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A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi Wa Thiong

The document provides an assignment topic analyzing the legacy of colonialism depicted in Ngugi wa Thiongo's novel A Grain of Wheat, which tells the story of Kenyan people's struggles under European colonial rule and their fight for independence in the Mau Mau rebellion. The novel focuses on several central characters and their experiences in the lead up to Kenyan independence, exploring themes of guilt, trauma, religion, and the divisions caused by colonial oppression. The action culminates in the country's independence celebrations at Uruhu, though uncertainties about corruption and inequality in the newly independent nation remain.

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hemanta saikia
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601 views4 pages

A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi Wa Thiong

The document provides an assignment topic analyzing the legacy of colonialism depicted in Ngugi wa Thiongo's novel A Grain of Wheat, which tells the story of Kenyan people's struggles under European colonial rule and their fight for independence in the Mau Mau rebellion. The novel focuses on several central characters and their experiences in the lead up to Kenyan independence, exploring themes of guilt, trauma, religion, and the divisions caused by colonial oppression. The action culminates in the country's independence celebrations at Uruhu, though uncertainties about corruption and inequality in the newly independent nation remain.

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hemanta saikia
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Cotton University

Department of English

Assignment Topic:

Legacy of Colonialism in Ngugi wa Thiongo’s A Grain of Wheat.

Submitted by-
Hemanta Saikia
SEM: 4 (M.A English)
Enrollment No: ENG 1761063
Legacy of Colonialism in Ngugi wa Thiongo‟s A Grain of Wheat

A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o is a novel depicting the people of Kenya and their
various struggles with European colonialism. Ngugi sets out to record the sweeping changes in
the turulant national history of Kenya where anti-colonial struggles occupied a central place.
A Grain of Wheat opens on the note of independence or Uhuru just round the corner and people
eagerly preparing for the celebrations. The action of the novel focuses on the hero‟s memory of
the incidents of the “Mau Mau Revolt”, the movement began in 1946 Mau Mau rebellion an anti
– colonial movement which historians says revolt an independence for the African nation. Kenya
was colonized by the British in 1895 and was not independent until 1963. In the subsequent
years the country struggled to negotiate a post-colonial reality in which the divisions caused by
political and economic oppression, the Emergency, violence, racism, exploitation of rivalry and
competition amongst Kenyans, and psychological trauma endured and deepened.

At the beginning of the novel, as independence approaches, several visitors come to mugo‟s
door. They ask him to speak at the Uruhu celebration and become a leader, and also ask if kihika
mentioned karanja, a worker for the white government who is suspected of betraying his friend,
before his death. Kihika, a rebel fighter from the village, was captured and publicly hanged.
Mugo denies knowing anything about kihika s death and says he will think about making the
speech.

The novel reveals a number of characters experiences during the lead-up to Kenyan
independence, or Uruhu .Mugo is one of the central characters. He feels detached from the world
around him, and he is fearful of the attention given to him by the townspeople. Mugo‟s
connection with the woman in the hut is a central element in the story. They are connected by
their common loneliness. Mugo has no one, and he cannot bring himself to participate in the
community. The old woman has lost her son, and she talks to no one. She lives isolated, away
from the world, sequestered by loss and trauma.

Religion is an important element in the novel. The white men brought Christianity to Kenya, and
many blacks take up Christian religion. However. The existing religions do not die. At the Uruhu
celebration, the town will sacrifice rams in a traditional sacrificial rite. At the same time, kihika
is a devoutly religious man, comparing the struggle of the black man in Kenya with the struggle
of the Jews to be freed from the pharaoh. Karanja s disappointment and bitterness begins at this
moment, when he realizes that Gikonyo and mumbi are off together. Gikonyo s bitterness and
disappointment also begin at this moment, though it is a moment of joy for him. Gaining mumbi
as a lover means that Gikonyo is risking his heart. By racing against each other. Both Gikonyo
and karanja hope to recover heir pride and mumbi. Neither can win this race. Mugo, mean while,
has struggled with his guilt. He also has looked toward the past at this moment of moving into
the future. He finds that he cannot live with the guilt that he feels. Like Dr. Lynd, like mumbi,
like Gikonyo, mumbi feels the need to tell his story and connect with the human beings around
him. The loss of White violence and Mau Mau counter violence propels Kihika‟s crucial attacks
on symbolic institutions of colonial power. His storming of the Mahee Police station serves as a
signifier in the opposition against colonial rule. Colonial oppression only served to push the
colonized further against the wall. Kihika‟s act of killing Robson affirms the sheer necessity of
counter violence against the inhuman cruelties inflicted on the colonized.

The action of the novel focuses on the protagonists‟ remembrances of the events of the „Mau
Mau‟ Revolt- the birth of a new Kenya. People tries to struggle for their own Uhuru and it is the
main and central idea of this novel and so it can be taken in consideration as per one of main
themes of this novel. The novel ends with Uruhu. Kenyan independence is the end era, and
beginning of a new one. No one knows what is coming, good or bad. Political corruption
certainly exists, and the wealthy seem to remain wealthy while the poor remain poor. Still the
celebration is a coming together of the people a time for unity in the quest to move forward.
Work Cited :

Thiongo , Wa Ngugi. A Grain of Wheat : Penguin Books, 2012

Singh , Kishan Thingnam . Rethinking Colonialism : Worldview Publications, 2006


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