BETRAYAL IN THE CITY - SETTING

a)      Physical setting

The physical aspects of setting include all of the places where action takes place. It includes the geography, the climate and the physical objects. This type of setting may change from scene to scene. The main setting of the play is in an independent African state called KAFIRA.

Places inside the country of Kafira where action and events takes place include:

         i.            Prison

       ii.            Boss’s palace

      iii.            Regina’s house

     iv.            Adika’s grave

b)      Cultural setting

The cultural setting includes patterns of behaviour and beliefs that dominate the society in which the characters live. Family relationships, moral values, political systems, class, gender roles and race relations are all part of the cultural environment.

         i.            Family relationships – There was a strong family relationships that existed in the society that lived in Kafira. After Adika’s death, his remaining family members mourn his death for days. Jusper loved his brother so much that when he heard of his death, he develops a nervous breakdown. After Mosese was arrested, his sister was determined to get him out of prison. She does this by going to Boss’s palace and pleading for his release.

       ii.            Beliefs and customs – In Kafira several tribal groupings existed. From the dialogue between Jere and Doga, Jere tells Doga that Mulili is not one of their own. Mulili is not even afraid when Nina threatens him with a curse by stripping down her clothes. While in prison, the prison warder refuses to give Jere a cup of tea because he does not belong to his tribe. One of the tribes in Kafira believed in the shaving ceremony as was in the case after the death of Adika. They also performed ceremonies of their dead by burning the body of the dead person so as to rid themselves of the dead person’s ghosts. They also believed in circumcision. Doga tells Jere that he shared the same knife with his father during their circumcision.

      iii.            Political systems – The leadership of Kafira was fully autocratic. Only Boss had all the power to decide on what was good for the citizens. He does this through the introduction of development plans that are not wholly accepted by the citizens. Those who disobey him are either jailed or eliminated.

     iv.            Moral values – Boss trying to take Regina by force was an indication of declining moral values by people in position in Kafira. Mulili’s bloodlust is also an indication of how there was decline in respect for human life.

c)       Period of setting

The period of setting in the play is a post-colonial period. This is because:

         i.            The problems facing Kafira reflect the problems of post-independence African states.

       ii.            The majority of lecturers in Kafira University were expatriates.

      iii.            Events in the play happen just after the takeover. By this Mosese meant that the problems they were facing happened just after Kafira gained independence.

     iv.            The people of Kafira still practiced their traditions and customs and they had also embraced Christianity.

       v.            Kafira was exporting experts to its institutions.

     vi.            There was lack of economic development.

    vii.            Controversial opinions and policies.

  viii.            There was massive corruption and dictatorship.

     ix.            There were post-colonial trends e.g. coups, nepotism etc.

d)      Type of setting

The type of setting in the play is a campaign setting. This is a type of setting that has a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial and political aim. In the play, the activities that take place involve a political aim which led to the overthrowing of Kafira’s head of state. After the death of Adika, Jusper, Mosese and Jere conspire to bring down Boss’s government during the rehearsal of the play. They do these because of the injustices, corruption and oppression that the people of Kafira faced under the leadership of Boss. Some of the characters plan to achieve their missions through the actions that they undertake to perform. For example:

         i.            Jusper is determined to get revenge for his family who were killed through the orders of Boss.

       ii.            Mosese is determined to change the political dimension of Kafira where there was no corruption, oppression and other injustices.

      iii.            Mr Tumbo, Mulili, Kabito and Nicodemo were determined to maintain the status quo since they were beneficiaries of the system.

     iv.            Doga and Nina were determined to get justice for their dead son and to be allowed to carry on with their traditional ceremony.

       v.            Regina is determined to see her brother released from prison.

     vi.            Boss is determined to hold onto the leadership of Kafira. He does these through extra judicial killings and imprisonment of people who go against his wishes.

e)      Role of setting in the play

         i.            It shapes and defines the characters to who they are.

       ii.            It acts as an antagonist causing conflict between characters.

      iii.            It defines the cause of conflict in the play.

     iv.            It defines the culture and traditions of the citizens.

       v.            It tells us whether the events are taking place are in the past or in the present.

     vi.            It reveals the relationship between different characters.

    vii.            It establishes the mood and tone of the play.

  viii.            It has a symbolic function.

     ix.            It determines the fate of the antagonist and the protagonist.

       x.            It is connected to the plot.

     xi.            It helps to define the political systems practiced by the people of Kafira.