A literary work which is 'positive' and 'righteous'
can't fit in any society. No society is that clean as we all owe our origin to
our first parents - Adam and Eve. The devil is the one who cheated them to
disobey God. That the serpent always tries to conquer us shows that our hands
many a times get soiled through committing sin. The pen exposes such trash.
Without its presence, words can barely exist. And if they do, they may be
corrupted in meaning and relevance.
The late humourist, Wahome Mutahi of the whispers fame, in Doomsday, exploits terrorist attack on the American embassy in Anyisa - typically Kenya. Sadam Hussein decides to settle scores with America through that cowardly act. The writer wants to wide-open the reader's eyes to see the negativity of terrorism and corruption as human bodies get burnt beyond recognition, economies pinched.
The late humourist, Wahome Mutahi of the whispers fame, in Doomsday, exploits terrorist attack on the American embassy in Anyisa - typically Kenya. Sadam Hussein decides to settle scores with America through that cowardly act. The writer wants to wide-open the reader's eyes to see the negativity of terrorism and corruption as human bodies get burnt beyond recognition, economies pinched.
In Jail Jugs, Wahome satirises the terrible condition
of our jails. Using Albert Kweyu’s first-person narrative voice, he divulges
how inmate life is worthless to wardens. For example, if a prisoner dies, he is
just dumped and his scanty possession sent back to his people explaining that 'he
has been defeated by his sentence.' After Pepeto and Fixer escapes from prison,
the rest of the prisoners are starved for days, as though they can produce the
escapees with every baton-connection onto their knee caps or skulls.
Ngugi wa thiong'os Devil on the Cross addresses
neo-colonial themes such as corruption and human extortion. Jacinta Wariinga
gets sacked for defying her boss’ advances. Devil on the cross uses satire to
expose extortion of the rich by the poor. The International organisation of thieves
and robbers (IOTR) convenes a meeting in Ilmorog to make local property guards
account how much each has stolen from the people and to suggest how robbery can
be improved in the country.
Throughought Aminata, the late master playwright,
Francis Imbuga, explores exploitation of women rights in society. Aminata's
uncle and the chief of Membe village, Jumba, struggle to deprive her of her
father's (Pastor Ngoya's) inheritance of land. He complies with Aminata's
brother, Ababio, to achieve his plot, and sows seeds of discord between brother
and sister.
Otieno Kembo, in Margaret Ogolla's The River and the
Source, after the death of his brother Chief Owuor Kembo and Akoko's husband
(Owuor Kembo), grabs his brother's wealth. He also seats on the throne, and runs
the Sakwa community ruthlessly. Since the right king is too young to rule,
Otieno does not follows chik - the community's way of life of acting as the
infant's patron until the former comes of age. Akoko goes to Kisuma (Kisumu) to
seek the white man D.O's help in ousting her brother-in-law from the throne. Writers
have to deal with tenderness of words only. Nothing else to worry about as
'trash' events always compete with each other for human awareness. Let us
follow Mochama's counsel and embrace our 'trash' the way it should be.
© Peter Ngila 2013
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