·
Man vs. man
•
Akoko vs. Oloo
When Akoko was ten months old, she got into conflict with her older
brother Oloo who had taken something that she was playing with. Conflict
between these two siblings was minor because both of them were still in their
childhood years and as they grew up Oloo became Akoko’s greatest helper and
supporter.
•
Otieno vs. Chief Owuor Kembo
Conflict between Otieno and his brother chief Owuor kembo began during
the negotiation for the bride price of Akoko. Otieno was opposed to the idea of
paying thirty head of cattle as Akoko’s bride price. To Otieno that much cattle
was enough to marry three wives and he saw no difference between Akoko and the
other women.
After the traditional marriage between Akoko and chief Owuor kembo, Otieno
became extremely jealous of his brother. In his heart he desired Akoko who
seemed to be getting younger every year instead of getting older. Conflict
between the two brothers got out of hand when chief Owuor kembo learnt that
Otieno and his mother, Nyar Asembo, had ganged up against his wife and was the
cause of Akoko’s leaving her matrimonial home.
•
Chief Owuor kembo vs. Nyar Asembo
After the birth of Obura, chief Owuor kembo was under great pressure
to marry another wife especially from his mother Nyar Asembo who felt that the
rate at which his son was reproducing himself was too slow. The conflict between these two got worse
after Akoko left her matrimonial home and went back to Yimbo after her
altercations with Nyar Asembo and Otieno. During the altercations between Grandmother
Nyar Asembo and Akoko, chief Owuor kembo had journeyed and gone to a friend’s
funeral. When he returned from his journey, he learnt of what had transpired
between his wife and his mother and Otieno. His brother and mother tried to
bluff the events that had taken place but he eventually got the full story from
willing villagers and his children. These revelations angered chief Owuor kembo
and it made him to almost strike his mother which was a great taboo.
•
Akoko vs. Nyar Asembo
Though Nyar Asembo liked Akoko very much, conflict between the two
started when it became evident that the rate at which Akoko was giving birth
was too slow. After the birth of Nyabera, conflict between Akoko and nyar Asembo
escalated when Akoko takes a unilateral decision and names her new baby Odero
after his father chief Odero gogni who had died recently. The decision to name her baby after chief Odero
gogni infuriated Nyar Asembo who wanted Nyabera to be given names after her
dead relatives.
Four years after the birth of Nyabera, Akoko and Grandmother Nyar Asembo
got into another conflict when Nyar Asembo declared that Akoko had bewitched
her son. When Akoko learnt of the accusations coming from her mother in law she
calls out a crowd the following morning and she addresses the crowd by telling
them of how Nyar Asembo has accused her of using spells on chief Owuor kembo to
prevent him from marrying another wife. She also tells the crowd of how Nyar Asembo
and her son Otieno were still bitter because the bride price paid to chief Odero
gogni did not translate to children as the two had expected. Because of the
accusations that were levelled against her, she takes a unilateral decision and
leaves Sakwa to her father’s home in Yimbo.
•
Akoko vs. Otieno
Conflict between Akoko and Otieno started during the negotiation to
betroth Akoko to chief Owuor kembo. Otieno was opposed to the marriage between
chief Owuor kembo and Akoko because the number of cattle that was to be paid as
bride price was two and half times more than the required amount. Years later
Otieno was bitter with Akoko because Akoko had not born thirty children in
exchange for the cattle paid to her father as bride price.
During her address early morning to the crowd that had gathered
because of her wailing and screaming after being accused of witchcraft, Akoko gets
into another conflict with Otieno after Otieno dared to beat her. To his
surprise, Otieno retreated because of the fear that he had on Akoko and he was
also afraid of his brother chief Owuor kembo who added scandal to all his other
sins by failing to ever lay a finger on his wife.
After the death of Owang sino, Akoko gets into another conflict with Otieno
after Otieno takes over the chief’s stool and sat on it with arrogance. During
his tenure as chief of the Sakwa village, Otieno appropriated his brother’s
wealth and tried to grab Akoko’s personal wealth as well. Because of Otieno’s
greed and arrogance, it became clear to Akoko that Otieno had no intention of
ever giving up the chiefdom and after his death; his numerous sons would make
sure that it stayed in the family. When
she realized how her situation was regarding the chieftainship, she sought the
help of the white men to remove Otieno from the chief’s stool. Conflict between
these two escalates when Otieno learns that Akoko had sought the help of the
white men to remove him from power. When she arrives to Sakwa from Kisumu where
she had gone to seek the white men’s help, she found that Otieno had plundered
her wealth having taken advantage of her absence.
Days after seeking the white man’s help, Otieno heard that there were
people nosing around his affairs just when they were on their way out. The
realization made him furious and he summoned Akoko who declined to go. Her
refusal to go and see Otieno brought her into another direct conflict with
Otieno and he threatened her but quickly retreated when he discovered that Akoko
was not afraid of him.
Several days later after Akoko’s altercation with Otieno, Akoko
journeyed again to Kisumu where she presented her complaint again to the DC and
her complaints were supported by the messengers who had been sent by the DO.
After successfully pleading with the DC, a contingent of askaris was sent to
Sakwa to forcibly remove Otieno from the chief’s stool. The conflict between
Akoko and Otieno is resolved after Otieno is removed from the chief’s stool and
was forced to return all that he had grabbed from Akoko and his grandnephew.
•
Ogoma kwach vs. his wife
After the death of Okumu, Ogoma kwach was given the responsibility of
siring children with Nyabera so that the name of Okumu could be maintained and
to prevent Nyabera from wandering from man to man. Because Nyabera was an
attractive, Ogoma kwach started to spend more time at her house than at his
wife’s house. This action brought conflict between him and his wife who felt
that he had neglected her. Conflict between the two was resolved after his wife
reported the matter to the council of elders who called on him and reprimanded
him.
•
Nyabera vs. Catechist
While she was in the mission in Gem learning about the new religion, Nyabera
got into conflict with the catechist because she was asking the catechist
challenging questions. To the catechist, Nyabera’s questions were like she was
questioning God. Her conflict with the catechist subsided after she finally
mastered the basics of Christianity and understood its full meaning. She also
became entirely dependent on the catechist explanations so as not to annoy him.
•
Akoko vs. Nyabera
Few months after the death of Owang sino, Akoko decided to go to
Kisumu so that she could seek the help of the Whiteman’s government because she
did not trust that his brother in law Otieno would relinquish the chief’s stool
when Owuor came of age. Her decision to go to Kisumu brought her into conflict
with her daughter Nyabera who had tried to caution her about the white people.
Nyabera made it clear to Akoko that the white people were not to be trusted.
Nyabera also opposed the idea of her mother going to Kisumu because she was
afraid of what could happen to her and to Owuor whom she was leaving behind.
Nyabera’s worries were met with scorn from Akoko who reminded her that she was
not the woman that she brought up and that she doubted that she was fit to be a
mother. The conflict between Nyabera and Akoko is quickly resolved when Nyabera
assures her that she trusts her with the decisions that she makes.
The two women got into another conflict during Awiti’s ceremony to
reward her for her good work in school. During the ceremony Nyabera made a
scene and caused a commotion when she heard that her daughter Awiti has been
invited to join a teachers’ college. Her actions annoyed Akoko who reprimanded
her when they went back to their hut. According to Akoko, Nyabera had become
selfish because she thought that her daughter was being taken away from her.
•
Oyange silwal vs. Akoko and Nyabera
Oyange silwal, the uncle of Awiti, was angry with Akoko and Nyabera
because the two had insisted that the bride price for Awiti to be a mere token.
Oyange wanted the bride price to be twice the normal amount if not more because
Awiti was a beauty and she was also learned. Because Akoko had set the bride
price low, Oyange threatened to storm out of the negotiation until Akoko
reminded him of how he had neglected his duty in raising Awiti. Conflict
between Oyange silwal and the two women is later resolved after Oyange accepts
the bride price that Akoko had set which furnished the requirements of chik.
•
Mark vs. Italian doctor
Conflict between Mark and the Italian doctor started when Mark took
Elizabeth to the hospital after he mistakenly gave her antimalarials which were
known to induce abortion. When the Italian doctor heard the story and examined
Elizabeth, he started calling Mark and Elizabeth all manner of names. He also
accused Mark of trying to kill his wife.
•
Elizabeth vs. Mark
Conflict between Mark and Elizabeth started after the death of Akoko.
During that period Elizabeth was in confusion, anger and grief and when Mark
approached her together with Owuor to sympathise with her, she told Mark to go
away and that she did not want to see him again. Conflict between these two is
resolved after Nyabera counsels Awiti and later Awiti asks for forgiveness from
Mark who understood what she was going through and he forgives her.
After Mark married Elizabeth and went to live with her in Nakuru,
there arose another conflict between the two when Mark mistakenly gave
Elizabeth antimalarials after she complained of nausea and dizziness. Unknowingly
to Mark and Elizabeth, Elizabeth was pregnant and the medications that Mark
gave her caused chloroquin poisoning which was known to induce abortion in
early pregnancies. Two years after the incident, Elizabeth accused Mark of
having deliberately given her the medications to make her sterile. These
accusations made Mark angry and he nearly struck Elizabeth. This conflict is
resolved in the third year of their marriage when Elizabeth becomes pregnant
and gives birth to twins.
•
Mark vs. his mother
Three years after Mark’s marriage to Elizabeth, Mark’s mother arrived
in Nakuru and demanded an explanation as to why the two did not have any
children. She tried to accuse Elizabeth basing her arguments on her education
and she also eluded that maybe Elizabeth was up to some mischief before her
marriage to Mark. Her assumptions angered Mark who told her that it was not her
business to mind about them. Mark’s threats to her mother made her angry and on
the same evening he put her on the bus so that she could go back and look after
her husband.
Mark and his mother also got into another conflict during the time
when the country was in a state of emergency. Mark’s mother heard that Mark had
taken his young family to live in Aluor. Mark’s mother started accusing
Elizabeth of taking off with her grandchildren and treating them like dirt. Her
accusations angered Mark who regretted stopping by to see his mother on his way
back to Nakuru.
•
Mark vs. pretty girl
When Mark was staying alone in Nakuru after sending his family to Aluor
because the country was in a state of emergency, she got involved with a pretty
girl and the girl moved in with him. Two months after the girl moved into Mark’s
house she announced that she was pregnant. Her announcement made her to get
into conflict with Mark who decided to chase her away from his home accusing
her of being adulterous.
•
Becky vs. Mary
When Mary was born, she became so much attached to his father and this
set her on a collision path with her sister Becky who liked to be the centre of
attention and now Mary threatened her position. When she was about to sit for
her final ordinary level examinations, Becky was close to a nervous breakdown
as she drove herself to work at a pace that she was not accustomed to. During
that period Becky tried to take out her frustrations on her little sister Mary.
•
Odongo vs. Mark
Conflict between Odongo and Mark started after the O level results of
Odongo and Opiyo were released. Odongo had failed miserably and because he
didn’t look particularly concerned about it, his father informed him that he
would have to repeat the class. This suggestion by his father angered Odongo who
in turn asked his father to get him a school because he knew of boys who had performed
worse scores than his and who were in high school. His father flatly declined
to Odongo’s request therefore making him repeat the class that he had failed.
•
Mark vs. Becky
Conflict between Mark and Becky started soon after the results of the
ordinary level exams were released. Becky had managed a second division pass
with which she was well pleased as were her parents. Because of her good
results she wanted to look for a job immediately but Mark opposed of it because
she wanted Becky to go back to her old school and study for her advanced level
certificate in history, literature and geography just as she had been told to
do. When Becky told her father that she wanted to be an air hostess, Mark
became furious and told her that that was unacceptable. Conflict between Mark
and Becky seemed to have resolved itself when Becky decided to bid her time by
going back to school and doing her advanced level certificate.
Years later, Mark got into another conflict with Becky when he heard
that Becky had an affair outside marriage which led to her separating with John
Courtney.
•
Mark vs. Tony
Mark got into conflict with Tony when Tony decided to join the priesthood.
At first Mark resisted Tony’s decision of joining the priesthood but during Tony’s
ordination he was full of pride for his son. His joy showed that he no longer
was in conflict with his son.
•
Mark vs. Vera
Mark got into conflict with Vera when Vera arrived home one day and
declared that she wanted to join the catholic prelature of opus dei as a non –
marrying member. Though Mark had never heard of opus dei, he could not
understand why Vera could not marry. The conflict between the two is later
resolved when Mark accepted Vera’s decision because he loved her.
•
Aoro and Tony vs. Odongo and Opiyo
After the drowning incident, Aoro and Tony got into conflict with the
twins (Opiyo and Odongo) after the twins absolved themselves of blame by
telling their parents that they had been forced by Aoro and Tony to swim in the
river. When the twins were telling these to their parents, Aoro and Tony looked
at them with loathing and then looked at each other with the understanding that
the twins would be banned forthwith from all their activities.
•
Becky vs. John Courtney
John Courtney got into conflict with Becky and the conflict led to the
separation of the two. The conflict was brought about by Becky who had an
affair outside their marriage. After the separation of John and Becky, John
moved back to Canada where his roots were and he was never heard of again.
•
Aoro vs. Wandia
The conflict between Aoro and Wandia started when both joined the
university to study medicine. In the team of six students that was formed by Dr.
Gitonga, Aoro and Wandia started competing for the top position in anatomy. The
conflict between the two is resolved after their examination when Aoro realized
that Wandia had beaten him by a single point to score 78 while Aoro had 77.
Though Aoro was deeply disappointed he offered to buy a drink for Wandia at the
cafeteria so that they can resolve the conflict and competition that existed
between them.
After college, Aoro married Wandia and during their marriage the two
got into another conflict when they learnt that their son Daniel had leukaemia.
The day that Wandia discovered that her son was sick she was angry at Aoro
because she felt that Aoro had neglected some of his duties as a father. Later
on, Wandia got herself into another conflict with Aoro when she got a
scholarship to go and study haematology in America. Aoro was opposed to her
decision of going to study far away because it meant leaving the children
behind, the youngest of them being four years old. The conflict between the two
is resolved when Aoro suggests that he will ask his sister Mary to live with
them and to help them take care of the house and the children. Wandia also
suggested that they get an extra house help who would assist Tabu in running
the house. These suggestions helped to resolve the conflict that was building
up between the two characters.
•
Vera vs. Becky
The conflict between Vera and Becky started when Becky showed signs of
disliking her sister Vera. Becky’s dislike for Vera is evidenced when Becky
kept her things strictly to herself and her side of the room was always
spotlessly clean. On the other hand Vera’s dislike for Becky showed when she
started having doubts about Becky when she showed no concern when they both
learnt that Tony had been taken to the hospital the previous night.
When the two girls reached seventeen years old, Vera had become tired
of her sister’s selfishness and she made a promise to herself to go very far
away from her as soon as she could. Vera’s dislike for her sister Becky is also
shown when she realized the magnitude of the sacrifice she had made for her
uncaring sister.
The conflict between the two sisters gets worse after the birth of Mary.
After Mary’s birth she became so much attached to their father Mark and Becky
started to dislike her because she wanted to be the centre of attention and Mary
threatened this. Vera pleaded with Becky to go easy on Mary but Becky took out
all her frustrations on Mary especially during the time that there were about
to sit for their examinations. Becky attacks on Mary angered Vera until one
night when the conflict between the two twins blew up and the two nearly
engaged in a fist fight before being stopped by their mother. After the
incident the relationship between the twin sisters received a blow from which
it never fully recovered.
The conflict between Vera and Becky seemed like it was going to
resolve itself several years later when Vera goes out to look for her sister Becky
who was working at the airport. She looked for Becky because she was finding a
way to have peace and solace after her breakup with Tommy muhambe. When the two
sisters met at the airport where Becky worked, they talked as if there was no
bad blood between them. Becky confesses to Vera that she was jealous of her
throughout her life because she had everything that she wanted. When Vera left Becky’s
flat and returned to her hostel she in turn confesses to Maryanne that she too
was jealous of Becky because she was beautiful.
After the divorce between John and Becky, Vera became concerned as to
the kind of influence Becky was having on her children who looked lost and
confused. Vera became so incensed that she suggested to her sister Becky to
send the children home to mark and Elizabeth or to Canada to their father. This
suggestion angers Becky who scathingly attacks Vera thereby creating another
conflict between them.
In her last will before she died Becky’s final statement shows that
she was making peace with her twin sister Vera. She did this by leaving her
children under her care and by giving her control over her vast wealth that she
had accumulated over time.
•
Aoro vs. mark
Conflict between Aoro and Mark started when Mark learnt that Aoro had
been suspended from school because of indiscipline. Mark made a decision during
dinner time that since Aoro had become a man he would have to provide for
himself. Mark’s threat to Aoro became real when he ordered his family not to
provide food for Aoro and for the next thirty six hours Aoro stayed without
eating any food. Aoro’s predicament continued until the next day when he
realized that death by starvation was imminent. To resolve the conflict between
him and his father, Aoro asks for forgiveness and he promises his father that
he will never do the things he had done in school again.
·
Man vs. self
·
Chief Odero gogni vs. Self
Two weeks after the birth of Akoko, chief Odero gogni suffered
internally because the baby who had been born by his second wife and who was
his first daughter developed a prolonged bout of colic and screaming which
brought fear to him. Because of his fears he summoned his mother to help him
figure out which might be the cause of the child’s sickness.
Chief Odero gogni was also faced with another conflict during the marriage
negotiation between chief Owuor kembo and Akoko. During the negotiation, chief
Odero gogni undergoes a moment of confusion when chief Owuor kembo accepts the
bride price set for Akoko. He resolves the conflict within himself when he
rises beautifully and accepts the suit coming from the people of Sakwa.
·
Chief Owuor kembo vs. Self
Chief Owuor kembo suffered internally after the death of his father
chief Kembo k’agina. As the current chief of Sakwa he was under great pressure
to get married since it was unthinkable that a chief should be unmarried. His
urgency in seeking a wife and the beauty of Akoko made him accept the bride
price of 30 head of cattle that had been set by chief Odero gogni. After his
marriage to Akoko, chief Owuor kembo got into conflict with her mother Nyar Asembo
and the council of elders because of the rate that he was reproducing was too
slow. He became internally conflicted because he did not know how to tell her
mother that since he married Akoko he had profoundly lost interest in all the
other women. Chief Owuor kembo’s internal conflict did not end there because
during the birth of Owang sino, Akoko had a difficult pregnancy and the birth
was harrowing. The chief found himself wishing fervently that he did not need
more children.
·
Otieno vs. Self
When he was in Yimbo to negotiate the bride price for Akoko to chief
Owuor kembo, Otieno becomes internally conflicted because the bride price that
had been agreed upon was two and half times more than what they were expecting.
This annoyed him because he argued within himself that at the rate his brother
was paying for bride price there would be no cattle left for him to pay bride
price when his time came.
·
Akoko vs. Self
The birth of Nyabera brought suffering to Akoko because the delivery
had not been easy. This was because the baby had lain badly in the womb and was
trapped. During the delivery process Akoko was gripped in agony as the midwives
tried to turn the baby. When she finally delivered the midwives had to struggle
with her to save her life since she was bleeding. When they were about to give up the bleeding
slackened and eventually ceased. This was a relief to both the midwives and Akoko
because it had looked as if both mother and the baby were goners. Because Akoko
was still also in mourning after the death of chief Odero gogni, she tried to
resolve the pain within her by naming her new-born daughter Odero after her
father.
After leaving her matrimonial home in Sakwa because of the conflict
between her and her mother and brother in law, Akoko reveals to those who were
present in Yimbo how leaving her
matrimonial home was a great wound in her heart and that she had never thought
about it until the night before it happened. She also told those who were
present in the negotiation between her and the elders of Yimbo that she felt it
was a great insult to her honour and pride to be accused of witchcraft against
her own husband who had been good to all of them. This conflict that existed
within Akoko was finally resolved after her husband and seven elders from Sakwa
arrived in Yimbo to negotiate the return of Akoko back to her matrimonial home.
Akoko again suffers internally after learning that her son Obura had
left with Ambere kongoso and Nyaroche silwal to go and work for the white man.
During that period she becomes internally conflicted because she feared for the
life of his son. She was unable to sleep because she was being haunted by
nightmares. Her other children hung around her trying to make her eat and the
older women who were watching her also feared for her sanity. When the search
party that was sent to track Obura returned and informed the chief of what had
transpired, Akoko’s suffering increased and it reached a climax when strangers
arrived in Sakwa to inform chief Owuor kembo of the demise of his son. Akoko
and the whole village went into mourning and their mourning was made worse by
the fact that there was no body to mourn over and to bury. After the demise of
Obura, chief Owuor kembo mysteriously started ailing and his condition
deteriorated until he died. His death was a blow to Akoko who mourned for sixty
days as was mandatory for a chief’s death. When the mourning period ended, Akoko
suffers another tragedy when his second son dies after choking on a fish bone.
His death was a shock to her and to her daughter Nyabera. After the death Owang
sino, Akoko knew that as a woman, a widow and a sonless mother, she was greatly
disadvantaged.
·
Nyabera vs. Self
After learning about the death of her brother through the strangers
who had been sent by the government of the white men, Nyabera becomes
internally conflicted and she finds it difficult to mourn her dead brother. She
was also in a difficult phase of her life since she was pubescent. These
factors forced her mother Akoko to snap out of her personal grief so that she
could pay attention to her daughter. To help
resolve the conflict that Nyabera was facing within herself, Akoko tells Nyabera
stories about the life of Obura until she started weeping for her dead brother.
Four days later Nyabera ran out of tears and her life returned to normal as if
nothing had happened. Her peace was
short lived because few years later she lost her younger brother Owang sino and
her two sons. Because of the loss she becomes depressed and downcast that she
stays indoors without going out or eating. Her mother again comforts her and
during that time she tells her mother about the dream she has been having that
has been disturbing her almost every night. When she tells her mother about the
dream, her mother assures her that the dream was a message from the spirits
which had a deeper meaning.
When Awiti was three years old, her mother, Nyabera got pregnant again
but she miscarried. Nyabera’s sufferings were further increased when her
husband, Okumu, went down with a sudden fever and died three days after the
onset of the illness. These tragedies left Nyabera in mourning and she became
internally conflicted because her entire life seemed like one big disaster. She
felt that she was living her mother’s life all over again which made her to
think that they were cursed. Because she was yet a young widow, a husband was
found for her and together with her new husband they sired two children both of
whom died of sickle cell. The death of her children left her full of bitterness
and she decided to seek a different way of life which promised to give hope and
rescue her away from bitterness. After joining Christianity and getting
baptized, she returned to Yimbo where she stayed for six months. After staying
in Yimbo for six months she was internally conflicted because she longed to go
back to the mission in Aluor. Akoko, her mother noticed how her daughter Nyabera
missed the mission because of the longing of her voice when she spoke. Nyabera
also reveals to her mother how lonely she had been in the mission. Nyabera’s
conflicts are resolved after Akoko accepts Nyabera’s offer to go with her to
the mission together with Owuor and Awiti.
While they were in Aluor, Nyabera is again conflicted because of her
need to have a son. This makes her to leave the mission and go back to Yimbo
where she starts a licit union with Ogoma kwach and they live together as man
and wife for a while. During their union, they bore a child but the child died
as a result of sickness. The death of the baby caused Nyabera a lot of sorrow
and when she returned to the mission in Aluor her mother noticed the suffering
her daughter had gone through during the two years that she had been away from
the mission. To resolve the internal conflict that faced her during that
period, she seeks forgiveness from God by going to the church to pray for
forgiveness.
When Awiti finished her primary education, she passed and she was
invited to join a newly opened teachers’ training college. Her mother Nyabera
became internally conflicted because she feared that her daughter would die if
she was taken away from her. Nyabera’s fears for the life of her daughter Awiti
was because of all her children Awiti was the only one who had defied all odds
to live to the threshold of adulthood. The fear within her is resolved after
she is reprimanded Akoko. Akoko advices Nyabera to try to be happy for Awiti
because the world was changing and Awiti was acquiring what will make the
difference as to whether she survives or perishes.
·
Nyar Asembo vs. Self
Nyar Asembo suffered internally because her son chief Owuor kembo had
refused to marry a second wife and he was too slow in reproducing. Even the
intervention of the council of elders did not help because chief Owuor kembo
felt satisfied with Akoko and he had lost interest with all the other women.
Because of his son’s decision not to marry another wife, Nyar Asembo was
reduced to wails, lamentations and dire predictions.
·
Obura vs. Self
Obura was internally conflicted when he got to learn about the white
men from Ambere and Nyaroche. He became restless after hearing stories from the
two men. As the first born son of chief Owuor kembo, he was the next in line in
becoming the chief of Sakwa but he harboured ambitions of seeing the world.
When he talked with his parents about his decision to travel and see the world
his parents were opposed to the idea and their opposition caused him to have
mood swings which could not be explained.
·
Ogoma kwach vs. Self
Ogoma kwach who was the second cousin of Okumu ang’olo was internally
conflicted when he failed to sire children with Nyabera so that Okumu’s name
may be maintained and to prevent her from wandering from man to man.
·
Owuor sino vs. Self
Owuor had to fight the feeling of either joining the priesthood or of
taking up his birth right of becoming the chief of Sakwa because he was the
grandson of the late chief Owuor kembo and the son of Owang sino. Owuor knew
that her grandmother Akoko had set her determined heart on wresting back the
chief’s stool which was in the hands of the council of elders. He also knew
that his grand uncle Oloo would provide the necessary means with which he would
get back his birth right. Because he felt it was his duty to get back the
chieftainship he suffered internally because there was a constant voice at the
back of his mind that urged him towards a completely different life. A life of
joining the priesthood. Owuor agonized over the matter and he constantly wanted
to tell his grandmother but he failed to do so because he did not want to
disappoint her. The author of the novel says that at one moment he would
prepare to sacrifice his call to the priesthood for his grandmother’s sake and
the next he would be filled with a longing for God.
Conflict between Owuor and himself is resolved after her cousin Awiti
advises him to wait until Nyabera returns to Aluor so that he can tell his
grandmother about his decision of joining the priesthood. When Nyabera returned
to Aluor, Owuor courageously tell his grandmother of his intention of joining
the priesthood and his grandmother who knew all along that something was
troubling Owuor accepts his decision of joining the priesthood on condition
that he takes the name of his grandfather and be called Owuor kembo.
·
Elizabeth vs. Self
After the death of Akoko, Elizabeth was traumatised because she had no
comprehension of the dying process. She became more confused and angry because
her grandmother had just died when they were planning her marriage to Mark
sigu. After the burial of Akoko, Elizabeth was still in grief and during her
moments of grief she threatened not to get married to Mark. The conflict within
her is resolved after her mother sat down with her and started talking to her
until she accepted the finality of death.
Years after her marriage to Mark, Elizabeth becomes internally
conflicted during her last pregnancy which had threatened miscarriage leading
her to be frequently hospitalized. Elizabeth miseries and sufferings increases
when the doctors suggested that she aborts the baby but she declined and one
and a half months later she gives birth to a baby girl ending the conflict that
had built within her.
Elizabeth becomes internally conflicted again when a telegram from Aluor
informs them that her mother had become ill. During that period she becomes
confused and unsure of her next action.
When Mark picked her from school and when they got home she had the most
oppressive premonition of doom pressing in on her and she experienced a
completely different pain from the one that she had experienced at her
grandmother’s death. She felt and told her husband that she had failed and she
kept blaming herself for not spending more time with her mother. After they
travelled and went to Aluor, Elizabeth’s internal conflict subsided for some
time when she heard that her mother was still alive and that she had been taken
to a hospital in Maseno. When she went to Maseno where her mother had been
admitted, she found her in coma and moments later she died while she was with
her. Her mother’s death came as a shock to her and she was in agony for having
lost one of the people that she truly loved.
·
Mark vs. Self
After mark unknowingly gave Elizabeth anti-malarial drugs when she was
pregnant, he was in agony and felt guilty because the medicine that she had
given Elizabeth had caused her to abort her pregnancy prematurely. After
Elizabeth had been discharged from the hospital, Mark felt so guilty that he
dared not talk to her. This conflict is resolved three years later after
Elizabeth became pregnant again and gave birth to twins.
Mark also got himself in another conflict when he had a brief affair
with a pretty girl whom he chases away after announcing that she was pregnant.
After the girl leaves Mark becomes internally conflicted on realizing how
promiscuous he had been. The decision to chase away the girl was the first step
in resolving his internal conflicts. After chasing the girl, Mark makes two
resolutions that changed his life. One of the resolutions was to go and see his
family who were living in Aluor.
Several years’ later Mark became internally conflicted again when his
son Odongo nearly drowned in a river. The thought of his son near drowning made
his face to darken with anger.
When Elizabeth was pregnant with Mary, Mark became internally
conflicted because the pregnancy had threatened miscarriage after miscarriage
needing frequent hospitalization of Elizabeth which made Mark to be in constant
worry. His worries were further increased when the doctor who was looking after
Elizabeth suggested that Elizabeth pregnancy be terminated before time to
prevent severe damage or death of the mother. This conflict between Mark and
himself is resolved after Elizabeth successfully gives birth to Mary.
·
Tony vs. Self
Tony becomes internally conflicted when he becomes sick as a result of
the inflammation of his appendix. Before being taken to the hospital he
struggled for about an hour before waking up his brother Aoro who alerted their
parents. The conflict that Tony faced is resolved when the inflamed appendix
was successfully incised and removed.
·
Aoro vs. Self
When Aoro left home and went for his secondary studies in a boarding
school, during his first week in school he got on the wrong side of the school
captain and the head prefect. Because of his indiscipline he got suspended from
school and he was asked to go back to school with his father after completing
his suspension. When he got home he got into conflict with his parents when
they learnt of his misdemeanour and his father made a decision that left him
internally conflicted. His father’s decision not to provide for him made Aoro
to starve and he was unable to sleep. After asking for forgiveness from his
father, the conflict that he faced within himself is resolved.
·
Becky vs. Self
When Becky was about to finish her ordinary level examinations in two
months’ time, she became well aware of the importance of doing well in school.
This awareness made her to be internally conflicted and she got close to a nervous
breakdown as she drove herself at a pace that she was not accustomed.
After her divorce from John Courtney, Becky undergoes a period of
agony and suffering as a result of contracting HIV which finally killed her.
·
Opiyo vs. Self
After the death of Maria, Opiyo was internally conflicted because he
was torn between being glad to be home again and missing her grandmother whom
he had grown attached to.
·
Odongo vs. Self
After the death of Maria, Odongo was internally conflicted because he
was torn between being glad to be home again and missing her grandmother whom
he had grown attached to.
·
Vera vs. Self
When Vera joined campus she undergoes one crisis after another. Her
first crisis happens immediately after she breaks up with Tommy muhambe. She
becomes internally conflicted and blames herself for making Tommy to believe
that he had a chance of marrying her however she was convinced that marrying Tommy
was not what she wanted. Because of the breakup with Tommy, Vera felt so lonely
and that was why she went out to seek her sister Becky who worked at the
airport.
·
Johnny vs. self
Johnny became internally conflicted after the separation of his
parents. His father returned to Canada and he was never heard of from again.
His father’s actions make Johnny to miss him a lot and he resorts to staying in
his room. When he reached his adolescence years he struggles to fit in the
society and his skin colour was a source of his struggles. He tried to resolve
his internal conflicts by speaking mostly Swahili, eating African foods and
having friends who were mostly black. When he reached eighteen he compromised
and took the name sigu as his middle name. He did all this so that he could fit
in a society where most people were black.
·
Man Vs. Society
·
Chief Odero gogni vs. Society
During the marriage negotiation to marry Akoko to chief Owuor kembo,
chief Odero gogni set the bride price for Akoko two and half times more than
the usual price. That amount did not impress Otieno and some of the people who
had accompanied chief Owuor kembo to negotiate with him. The conflict between
chief Odero and the entourage from Sakwa was resolved after chief Owuor kembo
accepted to pay the thirty head of cattle to have Akoko’s hand in marriage.
·
Chief Owuor kembo vs. Society
Chief Owuor kembo got into conflict with his entourage that had gone
to Yimbo with him to negotiate for Akoko’s hand in marriage. His entourage was
opposed to the idea of paying 30 heads of cattle as bride price but chief Owuor
kembo was determined to pay because of the beauty that he had heard that Akoko
possessed. During the negotiation one of the people who had tagged along with
him asked if he was crazy by accepting to pay the full bride price without even
bargaining. The conflict between chief Owuor kembo and his entourage was
resolved when the chief’s uncle advised the chief and the rest of the entourage
to shock the people of Yimbo by accepting their offer without bargaining.
Chief Owuor kembo got into another conflict with her mother and the elders
from Sakwa who felt that the rate at which he was reproducing himself was too
slow. This conflict seemed to have been
resolved when chief Owuor kembo thanked the elders for their advice and
informed them that he would ponder over the matter. After the birth of Nyabera, chief Owuor kembo
was still under great pressure to marry especially when it became clear that Akoko
was one of those women who found it hard to conceive regularly. The pressure on
the chief became very intense when Nyabera turned four and her mother remained
slim. Conflict between the chief and the people of Sakwa was resolved after the
birth of Owang sino. The child was a boy and everyone uttered a sigh of relief
for the chief because they believed that two sons were definitely an improvement
on one. The birth of Owang sino helped to resolve the conflict that chief Owuor
kembo faced with the elders of Sakwa and his mother Nyar alego.
In later years when Obura was past his teen years Chief Owuor kembo
got into another conflict with Ambere kongoso and Nyaroche silwal after the two
filled his son Obura with stories about seeing the world. He warns them of dire
consequences if they did not stop filling his son’s head with their stories. Conflict between chief Owuor kembo and the two
people got worse when chief Owuor kembo learnt that Ambere and Nyaroche had
left Sakwa taking with them his son Obura. After the death of Obura and Ambere
in Tanganyika where they had gone to fight the Germans, chief Owuor kembo was
in an angry mood and he chased the visitors who had come to relay the message
of their demise. He was also angry after learning that Nyaroche silwal was
still alive and he wanted to find out where he was so that he could kill him.
·
Akoko vs. Society
Akoko experienced her first conflict with the society fourteen days
after the marriage negotiation between her father and his husband to be chief Owuor
kembo and his entourage. After the payment of the bride price, the young men
who had brought the bride price woke up very early the day after the bride
price was paid and they forcefully grabbed Akoko who was sleeping in her
grandmother’s house and dashed out with her. During this time the young men
from Sakwa put up a spirited fight against her brothers and other young men
from Yimbo. As they were fighting Akoko let out one piercing yell after another
protesting her kidnap.
After her marriage to chief Owuor kembo and the birth of Obura and
Nyabera, Akoko maintained a beautiful figure which went totally unappreciated
by the people of Sakwa and especially grandmother Nyar Asembo who were against
her because of her slowness in giving birth. When she declared that she was
seeking separation between her and chief Owuor kembo because of the accusations
levelled against her by Nyar Asembo, the crowd that was listening to her during
her rants did not take it kindly when she said that the cattle paid to her
father as bride price would be returned back to Sakwa and she would be given
back the cattle that she had acquired during her married life in Sakwa.
When she was living in Aluor, Akoko was under great pressure from her
relatives to return to Sakwa which was her matrimonial home. Her refusal to go
back brought her into conflict with her relatives who lived in Sakwa and the
conflict did not end until her death and burial in Aluor.
·
Obura vs. Society
Conflict between Obura and the society began the night when her sister
Nyabera was being born. During that time he got into conflict with his
grandmother and one of his many aunts when he demanded to know where his mother
was. To his grandmother and those who
were present, Obura had become irritating and therefore there was a need to
remove him there. One of his aunts took him and locked him in his grandmother’s
hut for two hours. Efforts to make him take his breakfast fell on deaf ears.
Conflict between Obura and his relatives is finally resolved when his
grandmother informs him that he had a sister. This information gladdens his
heart and when she saw her sister he smiled in wonder.
After the birth of Nyabera, Obura got into conflict with the many
girls who had lined up to hold Nyabera. Obura became jealous because he wanted
his little sister all to himself. When he became a teenager, Obura got into
conflict with his parents when he informed them that he wanted to see the
world. His parents were opposed to the idea because as the first born son, he
was the next in line to inherit the chieftainship after the demise of his
father chief Owuor kembo.
·
Otieno vs. Society
After the death of Owang sino, Otieno took over the chief’s stool with
arrogance and dispensed the venerated council of elders. This action brought
him into conflict with the people of Sakwa. When the messenger who was sent by
the D.O went to Sakwa to investigate whether Akoko’s complaints against Otieno
were true, the messenger found out that Otieno was bad just as Akoko had said
and he was hated by his own people. The messenger also found out that Otieno
had done away with the council of elders and he was making decisions all by
himself.
·
Oloo vs. Society
Oloo was in conflict with his wives when he took in Akoko to live with
them in Yimbo after the death of her husband and her two sons.
·
Elizabeth vs. society
Elizabeth got into conflict with the society in Aluor when she joined
the newly founded primary school in the mission. The people in Aluor were
opposed to her getting an education because the role of women in that society
was known and getting an education was not one of them. Conflict between
Elizabeth and the people of Aluor flourished as the people there were opposed
to her being so clever and to openly show it.
The people thought that she should be ashamed or at least try to hide
her brilliance; otherwise they prophesied darkly that no man would marry her.
During the awarding ceremony in Elizabeth’s school, the teacher commended
Elizabeth for her good work. The teacher knew that she had suffered long enough
at the hands of the boys and the villagers.
While she was in college, the boys were so over awed by her prowess at
school that they only thought of her as an object of derision and not of
desire. This made her quite disturbed by the boorish behaviour of some of the
men in the teachers training college but she decided to take it in her stride.
Towards the end of her course, it was discovered that she had a brother
studying for priesthood. This revelation coupled with her brilliance led to
bitter taunts by her college mates and she was constantly insulted and shunned
by both men and women. After finishing
her college studies she was still an object of curiosity since she was not like
the other women who worked on tilling the land and rearing children.
The conflict between Elizabeth and the society in Aluor was resolved
during the wedding between her and Mark. The society had come to accept her
with time as part of them and they became proud of her though they were sad
that she got married by a man from the rocky county of Seme.
·
Mark vs. Society
Mark got into conflict with his friends who derided him because he was
helping Elizabeth around the house especially in taking care of the children.
The conflict between Mark and his friends was resolved after he proved adamant
and they gave up considering him as a lost cause. Mark also got into conflict with his sons when
one of the twins nearly drowned in a river. When he saw the condition of his
son Odongo, he disciplined Aoro and Tony who the twins had accused of forcing
them into the river.
·
Nyabera vs. Society
While they were living in Aluor, Owuor discovered that her aunt Nyabera
was under great pressure from her relatives because they wanted her to go back
to her ancestral village.
·
Mary vs. Society
Because of the close attachment between Mary and her father, Mary was
given special treatment by her father and this made her other six siblings to
grumble especially Becky who wanted to be the centre of attention.
·
Vera vs. Society
When Vera completed her final primary exams and passed with flying colours.
She was called to join a national school but she declined to take the offer and
preferred to go to the school where her twin sister Becky had been called to.
Because of her refusal to join a national school she got into conflict with her
parents who wanted her to join the national school. Her refusal to go to a
national school made her father for the first time in his life feel like
beating her into submission. Conflict between her and her parents was later
resolved when her mother convinced her father to allow her to go to the school
that she wanted to go.
·
Aoro vs. Society
When Aoro left home and went for his secondary education studies in a
boarding school, he got into conflict with the house captain for failing to
make his bed on time and also with the head prefect for one misdemeanour after
another. Because of his indiscipline he got suspended from school and ordered
to go back to school with his father. When he reached home he got into another
conflict with his parents when they learnt that he had been suspended.
·
Becky vs. Society
After developing full blown AIDS, Becky’s health started to
deteriorate and these led to a change in her physical appearance. Because of
the physical changes that she was going through with, she did not want to talk
with anyone and confided to no one the fear and despair that she felt. Her
condition forced her to send away anyone who had gone to console with her.
·
Man vs. Supernatural
·
Grandmother Nyar alego vs. Supernatural
Two weeks after the birth of Akoko, grandmother Nyar alego was
summoned by chief Odero gogni to help save the baby because she had developed a
prolonged bout of colic and screaming that went on all night. When she was
summoned, grandmother Nyar alego started talking in a conversational manner
complaining to the ‘Great were’ and
the departed souls of her mother Achieng, her husband chief Gogni adinda and
her late sister Akelo. Her complaints to were
and the departed souls was a revelation that she still had some unfinished
business with the supernatural. This is true because when she mentioned the
name of her sister and co-wife Akelo, the baby stopped crying and then fell
asleep. Akoko’s actions resolves the conflict that grandmother Nyar alego had
with her late sister who had wanted to be remembered through the naming of Akoko
after her.
·
Akoko vs. were
When Akoko approached her nineteenth season, suitors came tumbling
over each other to ask for her hand in marriage only to be repulsed by Akoko’s
twenty one brothers and her impossible to please father. Because of his father
and brothers actions towards the suitors, Akoko was resigned to the fact that were had forgotten to create a man good
enough for her. Conflict between her and were
is resolved after Akoko’s father accepts chief Owuor kembo’s bride price of thirty
head of cattle.
·
Nyabera vs. were
After the death of Owang sino, Nyabera questions the existence of were and why he would permit tragedies
to happen to her mother Akoko who had never looked at anyone with an evil eye,
never denied food to anyone and who had been generous in sacrifice and
libation. She also questions why were give
children only to strike them dead at the prime of their lives. To Nyabera, were was cruel and that was why she
chose to join Christianity to resolve the conflict that she had with were.
Nyabera was also in conflict with the evil spirits and that was why
she lost three of her children. After giving birth to Awiti, a little ceremony
was performed to confuse the evil spirits and to enhance Awiti’s chances of
survival. The ceremony was done and the baby survived every illness and she
lived to adulthood.
After she joined Christianity, Nyabera got into conflict with the
Christian God after she left Aluor and went back to Yimbo where she starts a
licit union with Ogoma kwach. She does this after hearing from someone who had
arrived at the mission from Yimbo that Ogoma kwach’s wife had died. Her decision
to live with Ogoma kwach as man and wife was contrary to the teachings of
Christianity and that was why she felt that she had sinned. Conflict between
her and God is resolved when she confesses her sins and asks God for
forgiveness. After her confession she felt as if a load had been lifted off her
shoulders.
·
Wandia vs. God
When Wandia learnt that her son Daniel had leukaemia she was in agony
and she silently blamed God for what his son was going through. When it was
confirmed that indeed Daniel had leukaemia, Wandia abandoned her agnostic
stance and went to church to bargain with God. Her decision to go to church and
pray seems to have resolved the conflict that existed between her and God whom
she saw as the cause of her son’s predicament.
·
Man vs. destiny
·
Chief Owuor kembo vs. Destiny
Chief Owuor kembo’s destiny was to make Akoko his wife because of the
beauty that he had heard about her. His love for Akoko made him to do the
unthinkable by accepting to pay the hefty bride price without bargaining so
that he could have Akoko as his wife. His destiny with Akoko was sealed after
Akoko’s father chief Odero gogni accepted his offer to pay the bride price
without bargaining. During the negotiation for the bride price, chief Owuor
kembo made it clear to his brother and the rest of the entourage that Akoko was
going to be his mikai and he had set
his heart on marrying her.
·
Obura vs. Destiny
As the next in line in becoming the chief of Sakwa after his father
chief Owuor kembo, Obura had already carved his destiny which was to see and
discover the world. His destiny was threatened by his parents who opposed his
ideas of seeing the world. His wish of seeing the world came true after Ambere
and Nyaroche convinced him to go away from Sakwa so that he could see the
world. They convinced him by telling him stories about the white people and their
prowess. Their stories made Obura to become more curious of how the outside
world was. After a year, Obura fulfilled his destiny when he made the decision
to follow Ambere and Nyaroche in their journey to work for the white men.
·
Peter Owuor vs. destiny
After the death of his father and during his stay in Aluor where he
studied the new religion, Peter Owuor came to the realization that his destiny
was to become a priest. As a son of a chief and the only surviving male he
became conflicted and had two choices of either joining the priesthood or to wait
until he comes of age and claim his position as the chief of Sakwa. After discussions
with his aunt and grandmother, Peter decided to join the priesthood because he
felt it was his destiny to serve God.
·
Aoro vs. destiny
When Tony got sick and had to be rushed to the hospital for an
emergency surgery, Aoro became more interested with the study of medicine after
looking at the incision mark on Tony’s stomach. His fascination with medicine
is further shown when he performs surgery on a frog. After successfully performing
surgery on the frog, Aoro becomes aware that his destiny laid in medicine.
Later on in the novel Aoro joins the university to study medicine and after
completing he studies more to become a surgeon.
·
Wandia vs. Destiny
Wandia’s destiny was to become a doctor and a teacher. She
successfully managed to become a doctor and a lecturer after her studies in the
university of Nairobi and john Hopkins hospital in Maryland.
·
Becky vs. Destiny
Becky felt that her destiny was to become an air hostess. Three years
after she left Nakuru to go to Nairobi, her sister Vera finds her working at
the airport as an airhostess.
·
Man vs. nature
·
Nyabera vs. Nature
Nyabera’s journey from her matrimonial home to Gem was through thick
bush. She started her journey very early in the morning when there was still
darkness and she did not reach the mission until dusk.
·
Other conflicts
·
Jo-ingreza vs. jo-jerman
The author of the novel has revealed the conflict between the Germans
and the English which had lasted for four years. The strangers who had gone to
Sakwa and were taken to chief Owuor kembo’s house having been sent by the
government to give a message to the chief, informed the chief of the conflict
that was taking place between the white tribe of jo jerman who had started a war with everybody in the world with
everybody in the world joining in and taking their side or the side of the jo-ingreza who eventually won the war
therefore resolving the conflict that had spanned over a period of four years.
·
Colonialists vs. Mau Mau
Conflict between the colonialists and the Mau started when the
colonialists became unjust and unheeding to the pleas and aspirations of their
black subjects. This led to rebellion against their rule and the resistance led
to the formation of Mau Mau which fought with the colonialists so that they
could get independence from them. During the emergency period, the conflict
between the colonialists and the Mau Mau became very bad and death became a
common sight.
The conflict between the colonialists and the Mau Mau was later
resolved after the country gained independence and the affairs of the country
was left to the locals. The first president, mzee jomo Kenyatta, also helped to
resolve the conflict when he exhorted the locals to forget and forgive and the
people listened because they also wanted to live in peace.
ROLE OF CONFLICTS
1.
To enhance literary devices.
Literary devices such as suspense, poetic justice, flashback,
foreshadowing, chronicles and dialogue have been advanced and clearly
understood through the conflicts that are taking place in the novel.
2.
To create suspense.
Suspense is created when the readers anticipate to know what will
happen next before and after a conflict is resolved.
3.
To set the tone and mood of the story.
The conflicts in the novel have helped to create tension therefore
helping to set the mood and tone of the novel. The arguments and disagreements
between characters have helped to shape the mood of the characters and the tone
of the story.
4.
To reveal a character’s weakness and strengths.
Conflict between Otieno and Akoko reveals how fearful Otieno was
towards Akoko while the conflict between Vera and Becky reveals how the twin
sisters were jealous of each other.
5.
To reveal secrets.
The conflict between Vera and Becky made Vera to admit that she was
too jealous of Becky because she was beautiful.
6.
To reveal changes taking place in the society.
Owuor’s inner conflict is brought about by the need to join the
priesthood instead of taking his rightful position as the chief in waiting to
the people of Sakwa. Without the change in religion in the society, Owuor may
have decided to take back the chieftainship.
7.
To reveal the antagonist.
The conflict between Akoko and Otieno reveals Otieno as the antagonist
since he is the one who causes Akoko to suffer. His undesirable qualities also
help her to reveal him as the novel’s antagonist.
8.
To reveal the protagonist.
The conflict between Akoko and Otieno reveals Akoko as the protagonist
since she is the one who suffers at the hand of Otieno. Her admirable qualities
also help to reveal her as the novel’s protagonist.
9.
To reveal the character traits of other
characters.
Akoko and Otieno’s conflict reveals just how arrogant Otieno was and
how feisty Akoko had become.
10.
To reveal the themes.
Themes such as change, tradition, justice, succession, religion etc.
have been revealed through the conflicts that are taking place in the novel.
11.
To reveal the setting of the novel.
The conflict between the Germans and the English reveals the time
period of events that are taking place in the novel. The conflict between the Mau
Mau and the colonialists also helps to reveal the physical setting and the time
period on which the novel is based upon.
12.
To instil moral values to the readers.
13.
To help characters to make choice between good
and bad.
The conflict between Aoro and Mark made Aoro to be able to make good
choices that helped him later in life.
14.
To reveal the culture and traditions of a
society.
The conflict between Akoko and the society helps to reveal the culture
and traditions of the luo people.
After Akoko’s death, her family opts to bury her in Aluor because she had
broken her relationship with the people of Sakwa. Traditionally she was
supposed to be buried in her matrimonial home next to her husband.
15.
To give background information of historical
events.
Historical events such as World War 1, World War 2, and independence
in Kenya have been defined through conflicts that are taking place in the
novel.
16.
To foreshadow events that will take place in the
novel.
Conflict between the colonialists and the Mau Mau foreshadows the
independence of Kenya.
17.
To change a character’s view on life and society
as a whole.
No comments:
Post a Comment