stand in his society and he does not want to involve himself in various matters. The society wants him to be their Moses but he fails to understand and in the end he was alienated.
Karanja created a war between himself and his society. He confesses the oath and becomes a collaborator by becoming a home guard and later a chief in favour of the white man. His main intention is to get Mumbi.

(b) Alienation of African culture.
The African traditions were alienated from the European culture. Example the conflict with teacher Muniu and Kihika, was because of circumcision. The already Pacified Christians consider circumcision as a seen but for African culture circumcision is acceptable.

(c) Self alienation
Mugo does not know his real self as he was feared by the sound of his own voice. The sense of guilt of betraying Kihika keeps on lingering in his minds to the extent of bringing a genuine case of self-alienation. He has no hope and desperate, everything repeats it self. The day ahead would just look like yesterday and the day before.

(d) Land alienation
Europeans took the fertile land and leave Africans with unfertile land, and Africans were forced to go and work in plantations of the white settlers instead of working to their land.

3. Building the future.
The Kenyans after being tired of colonialism, they decide to fight for independence. Gikonyo and his cooperative group intended to make their future life better through various activities. However all the attempts to build the future were blocked buy their leaders. This is vividly seen in the novel when the M.P blocks them to get the government to buy the farm

4. Exploitation
The novelist presents exploiters in two groups namely; European exploiters and Africa exploiters. Europeans confiscated all the fertile land and caused Africans to remain landless hence they (Africans) were forced to work in white man plantations and paid low wages. For example they took Gikonyo’s land when he was in detention camps
The African elites (people with authority and economic power) stepped into the shoes left behind by colonialists. A good example is the MP.

5. Oppression
Oppression being restriction of people’s freedom by those in power. People have been oppressed through various aspects namely; economically, politically and socially.
For example Africans experienced the following oppression;
§ They were forced out of their land and their houses were set fire without any compensation.
§ They were forced to work on white man plantations
§ They were denied the rights to education because of their poverty. Refer Gikonyo who was chased because his mother had no school fees.
§ They were used as slaves to white man. For example Karanja is sent by Dr. Lynd to buy meat for her dog.
§ Also when Mugo went to report to the D.O on the issue of Kihika he was humiliated by being spate of saliva on his face.
§ Waiyaki was buried alive as a lesson to those who were against white man.
§ Kihika when tried to fight for African culture (circumcision for women) he was chased from school forever.
§ They were beaten and put into detention camps without trial. Refer to Gikonyo, Mugo and Harry Thuku. And Africans who remained at home were forced to pay tax.. Also whites like Thomson and Dr. Lynd harassed Kenyans. Karanja’s harassed his fellow Kenyans.

6. Role and Position of women
The novelist portrays a woman in various aspects as follows;

§ As person who takes care of her family
Women in this society play the role of taking care of their families in absence of their husbands. For example while, Gikonyo was in detention camps Mumbi took care of Gikonyo’s mother and the house.

§ As patriotic person
Women have been portrayed as the link between Maumau fighter in the forest and those in villages as symbol of patriotism. For example Wambui took the pistol to the freedom fighters that went to fight in the forest.

§ As people who value education
Women have been portrayed as people who value education in the society despite their poverty. For example Mumbi used to dig trenches to find money to pay school fees for their children and young brother Kariuki. She also learned reading and writes thus why he wrote a letter to rescue Karanja on the issue of killing him during Uhuru celebration.

§ As worthless people
Women were humiliated, sexually abused and degraded by their husbands and soldiers. For example in digging trenches, soldiers were allowed to take women and sleep with them in their tents. Mumbi was beaten by her husband and stopped to sleep with her. General R’s mother was being beaten by her husband; and Dr Lynd was raped by Lt Koinandu.

§ As people with sympathy
Women also were portrayed as people with great sympathy. This being shown by Wambuku, Kihika’s mother now she wept when Kihika went to the forest fight for the Whites. On this issue Nyeri also wept because Kihika was his boy friend. Mumbi cried when Gikonyo was detained.

Conflict
Many conflicts have been pointed out by the author at various stages of development, during, pre and post independence. It is during the colonial era when great social, political and economic conflicts arose and some continued up to the post – independence.

(a) Political conflict
Taking people to concentration camps during the state of emergence lied to political conflicts between colonialists and the Africans. Thus why European killed Kihika and Waiyaki while Africans killed Dr. Thomson and other betrayers to Africans.

(b) Social conflict
The introduction of the European culture made traditionalists to be in conflicts with the brain washed elites. This led to the death of Rev. Kigondu the father of Richard.
Alienation of a person from others also led to social conflicts. For example Gikonyo was taken to concentration camp leaving behind his wife Mumbi and when he came back he found her with a child who took advantage of Gikonyo’s absence. Gikonyo therefore became in social conflicts with Mumbi and Karanja.
Dehumanisation of the people by the colonial government, Africans were demolished from and fertile land forced to live in unfertile land. This led to social conflict.

(c) Economic conflict
Europeans introduced an exploitative system of production whereby Kenyans were exploited. Kenyans had to pay tax; and they were lowly paid for the hard labour. Hence the conflict between Africans and Europeans arose following a war to fight for their rights.

7. Corruption
Most of people who are taking corruption are government leaders who were honoured by the government to fight corruption. For example the novelist shows when the two policemen took bribe from the bus conductor on the way to Nairobi.Also MP corrupted his people (Gikonyo and his men on Burton’s farm).

8. Sacrifice
Ngungi uses a “A grain of wheat” symbolically to show us that in order for the Kenyans to get their freedom from the colonialists they would be ready to die for their country. Waiyaki, Kihika, Harry Thuku are among the freedom fighters that sacrificed their lives for the freedom of Kenya. Colonialists at Kibwezi bury Waiyaki alive with his head facing the center of the earth so that it will be a warning to other Kenyans never to challenge the power of the white man.

Kihika is caught and hanged by the neck at Rung’ei. Wambui risks her life by hiding a pistol in her grain to escape from the White man.

MESSAGES
The author has put forward a number of messages. These include: -

1. Courage is vital in any fight against an enemy. For example Kihika says, “what we went in Kenya are women and men who will not run before the sword” (pg 89).

2. Unity is very important in the liberation struggle. Thus why Kihika united with other men to fight for independence and hence they attained it.

3. It is important to forgive past events even if they are unforgettable. Example Mumbi and Gikonyo forgive each other’s guilt and they reconcile. As a result, they are living in harmony and prosperity.

4. We should be aware of traitors in our efforts to build a better society. For example betrayals by Mugo’s Karanja and the MP.

5. Hardworking is the source of prosperity; Example Gikonyo was respected and admired as he soon was recognized as a very big businessman.

6. Women should not be looked down on as they can play important roles in the society. Example Mumbi, Wami and Wambui were talking about the duties they have as contribution to the building of the nation.

Perspective
Centered on the pre-Independence Kenyan struggle between the Mau Mau liberation fighters and the British colonial government, A GRAIN OF WHEAT gives a portrayal of the struggle that few writers have ever depicted. One gets a good picture of the Mau Mau fighters, the attitude of the Colonialists, their the detention camps, the nature of the war, the bloody encounters, the ruthlessness of some of the soldiers of Colonial army and the direction to independence for the African continent. Betrayal, hopes and dreams, horrors and loss are all parts of the story.

FORM

PLOT
The central action in this novel by Ngugi wa Thiong'o takes place in December of 1963 in a village in Kenya that is preparing for the coming of Uhuru (Independence). However, the plot is non-linear, with a wealth of flashbacks and various twists and turns. There are also multiple storylines which are well woven into a fascinating tapestry. The main story is indeed the coming of Independence Day, part of which involves identifying the person who betrayed Kihika, one of the leading freedom fighters from the village. Many of the flashbacks along this storyline involve the fight for freedom as well as details about what occurred in the detention camps. Another prominent storyline is that involving a love triangle between Mumbi and her two suitors, Gikonyo and Karanja. A third interesting storyline involves Mugo, a man whom everyone recognizes as different yet feels drawn to.

TITLE
This title comes from 1Corintias 15 verse 36 – 38 which says “.. Thou food, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain. But God givent it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body”.

A grain of wheat has to die and be buried in order that later it will germinate into a new powerful plant which will give rise to more grains. Similarly, Jesus Christ, according to the Christian belief, died in order to bring about man’s liberation from sins.The Kenyans were struggling for liberation thus why there had to be a savior who had to die and be a sacrifice for the people’s liberation. These were Waiyaki, Kihika and Harry Thuku.


CHARACTERS
The loner Mugo, a hero of the British concentration camps where he led a hunger strike and he also tried to stop a village guard from beating a pregnant woman to death. Although he is thought to be a hero through the whole book, he is the traitor of Kihika betraying him to the British in a selfish act to save himself.

Gikonyo, an ambitious carpenter and business man who's married to Mumbi. Confessed to taking the oath of the resistance while in a concentration camp, securing an early release only to find that his wife had had a child with his hated rival Karanja while he was away.
"Gikonyo's secret ambition was to own a piece of land where he could settle his mother. But this needed money. The ambition to acquire wealth increased whenever he saw or thought of Mumbi, a girl whose voice and face caused an anguished throb in him. But he thought his heart was beating in the wilderness. Surely Mumbi, the most beautiful girl on the ridge, would never deign to bring him a calabash fill with cool water and say: drink this for me. Nevertheless, he waited and groped his way slowly. He saw Mumbi moving in the country paths among the pea-flowers, and green beans and maize plants, and he braced himself to make his desires known. But courage failed him. He greeted her and passed on." --pg. 87,

Mumbi, wife of Gikonyo and sister of Kihika. While Gikonyo was imprisoned she was ultimately forced to sleep with Karanja who had been appointed village chief by the colonial power through collaboration.
Karanja, collaborator with the British and widely suspected to be the traitor who betrayed Kihika
Kihika, resistance fighter who conquered a police station and killed the hated District Officer Robson before being caught and hanged after being betrayed by Mugo.
John Thompson an early British settler, believes in the ideals of Colonial Imperialism


SETTING
This is a powerful book by Ngugi Wa Thiongo and it is set in pre-independence days in Kenya in the early 1950's - 60's. The place, a rural village in the heart of central Kenya, and through Ngugi's eyes, the landscape becomes alive with the sights, sounds and smells of the area.