A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi wa Thiongo

Because the book is about retribution and forgiveness, I shall begin with a confession that this is my first time reading a Ngugi book. Imagine the shame! The book came highly recommended by my husband who couldn’t reserve his judgment over the fact that I hadn’t read it. He spoke of how the book begins with the quote from 1 Corinthians 15:36 "Thou fool, 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”. He closed his eyes as he described it and made it sound so spiritual like this is the one book whose reading improves one’s chances at the pearly gates. Knowing I may need all the bargaining tools before St. Peter, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. He gave me an overview of what he thought the book was all about, but as you know no two persons ever read the same book. So I decided to read it for myself if only to redeem myself in his eyes.

It is only four days to independence and the people of Rungei village and Kenya in general are excited that finally “uhuru” is here. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation of the black man’s freedom. There is singing; random dancing and preparations for the ceremony in the village are on full gear. While the narration emphasizes on the essence of “uhuru” and the festivities around, the writer seems to be on a mission to ensure that the reader is not lost on the struggles that ordinary people underwent to achieve the feat.

This is a story of sacrifice. A story of the power of choice and what exactly influences man to determine his path in life. Most importantly, it is a story of guilt and redemption. The protagonist Mugo is an unusual man, he is quiet and aloof to the events surrounding the attainment of “uhuru”. Us quiet people always seem suspicious to extroverts who are ever unable to predict our plans or actions. The mystery gives us power over people and disarms them in a way. This is the case with Mugo. He is the village hero for his actions in detention. He is the man who stood against the whipping of a pregnant woman, the leader of a hunger strike in detention. Despite of being whipped and placed in solitary confinement, he did not break and, most importantly, he did not confess the oath. The villagers are full of song for their hero but are set to be shocked out of their dreamland on Independence Day when Mugo finally makes his confession. When you read the book please don’t jump to conclusion that all the quiet people are as messed up as Mugo just because I said we’re deep and dark.

Kihika is portrayed as an idealist dedicated to the cause of black self-rule. He kills a white District Officer, plans and executes the attack of a police station among many other “heroic” acts. He’s deemed a true warrior and is willing to die for his country. Actually he does die. One morning the residents wake up to his body inexplicably dangling on a tree. His death causes panic, despair, bitterness and a thirst for revenge. What will thrill you is the story of how Kihika meets his death.

Gikonyo, Karanja and Kihika are childhood friends. Growing up, they went to see the “long iron snake” together, sang and played the guitar together. While Kihika was making his idealistic speeches about liberation to anyone who would listen, Gikonyo and Karanja were chasing after Mumbi, the village beauty. Gikonyo finally wins this contest of charms. The two get married and spend a few months together in bliss but soon the white man comes knocking on the doors of those who were perceived to be aiding the movement. The men are required to confess their oath or be taken to detention camps. Kihika and Gikonyo refuse to confess. Karanja confesses and becomes a home guard. He turns out to be the most a ruthless piece of work, treating fellow Africans worse than animals, whipping, hunting and killing them with brutal force.

Before you put that self-righteous hat on, think again about what you would do for your selfish interests.  Think of how quickly you hawk your soul to the system for a few coins, think of how easily you would step over colleagues backs to get that promotion or small favour. Think of how easily you take that bribe or give it out to avoid an “uncomfortable situation”. Think of how you’d watch the man with the money skin a man alive and not stand up to object. There’s a little Karanja in all of us. I digress, back to the review.

Eventually Karanja is made Chief, and even at some point sires a child with Mumbi….of course if you read the book you’ll get to know how that happened.

Gikonyo spends six years in detention dreaming of better days and his return home to Mumbi. Thoughts of her keep gnawing at him and he longs for the day that he will be back in her arms again. The years in detention are not easy and a man can break. When he has had enough, he confesses his oath and is set free. You can imagine the guilt weighing on him as he walks back home to his wife and mother having betrayed the cause. You can also imagine the slap to his face when he finds his wife nursing Karanja’s baby.

What sacrifices would you have made for the cause? Would you have conceded and been the white man’s lapdog or would you rather have lived and died for the cause as Kihika did? This is how Karanja rationalizes it when Mumbi spits at him for not being man enough to go to the forest and fight like the others had. He says” the coward lived to see his mother while the brave was left dead on the battlefield.”

Each of the characters in the story is made to pick a battle. They choose differently and for various reasons and as I said this is a story of choices and guilt but most importantly it is a story of retribution. The book was first published in 1967; four years after independence when the collaborators had seemingly gotten the best that self-rule had to offer. As the others had been busy fighting in the forest, some collaborated and were given positions of influence with their children being schooled in the white man’s ways and language. At independence, those who went to the forest felt betrayed and harboured bitter feelings.  The book seems to be a rallying call for all Kenyans to unite regardless of the past and build a new nation. The story gives hope to the freedom fighters that in the new Kenya they too can find their place as long as they bury the feelings of the past.

Reading this book made my understanding of right and wrong a bit blurred. What defines a hero? Are villains inherently bad people or victims of circumstances well outside their control? Can choices be made rationally or are they mere games of chance that nevertheless burden you with unexpected consequences. My head hurts from thinking. You have a read and share what the book evokes.